You can be part of 78 Derngate by becoming a volunteer and/or by  joining the Friends of 78 Derngate.

78 Derngate relies on volunteers to keep the house open.  If you would like to learn more please click here.

The Friends of 78 Derngate support and promote the activities of the 78 Derngate Trust in the conservation of the W.J. Bassett-Lowke house as re-modelled by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

It is our aim to do this by the following means:

• To raise money to support the Trust's activities
• To raise public awareness of and support for these activities
• To engage in research into subjects connected with the properties held by the 78 Derngate Trust

Join the Friends of 78 Derngate and support the on-going fundraising project to keep this important historic house open to the public.

Your subscription fee goes towards the cost of additions and improvements to the house. The Friends have contributed to the cost of replicating items of Mackintosh furniture, printed a new edition of the Souvenir Guide, purchased original Bassett-Lowke furniture and improved the frontage of the building.

The picture above shows several pieces of the replica Guest Bedroom furniture towards which the Friends made a substantial contribution.

The Friends organise lectures, town walks, visits to other properties and residential weekends with an architectural theme for the members to enjoy.

In June 2011 Friends spent a long weekend in Brussels visiting some wonderful art nouveau and art deco properties including a Mackintosh inspired house built in 1905 for the architect Paul Cauchie pictured below.

The picture below shows the Friends' VIP trip to Glasgow on a pilgrimage to many of the major Mackintosh sites including the Glasgow School of Art.

Members of the Friends travelled to the Isle of Man to see the work of Arts & Crafts exponents Mackay Baillie Scott and Archibald Knox as well as the internment camps where much of the original Mackintosh furniture for 78 was made.

Other day trips have included the Arts & Crafts house at Standen, Snowshill Manor in Broadway, William Morris' homes Red House and Kelmscott Manor and Middleton Cheyney Church.

Joy Saville, a member of the Friends' Committee and a Volunteer at 78, organised a Friends' visit to Darmstadt in Germany. Darmstadt is famous for its artists colony or 'Matildenhohe' where Peter Behrens (architect of New Ways) built his own home in 1901. The Matildenhohe also features the work of Joseph Maria Olbrich who made a name for himself with his Secession buildings in Vienna.

The Friends have members and links abroad.  In 2011 we were delighted to receive a card created from an original design by Peter Behrens from his grandson Till Behrens.  Till is a life member of the Friends of 78 Derngate.

Members of The Friends gain free entry to 78 Derngate, get 10% off purchases from the 78 Derngate gift shop and the CRM Society shop at Queen's Cross Church in Glasgow.

Members of The Friends also benefit from a regular Newsletter. 78 Derngate News is an informative and entertaining newsletter produed bi-monthly and is mailed out directly to members. It contains details of all the trips and lectures coming up, has articles and reviews of interest and keeps you up-to-date with what's going on at 78. You can see a sample Newsletter attached below.

The cost of joining The Friends of 78 Derngate and gaining the benefits listed above as well as supporting 78 Derngate is just £15 for an individual, £19 for joint/family, £13 concessionary or £250 for life membership.

If you would like to join the Friends of 78 Derngate and be part of the team that supports and maintains the property, please complete and return the Membership Form below, call 01604 603 407 or email to friendsof78derngate@gmail.com 

Thank you.

Attachment	Date	Size
Friends of 78 Derngate Membership Form.pdf	07/05/10 3:36 pm	193.35 KB
Friends Newsletter sample.pdf	17/05/10 3:22 pm	77.75 KB