The Sime Gallery
   


   
Listen to Jan Messinger's interview on BBC Radio Surrey

Watch and Listen to a narration of Sidney Sime Carricatures

Heritage weekend plans for Sime Gallery Worplesdon inside Worplesdon Memorial Hall GU3 3RF

Sidney Herbert Sime 1865-1941, artist mostly remembered for his fantastic and satirical artwork. He lived and worked in Worplesdon from 1904 when he moved here with his wife Mary. After his death his wife bequeathed his 800 pieces she had to the Worplesdon Memorial hall trust. Since 1956 a gallery has been inside the hall. Worplesdon’s little hidden gem. Open 2-4pm Wednesday’s and Sunday’s by appointment only. Those who have not visited before may like to visit on the extended weekend of Heritage weekend 11th-13th September 2020. In accordance with COVID guidelines the gallery visitors will have to pre book ¾ hour visits with a maximum of 4 from 2 “bubbles” at any one session. The safety of our visitors is paramount and you will be warmly welcomed by our volunteers eager to tell you all about his life and vast range of art. You will want to return as there is so much to see.

Visiting for Heritage weekend will be Friday 11 September between 2-4pm, Saturday 12 September 10-4pm with a talk at 11am. Sunday 13 September 10-4pm with talks at 11am and 2pm. Please reserve your time slot by visiting www.sidneysimegallery.org.uk or ringing 01483 233869.
The Sime gallery are delighted to welcome you back by appointment only 2-4pm Wednesdays and Sundays from 2 August. The gallery is ready for you visit under Government guidance. You will be amazed at what there is to view and we welcome you wanting to return to see more at our hidden gem inside Worplesdon Memorial hall GU3 3RF Please ring Mary on 01483 233869 Or email enquiries@sidneysimegallery.org.uk for more details. We look forward to seeing you. So much to see for all ages.

The Sidney Sime Gallery at Worplesdon, near Guildford in Surrey, houses a major collection of the fascinating and highly characteristic work of Sidney Sime (1865-1941), the famous artist, illustrator and caricaturist.


Sidney Herbert Sime
 

Sime owned a cottage at Worplesdon - Crown Cottage - and spent much of his time there during the latter part of his life.

The gallery is on the first floor of Worplesdon Memorial Hall and was opened in 1956 with proceeds from the sale of Crown Cottage, on the death of Sime's widow Mary.

Mary bequeathed all those of her late husband's pictures that remained in her possession to the Trustees of the Worplesdon Memorial Hall for the creation of such a gallery.

The Trustees continue to make improvements to the Gallery, the most recent of which (2013) has been a complete, and extremely successful, renewal of the lighting system.  This was made possible by a grant from Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council through the Surrey Community Buildings Grant Scheme - support which is very gratefully acknowledged.

Paintings and drawings

There are 88 hung works on view, including theatrical caricatures, caricatures of local Worplesdon residents and landscape paintings in oil and watercolour.  In total there are over 500 catalogued items.

To view a selection of our pictures online, go to our online gallery page.  The oil paintings in our collection can be viewed in their entirety through the Art UK website.

The Trustees pursue a continuing programme of restoration and conservation.  They would like to express their gratitude to the many organizations and individuals who have supported this programme through grants and donations.

Furniture

The gallery also contains some furniture used frequently by Sime:  a gate-leg table, which contains two portfolios of Sime's work and also various publications of interest;  a Windsor chair;  and a tallboy containing his original sketch books, numerous oil paintings, etchings, watercolour sketches, drawings and caricatures, and press cuttings.

Visiting the gallery

The Gallery is normally open, from 2 to 4 pm, on Bank Holiday Mondays and on the first Wednesday of each month.

The Gallery is also open throughout the annual Guildford Heritage Weekend in September and can be visited at other times by appointment.  For details of where we are and how to contact us, see our visiting the gallery page.

Worplesdon Memorial Trustees

The Memorial Hall and the contents of the Sidney Sime Gallery are in the care of the Worplesdon Memorial Trustees, a registered charity.  More details can be found on the Worplesdon Memorial Hall website.

 

KEEPING IN TOUCH

If you would like to hear about forthcoming events and the latest developments at the Gallery, then please join our mailing list by completing this form and returning it to us.

Our May 2018 newsletter can be found here.  As well as the latest news from the Gallery, this also contains important data protection information


"The Art of Sidney Sime, Artist and Philosopher"

This 50-page illustrated booklet is available at �5 plus postage and packing. Please contact us for details.


BOGEY BEASTS

The Gallery has produced the first ever video presentation of the 1923 book Bogey Beasts by Sidney Sime and Joseph Holbrooke!  Find it on our YouTube page.

       © The Sime Gallery CIO, 2020