Fisherton Mill is southwest England’s largest independent art gallery, which features artists’ studios, an exhibition gallery and a space that showcases the works of over 200 local artists and craftspeople.
It was originally built in 1880 as a grain mill and it was used as a bonded warehouse for the Australian Army during the First World War. The mill was closed in the 1980s and around 10 years later the mill was renovated and reopened as an art gallery.
![Fisherton Mill is the largest independent art gallery in the south west of England. It is lovely spot to poke around and it has a very nice cafe but it is more of an upscale art and craft market than what you would normally expect from an art gallery. (Photo: John M [CC BY-SA 2.0])](https://englandrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/fisherton-mill-salisbury-geograph.jpg)
What to see at Fisherton Mill
The gallery is spread over two levels with a lovely sunny central courtyard. It is home to studios where artists and craftspeople work, it hosts a programme of exhibitions and it sells unique art and craft works from over 200 local artists.
It is a lovely place to potter around but it is more like an art and craft market than a traditional art gallery.
Temporary exhibitions
Although it is not to the same standard as larger galleries elsewhere in England, some of the temporary exhibitions can be particularly interesting.
Echoes & Threads
Echoes & Threads is a joint exhibition (until 18 May 2024) showcasing the work of Tamsin Loveday and Helen Kirby’s mixed media works, which draw inspiration from sacred sites such as Avebury and Stonehenge.
Brush, Kiln & Camera
The Brush, Kiln & Camera exhibition (25 May–22 June 2024) is a group exhibition by the Spectra Art Group featuring photography and painting plus works in ceramics and glass.
Reflect
Reflect is an exhibition (29 June–27 August 2024) by the Haptic Art Group, featuring textile, paint and mixed-media work that is influenced by reflection over the past years’ events.
Gutterman’s Secret Streets
This exhibition (3–31 August 2024) showcases a series of oil and acrylic paintings capturing the journeys of Mr and Mrs Gutterman. These distinctive characters, created by artist Pamela Legg, feature alongside animals such as cats, mice and the Gutterman’s basset hound.
Visiting Fisherton Mill
Fisherton Mill is on Fisherton Street right in the heart of the city centre. It is only a three-minute walk to the railway station and most of the attractions in Cathedral Close are within a 10-minute walk from the gallery.
The main part of the complex is open Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 9.30am–5.30pm, although the individual studios have their own opening hours that may vary from the rest of the complex. It is usually closed on Sundays, except for some exhibitions and for the lead-up to Christmas.
Only the ground floor of the complex is wheelchair accessible and the main gallery upstairs, where the temporary exhibitions are held, is only accessible via a staircase.
The on-site cafe is a major part of the complex and it is very popular with both tourists and locals. Although the cafe menu is limited, the quality is excellent and vegan and vegetarian options are available.
Although many people make a quick visit, there is quite a bit to see if you enjoy poking around markets and some people spend over two hours here.
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