Our history
In February 1912, local artist Edwin Young declared his intent to donate a collection of his watercolour paintings, as well as an endowment and suitable building to house them, to the city of Salisbury. These drawings of 'picturesque buildings and places of natural charm in the neighbourhood of Salisbury' were to be free for the public to visit.
The then City Council were pleased to accept, and the original gallery opened on Chipper Lane the following year. The gallery was next to and accessed through the library. It allowed people from near and far to enjoy Young's paintings, and later additions of other artists' work, free of charge. Young's artworks give a unique glimpse of Salisbury and the surrounding area from the middle of the 19th century to just before the First World War. The collection grew again in 1970s, following a bequest from local crime author, John Creasey who died in 1973. Creasey gifted more than 2,000 books in over 20 languages, as well as manuscripts, designs for book jackets, and an impressive collection of walking sticks. Creasey also generously left an endowment toward the care and development of the collection.
It was decided that the gallery and the neighbouring library would move to their current premises in Market Walk. The gallery was moved to the first floor of the building, and given three different gallery spaces to show artwork. The gallery and library have shared the space ever since. The commemorative plaque attached to the original gallery building still stands today, celebrating Young's generous donation to the city.
Since the 1970s, the Young Gallery's collection has continued to grow, thanks to the endowments of both Young and Creasey, and now includes a diverse collection of artwork and prints. The collection features significant bodies of work by Robin Tanner, Edgar Barclay, William Goldsmith, and a growing collection of contemporary artworks including photographs by leading British photographers Fay Godwin and Tony Ray Jones. Other leading artists featured in the collection include Henry Moore, Cecil Collins, Peter Randell-Page, Basil Beattie, Prunella Clough and David Hockney. In the spirit of its inception, the Gallery remains free to visit and continues to celebrate and collect artworks by local artists and creatives, and those depicting local scenes.
The Young Gallery previously consisted of two charitable trusts, the Edwin Young Collection and the John Creasey Museum. These were merged to become the Young & Creasey Gallery Trust (Charity number 1186571) in 2024. Wiltshire Council is the sole trustee of the charitable trust.
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