In 1937 the Guild moved into new premises on Red Lion Street, Holborn, marking one of the most significant developments in its early history. The opportunity arose when member Hayward Marks learned that a shop had become vacant; after negotiations with the landlord and a period of redecoration, the Guild took possession on 27 February 1937. The building comprised a shop with window display space, three upstairs rooms and a cellar for storage.
Puppeteer and Guild member John Carr constructed a stage with lighting, and a sales stand was installed. One upstairs room was set aside for weekly evening meetings, while the larger shop space hosted the monthly gatherings, which were often crowded. Another room served as the secretary’s office, and the final upstairs room housed the Guild’s growing collection and archive. It was in this room that dance historian Cyril Beaumont wrote much of his influential book Puppets and the Puppet Theatre, underscoring the importance of the Red Lion Street premises as both a creative and scholarly hub.
