Evans_familygallery-about

Chaucer on Bridge Street Gallery in Uralla, on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, is owned and operated by the Evans family. David and Helen purchased the building in 2000 so that David would have a place to display his art works, as well as as having a studio to work in.

In 2013 and 2014 the gallery was operated by Fiona McDonald, niece of David and Helen. Fiona expanded the business to include hand made toys and gifts. She called it Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard. In 2015, Fiona has moved to a shop at 120 Dangar Street in Armidale and Michael has moved to Armidale and hopes to spend most weekends in the gallery making pottery.

In 2016 Jenny, Helen's daughter has been developing the manuscript room in which examples of David's wonderful calligraphy and illuminated manuscripts can be seen. Some are also for sale. Visitors can see David's hand printed book about the epic poem, Beowulf, and hear a recording of David reading part of the introduction and text. You can also hear The Lord's Prayer in old English. Illuminated copies of the Lord's Prayer are available for sale. Jenny has added some hand made replica jewellery mainly from Viking, Saxon and Early English times and this is also for sale.

Ceramics by Michael Evans, son of David and Helen, are a feature of the gallery.

Michael, David and Helen. David and Michael inside the gallery.

History

The building at 42 Bridge Street Uralla, has an interesting history. It was built in 1886. It was originally a billiard hall and confectionary shop. The family owning the business lived in part of the building, which includes four upstairs rooms and a balcony.

The date of this picture is unknown but a number of different business enterprises followed the original ones, including those mentioned on the postcard. The shop was also a barber's shop, a wine shop, a boarding house, and perhaps it was briefly a brothel.

Patrons entered the billiard room through a different entrance to the main shop, and an impressive skylight provided light over two slate billiard tables. The building is made from red Uralla bricks and the main downstairs area has fine pressed metal ceilings.

Here are two photos probably taken in the early 1900's. The tree which hides the upstairs balcony area, is no longer there. More modern businesses were a craft co-operative and a pine furniture shop. Twenty first century safety requirements for a fire escape, mean that the upstairs rooms cannot be used as part of the commercial gallery.

On the Uralla heritage walk, the building is number 25.