History of Puritan Values

Since 1998, Puritan Values has grown into one of the United Kingdom’s leading centres for Arts and Crafts Movement, Aesthetic Movement, Anglo Japanese, Gothic Revival and British decorative arts from circa 1850 to circa 1950. Based in the historic Dome building in Southwold, our showrooms and restoration workshops hold one of the largest curated collections of art furniture and architectural antiques in the British Isles.

Last updated: November 2025

The Dome in Southwold, restored Art Deco building that became the home of Puritan Values in 1998

About Puritan Values

Puritan Values opened at The Dome in January 1998, occupying the former 1926 Drill Hall that was built during the height of the Roaring Twenties. This striking Art Deco style building, which we carefully restored, retains its original character and coastal charm.

Inside, we installed an original Art Nouveau staircase salvaged from a London tenement in Chelsea. It was restored and adapted to fit the building. The original pine Tongue and Groove panelling covering the walls and ceilings was retained, preserving the history and atmosphere of the interior.

The Dome contains over 13,500 square feet of retail and display space, making it the largest collection of Arts and Crafts and decorative works of art for sale in the British Isles. Only around half of our stock is visible online. Please contact us if you are searching for something specific.

About Tony Geering

I left school at 16 and began a four year engineering apprenticeship with British Road Services. By 20, I moved into the Oil and Gas Industry with Vetco Gray, eventually working on shutdown systems that are still used internationally today. At 24, driven by a lifelong passion for art and antiques, I left the industry to pursue this calling full time.

My early years were spent in auction houses such as Durrants and at Brick Lane Market in East London during the early 1990s. These formative years were a true apprenticeship among seasoned dealers whose knowledge, experience and stories helped shape the foundations of Puritan Values.

House clearances followed, revealing both valuable antiques and the personal histories behind them. Over time, my attention became increasingly focused on the Arts and Crafts Movement. Its honesty, craftsmanship and ideals remain at the core of what inspires me and continue to guide the philosophy of Puritan Values today.