The Building Exploratory HERITAGE THEME: HISTORIC BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES KELMSCOTT HOUSE, 1878-1896, Hammersmith, Grade II* Listed TREASURE DESCRIPTION: Kelmscott House is a Georgian mansion at 26 Upper Mall in Hammersmith, overlooking the River Thames. It was the London home of English textile design- er, artist, writer and socialist William Morris from April 1878 until his death in 1896. Originally called ‘The Retreat’, Morris renamed it after the Oxfordshire village Kelmscott, where he lived at Kelmscott Manor from June 1871. It contains original watercolours, textiles, wallpa- pers and books made by his Kelmscott Press. Grade Listing Number: 119340 Image Courtesy of: Stuart Swan HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE William Morris, founder of the Arts & Craft Move- from a Hammersmith rug and woven hangings to ment, lived in this house for the last 18 years of printed cottons, silks and embroideries. his life (1878-1896). Nearby, Morris began his “adventure” in printing with his private press, the The coach house is where Morris started his Kelmscott Press, which he started at 16 Upper ‘Hammersmith’ carpets before moving to Merton Mall in 1891. Abbey Mills. The carpets made at Merton Abbey were hand-knotted or tufted and continued to be Today the building is private though the basement known as ‘Hammersmith Rugs’ from their place and coach house entrance serve as headquarters of origin. This was to distinguish them from the of the William Morris Society. The Society has a machine-made carpets made by outside contrac- collection of Morris & Co wallpapers, watercol- tors. our designs and a selection of textiles, ranging VOLUNTEER REFLECTIONS William Morris was very creative and produced decorative art in a range of different forms including textiles, furniture, wallpaper, stained glass windows, book design and tapestry. A famous William Morris quote is: ‘Have nothing in you house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’. KELMSCOTT HOUSE, 1878-1896, Hammersmith, Grade II* Listed SIGINIFICANT PEOPLE The property was once owned by Sir Francis Ronald, who constructed the first electric tel- egraph in the garden in 1816. From 1867, then called ‘The Retreat’, it was the family home of poet, minister and novelist, George MacDonald. William Morris lived here from 1878 to 1896. It is now headquarters of the William Morris Society. Image Courtesy of: Stuart Swan Home of English textile designer William Mor- ris. He revived traditional textile arts and meth- ods of production. In 1881 William Morris acquired Merton Ab- bey Mills as the new home of Morris & Co’s workshops (1875-1940). The firm’s medieval inspired aesthetic and re- spect for hand-craftsmanship and traditional textile arts had a major influence on the deco- ration of churches and houses into the early 20th Century. Image Courtesy of: Stuart Swan References: Kelmscott House Garden: London Parks & Gardens Trust PrimaryFacts.com: primaryfacts.com/143/William-morris-facts/ WilliamMorris.org: www.williammorrissociety.org.