Last updated: 01/10/2019
For those who have visited London and want to do something new or are very interested in design, it is worth including in your travel itinerary the William Morris Gallery, an art gallery that is a very different tour.
WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
Opened in 1950, the William Morris Gallery is a public museum dedicated to the artwork of William Morris (1834-1896), the most inspiring British designer of all time. The gallery is located in London's Walthamstow district, in the mansion where the Morris family lived between 1848 and 1856. The gallery's collections illustrate Morris' life, work and influence.
The collection includes printed fabrics, fabrics and embroidery, rugs, carpets, wallpaper, furniture, stained glass and painted tiles designed by Morris himself and other leading artists. The gallery also has a substantial collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics and glass by Morris' followers in the "Arts and Crafts" movement, which flourished from the 1880s to the 1920s.
In front of and mainly behind the gallery are the gardens of the house. The place is now known as Lloyd Park, named after editor Edward Lloyd, who lived in the house between 1857 and 1885. This green area is well worth a visit after taking a tour of the gallery, as the gardens include a wealth of landscape art and even an area surrounded by a moat. .
HOW IS THE VISIT TO WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
The gallery's exhibition seeks to explore in detail the life and work of revolutionary Victorian designer, craftsman, writer and activist William Morris. The tour is divided into 9 galleries that are organized thematically and focus attention on the significant collection of textiles, furniture, ceramics, paintings, drawings and personal items related to Morris and his associates, including Pre-Raphaelite artists. There are interactive areas and explanatory videos about production methods for your articles.
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> GALLERY 1: MEET THE MAN
This gallery seeks to tell who William Morris was, what he did to become famous, the reasons his gallery was located in this place. The exhibition seeks to show different facets of his life: as a designer, craftsman, storyteller, political activist and poet.
> GALLERY 2: STARTING OUT
In this exhibition you will learn that Morris never had formal artistic training. In fact, he shocked his family when he decided to dedicate his life to art. This gallery tells a little about the artist's early influences, his early drawing efforts and how Morris enlisted the help of his young friends to decorate the Red House, a house where he lived and still has much of his art today. (Learn more in the post: Red House: innovative architecture and decor in London).
> GALLERY 3: MORRIS & CO. (Morris & Co.)
Morris and his artistic friends wanted to revolutionize design and change people's tastes. For this, they developed a strong brand identity for their decoration business based on quality materials and design led by famous artists of the time. The gallery shows how the business became a successful company. There are a number of products on display here, including fabrics and even wallpaper designed for Queen Victoria.
> GALLERY 4: THE WORKSHOP
Morris sought to ensure the highest quality of his products by insisting that they were all made by skilled artisans using the finest materials possible. Since he was inspired by nature, his drawings are full of birds, plants and animals. In this part of the exhibition, you can discover how artisans and apprentices made the famous cotton fabrics, rugs, tapestries and stained glass, using traditional techniques from around the world rather than industrial manufacturing methods.
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> GALLERY 5: THE SHOP
This part of the exhibition is quite different. It looks like a store inviting visitors to become consumers, imagining a visit to the elegant Oxford Street store in central London.
> GALLERY 6: IDEAL BOOK
Morris was passionate about books and, in addition to reading a lot, was also a poet. This gallery showcases just his love of literature, including long narrative poems in the English language and Icelandic sagas. In the last decade of his life, Morris decided to learn a new trade. He set up a private press and became a book designer. In this part of the exhibition, a series of original drawings can be seen by visitors.
> GALLERY 7: FIGHTING THE CAUSE
Morris is very committed to social causes. When he was in his late 50s, he became a radical socialist, focusing his energies on the cause to create a free and fair world where all people are equal. He also fought for the preservation of heritage and the environment. The gallery shows a little about this facet of the artist, who traveled around the country giving speeches until he was arrested. There is a film that explores how Morris' concerns and actions relate to the problems that society still faces today.
> GALLERY 8: ARTS AND CRAFTS (Arts and Crafts)
Morris inspired a new generation of artists, designers and creators who shared his enthusiasm for quality materials, craftsmanship and designs based on natural forms. This gallery displays a selection of stained glass, ceramics, metalwork and textiles. There's even an embroidered cape designed by Morris' daughter May.
> GALLERY 9: FRANK BRANGWYN
Frank Brangwyn was one of the founders of the William Morris Gallery. He was briefly apprenticed to William Morris in his youth and later became a successful artist. Brangwyn collected artwork for many years. In the 1930s, he donated a large part of his collection, along with many of his own paintings, prints, and decorative art. A selection of this work can be seen in this gallery.
TEA ROOM AT WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
The gallery also has a Café (Tea Room) which offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea in an area that is an expanse of glass. The menu includes sandwiches with fresh ingredients, salads and savory dishes. There are also a variety of pockets produced by artisan confectioners. The place is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
HOW TO REACH WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
The William Morris Gallery is located in Walthamstow, northeast London, and is easily accessible by public transport. The gallery is less than a 15-minute walk from Walthamstow Central Station, serviced by the Overground and for Victoria Line (light blue) from the subway. If you don't want to walk, you can take bus 215 or 34 to the Jewel Road stop. Once there, just walk about 3 minutes on foot until you reach the gallery.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
William Morris Gallery
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- Address: Lloyd Park House, Forest Road, London, Walthamstow E17 4PP, England
- Schedules: Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
- Entrance: free
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- Red House: innovative architecture and decor in London
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How to make an appointment at William Morris Gallery?
Hello Frederick!
There is no need to make an appointment to visit the gallery.
Hugs and a great trip to you! 🙂