Comments on: At Kelmscott House, Hammersmith

By: Alison Lynch

Alison Lynch — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 14:25:47 +0000

Thank you so much for this. I’ve always wanted to see inside – it’s so weird as a Londoner not to have visited. And my great grandfather is in that picture you posted of the Hammersmith Socialist League! He was originally a chemistry teacher , from an Irish background – Co.Tyrone – and Morris persuaded him to study medieval texts and that was his life from then on… Morris’s influence with regards to socialism, education, and the arts, really did change my great grandfather’s (and his family’s) life.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 13:10:57 +0000

I have been a big fan of the Arts & Crafts movement for decades, and especially of Wm Morris so knew about Kelmscott Manor and the Red House, but Kelmscott House is a new one on me. During the early 1960s I lived within walking distance of Merton Mills where both Morris and Liberty had their workshops. Even the pub there alongside the River Wandle is called The William Morris. The curtains at my windows are Wm. Morris design – of course. I think I must join the William Morris Society, and perhaps I too might get the chance to visit this wonderful house.

By: Margret Strohbach

Margret Strohbach — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 06:04:10 +0000

I remember visiting Kelmscott House in the early 1970ties,when I prepared for my thesis (for becoming a teacher of arts and handicrafts in Germany) Enjoying the daylight of a sunny summers day I felt really happy and welcome in it. I did a little research in the Walthamstow Library too and read a lot of and about William Morris and his friends.
Thank you for this detailed article with the fine photos. It was a real pleasure for me! Margret

By: Sherri

Sherri — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:48:15 +0000

Thank you so much for this! I long to visit London–my favorite large city–again soon, but until then, I love reading about these special places.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:48:58 +0000

A beautiful house, very well kept and a lovely place to visit. Especially as it’s also by the River Thames too. I used to come up to Hammersmith on many occasions as a child back in the late 1960s and early 1970s to get to the motorway to travel to the West Country and always looked out of the window to admire the river and the buildings that lined the route west. When i last came up this way to visit Hammersmith Bridge before any work began on it i took a stroll to this house and was amazed it has survived in all its glory. Perfection

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 12:40:43 +0000

Mother’s milk! I am always eager to learn more about William Morris. I went through a deep dive on him a couple of years ago, acquired endless reference books, and created a series of mixed media panels inspired by WM. He seemingly attempted everything — textile design, tapestries, tile, book arts, typography, furniture design, etc, etc. I smiled to read he decided he “needed” a personal suit of armor (well, yeah………….) and taught a local blacksmith how to make it. I don’t know if any photographs exist of Morris in his armor — but I have concocted an image of a rumpled stalwart Knight, trailing scraps of sketchbook pages, notes, and To Do lists. In one of the many biographies, I read an observation that he died at an early age……….”from being William Morris”. Surely he was one of the most productive, curious, dedicated, and fascinating artists ever.
(And influential! It seems that every time I begin to research a new-to-me artist of ANY era, they mention the deep influence of Morris. )
Thank you for adding to our knowledge of this singular man.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 12:25:53 +0000

What an absorbing and interesting article.

William Morris also created patterns that were printed on to the linoleum manufactured by the company Nairn in my home town of Kirkcaldy in Fife. I have seen samples in the V and A.

Nairn’s lino was shipped worldwide where it was laid in all sorts of buildings and homes due to its hard wearing and hygienic properties. The company still exists today under the name of Forbo and they have an expert team of layers who travel all over. I was tickled when I found a showroom whilst out walking in Basel one evening. I grew up with the odour of linseed oil permeating the air, it was known as “the Kirkcaldy smell”.

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:01:29 +0000

What a marvelous garden, incredible wallpapers, fantastic house, stunning Islamic carpet. I’ve always admired William Morris. Thank you.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 07:37:07 +0000

Well, today’s write-up is very timely for me as I’ve just visited Kelmscott Manor in Lechlade (stunning) and am planning on a trip to The Red House soon.

By: Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 05:50:15 +0000

Thank you, that was a most interesting article. As I am unfamiliar with Hammersmith, I looked up the location on Google Earth and was somewhat horrified to see the unpleasant building to the left of Kelmscott House. The planning officers who approved the design (and total eradication of the garden) should be ashamed of themselves.