Kelmscott House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelmscott House |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name | Kelmscott House |
| Designated | 17 June 1954 |
| Reference no. | 1193040 |
Kelmscott House is a very special old house in Hammersmith, London. It's a beautiful brick mansion built around 1785. This house overlooks the River Thames. It is considered a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic building that must be protected.
For many years, from 1878 to 1896, Kelmscott House was the London home of William Morris. He was a famous English artist, writer, and designer. He created amazing patterns for textiles and wallpapers.
The house was first called The Retreat. William Morris later renamed it after a village in Oxfordshire. He had another home there called Kelmscott Manor. Near Kelmscott House, Morris also started his own printing business. It was called the Kelmscott Press, and he began it in 1891.
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Who Lived Here Before?
Kelmscott House has a long and interesting history with many famous residents.
Sir Francis Ronalds' Family
The property was once owned by the family of Sir Francis Ronalds. In 1816, he did something amazing in the garden. He built the very first electric telegraph system there. This was a huge step in how people communicated over long distances.
George MacDonald's Home
From 1867, the house was known as The Retreat. It became the family home of George MacDonald. He was a poet, minister, and novelist. While living here, he wrote two of his most famous children's books. These were At the Back of the North Wind (1871) and The Princess and the Goblin (1873).
William Morris's Time
William Morris moved into the house in October 1878. He lived there until he passed away in October 1896. During his time, he created many of his famous works.
Kelmscott House Today
Today, Kelmscott House is a private home. However, parts of the building are open to the public.
William Morris Society
The basement and the old coach house entrance are now the headquarters for the William Morris Society. This group helps people learn about William Morris and his work. You can visit their premises on Thursday and Saturday afternoons.
Socialist League Activities
The William Morris Society also sometimes brings back the local branch of the Socialist League (UK, 1885). This was a group that William Morris was involved with. They are interested in ideas about fairness and equality in society. For example, they took part in the 2011 London anti-cuts protest and paraded a banner again in 2012.
