Kelmscott Manor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelmscott Manor |
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Kelmscott Manor
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| Type | Manor House |
| Location | Kelmscott |
| OS grid reference | SU 25096 98888 |
| Area | West Oxfordshire |
| Built | 1570 |
| Owner | Society of Antiquaries of London |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Kelmscott Manor | |
| Designated | 12 September 1955 |
| Reference no. | 1199373 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Garden wall, attached summerhouse and privy at Kelmscott Manor | |
| Designated | 30 Mar 1989 |
| Reference no. | 1053381 |
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Kelmscott Manor is a beautiful old house made of limestone. It is located in the village of Kelmscott, in West Oxfordshire, England. The house was built around 1570. A newer part was added in the late 1600s. It is a very important historic building, listed as Grade I on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is considered a building of special interest. The manor is close to the River Thames. The nearest town is Lechlade-On-Thames.
Contents
History of Kelmscott Manor
Early Years: 1570 to 1870
A local farmer named Thomas Turner built Kelmscott Manor. His family owned the house for many years. After George Turner passed away in 1734, the house was rented out to others.
The house was first called Lower House. It became Kelmscott Manor in 1864. This happened when James Turner bought 53 and a half acres of land. He also gained control of the local area, which was called the lordship. After James died in 1870, his nephew Charles Hobbs took over. Charles then rented out the property.
William Morris's Home
Kelmscott Manor became the country home of William Morris in 1871. Morris was a famous writer, artist, and designer. He lived there until he died in 1896. Today, the Society of Antiquaries of London owns the manor. You can visit it on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the summer.
Morris loved the house's original design and how it was built. He also found great ideas from its garden and surroundings. Kelmscott Manor is featured in Morris's book News from Nowhere. It also appears in the background of a painting called Water Willow. This painting shows his wife, Jane Morris, and was made by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1871.
After William Morris died in 1896, his wife Jane Morris continued to live there. She bought the house in 1913. Later, their daughters lived in the manor. May Morris, one of his daughters, died in 1938. She left the house to Oxford University. Her wish was for the house's contents to be kept safe. She also wanted the public to be able to visit. However, the University did not want to keep the house as a museum. So, in 1962, they gave the house and land to the Society of Antiquaries.
Kelmscott Manor Today
Restoration and Features
When the Society of Antiquaries received the manor, it was in poor condition. Much work was done in the 1960s to stop it from falling apart. Many of the main roof beams were rotten. This meant a lot of the house's structure needed to be replaced. Inside, the walls and floors were made stronger. A new porch was added to the North entrance. In the 1970s, the Society bought the barns next to the manor. They turned them into a shop and a tearoom for visitors.
The inside of the manor largely looks as it did when Morris lived there. You can see many of his famous textile patterns. There is also a lot of his original furniture. Visitors can explore all three floors of the manor. This includes the attic spaces. These areas were once used by farm workers. Morris's bedroom still has many of his original books. It also has a collection of prints by Dürer. Other rooms show furniture from his other homes. These include Red House and Kelmscott House in London. You can also see artworks by Rossetti and Sir Edward Burne-Jones. There are even paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Younger.
The manor reopened in April 2022 after a big restoration project. The Society carried out this work. They received about £6 million in funding. This money came from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It also came from the Kelmscott: Past Present and Future campaign. The project involved a lot of work on the house's structure. The interior was also renovated. The manor is still a Grade I listed building.
The Gardens
The garden at Kelmscott Manor has many old trees. There is a very old black mulberry tree behind the house. The front garden has a wall around it. There is also a summer house in one corner. Both the wall and the summer house are listed as Grade II historic structures. The front garden is filled with many standard roses. Part of the original orchard was removed to create a small car park. However, many fruit trees are still there.
William Morris loved Kelmscott so much that he named other things after it. His home in London was called "Kelmscott House". The private press he started was called "the Kelmscott Press". Morris is buried in the village churchyard. His friend and colleague Philip Webb designed his tomb.
See also
- Arts and Crafts movement
- Fasnacloich, a country house in Harrisville, New Hampshire said to be based on Kelmscott Manor
