William Morris Gallery facts for kids
Front view of Water House
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| Established | 1950 |
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| Location | Walthamstow, London, E17 |
| Type | Museum and exhibitions |
| Public transit access | |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 19 October 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1065620 |
The William Morris Gallery is a cool museum in Walthamstow, London. It's all about the life and amazing work of William Morris. He was a famous English designer, writer, and social activist from the Arts and Crafts Movement.
The museum is located in a beautiful old building called Water House. This house is very important and has a special Grade II* listing. The large gardens around the building are now a public space called Lloyd Park.
Contents
Discover William Morris's Work
The William Morris Gallery has the biggest collection of items related to Morris. You can see his designs, writings, and learn about his work as a social activist.
The main exhibition has 9 different rooms to explore:
- 1. Meet the Man: Learn about William Morris's early life and where he grew up.
- 2. Starting Out: See his first artworks and who inspired him. This includes Pre-Raphaelite artists and art critic John Ruskin.
- 3. Morris & Co: Find out how Morris started his design company and what his goals were.
- 4. The Workshop: Discover the special ways Morris designed and made his creations.
- 5. The Shop: This interactive room lets you imagine what it was like to shop for Morris's designs in Victorian London.
- 6. Ideal Book: Explore Morris's love for printing and designing books. You can even see an original copy of his book, Earthly Paradise.
- 7. Fighting for a Cause: Learn about Morris's strong beliefs and how he worked to make society better.
- 8. Arts and Crafts: Understand the important art movement that William Morris helped to create.
- 9. Frank Brangwyn: See artworks by Frank Brangwyn, who was one of William Morris's students.
The museum also hosts special art shows. For example, it has shown works by artists like Eamon Everall.
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Original design of "Trellis Wallpaper"
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The Morris & Co Room
History of Water House
Water House was built in 1762. William Morris lived here with his family when he was a teenager, from 1848 to 1856.
Later, in 1856, a newspaper owner named Edward Lloyd bought the house and its land. His son then gave the house and grounds to Walthamstow in 1900. These grounds became what we now know as Lloyd Park. The building officially opened as a museum in 1950. The Prime Minister at the time, Clement Attlee, opened it.
Museum Improvements
In 2009, the museum received money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to plan big improvements. They got more funding in 2010, which was matched by the local council. This allowed for a major renovation project.
The museum closed in 2011 for these updates and reopened in August 2012. The changes included a new section with a special gallery for temporary art shows. There's also a tearoom with a balcony that looks out over the gardens.
When the museum reopened, a huge artwork by Grayson Perry called the Walthamstow Tapestry was on display for the first month.
Awards and Recognition
In 2013, the William Morris Gallery won two big national awards. It was named Museum of the Year. It also won the Museum and Heritage Shows's award for Best Permanent Exhibition.
Explore Lloyd Park
| Lloyd Park | |
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| Visitors | 1 million per year |
| Open | From 7.30am, daily. |
| Awards | Green Flag Award |
The gardens of Water House are now known as Lloyd Park. This is a public park looked after by the local council. The park even has an area surrounded by a moat, which is older than the house itself!
Lloyd Park has many fun things to do. You can find a café, public toilets, and even artist studios. There's a play area, tennis courts, a skate park, and basketball practice areas. The park also hosts a regular food market called Lloyd Park Market.
Waltham Forest Theatre
A building was put up in 1937 on an island in the moat. In 1972, it became the Waltham Forest Theatre. This theatre was popular until the 1990s. A local actor named Jack Watling performed many plays there. However, it eventually stopped being used and was taken down in 2011 as part of the park's redevelopment.
See also
In Spanish: Galería William Morris para niños
- List of single-artist museums
