Emery Walker’s House

The Arts and Crafts movement is a design aesthetic that was pioneered by William Morris in the late 19th century and which peaked in popularity in Europe and North America between 1880 and 1920. The design principles focus on intricate designs reproduced as textiles and wallpaper as well as handcrafted furniture.

Sir Emery Walker was a typographer, engraver and printer who was a close friend of William Morris. His printing business was closely linked with the Arts and Crafts movement and was involved in reproducing wallpaper featuring intricate Arts and Crafts designs.

The house is somewhat of a hidden treasure that is off the beaten tourist path and not many people make their way out to Hammersmith to visit it. However, it is worth a visit if you have an interest in William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement.

What to see at Emery Walker’s House

Emery Walker’s House is a Grade II*-listed townhouse that is noted as one of the best examples of the Arts and Crafts design aesthetic.

The interior has been restored to show how it would have appeared when Emery Walker was living at the property. It features many of William Morris’s original designs including linoleum in the foyer (the only remaining example of original William Morris linoleum in a domestic setting) as well as Morris wallpaper, curtains and a blue flatweave rug.

There are also a number of personal effects on display in the house including various ceramics collected on his travels abroad and a 1993 National Trust membership card as well as other items including a teapot originally belonging to Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a secretaire designed by Ernest Barnsley, an original proof of The Earthly Paradise and letters from Rudyard Kipling.

Visiting Emery Walker’s House

Emery Walker’s House backs on to the River Thames at 7 Hammersmith Terrace in Hammersmith in west London. It is just over a 10-minute walk from either Stamford Brook or Ravenscourt Park tube station.

All visitors must visit on a one-hour guided tour with tours operating on Thursdays and Saturdays between early March and late November. Each tour is limited to only eight visitors and it is necessary to book in advance to secure a spot on a tour. Bookings are managed by Eventbrite and you can book either through the Eventbrite app or on the house’s page on the Eventbrite website.

Tours cost £11 but are free for Historic Houses members and 25% off if you have a National Art Pass.

It is a historic house with a narrow staircase connecting the three floors that are open to the public as well as steps to the rear garden (a total of 46 steps). It is not wheelchair accessible.

Photography is not permitted inside the building.

It is a relatively small attraction that is visited by only a handful of people so it is not set up with catering facilities like you would expect in a larger museum. However, there are several places to eat and drink nearby including The Black Lion pub, which boasts a vintage skittles alley and the Old Ship, an 18th-century riverside pub with a lovely outdoor terrace.

If you enjoyed a visit to this house, you will probably also enjoy visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum and the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow.