William Morris Gallery

The gallery is located at Water House, a Grade II* listed Georgian building in Walthamstow that was Morris’s family home from 1848 to 1856.

What to see at the William Morris Gallery

The gallery has permanent exhibition space devoted to William Morris’s life and work. Exhibits include carpet, rugs, furniture, stained glass and embroidered and woven fabric designed by Morris and the other craftspeople who worked alongside him in his firm, Morris, Marshall, Faulker & Company.

Highlights of the gallery include:

• Morris’s medieval-style helmet and sword, which was made as a prop for the Oxford Union;
• the original design for the Trellis wallpaper, one of Morris’s early wallpaper designs;
• the Woodpecker tapestry, woven at Morris’s Merton Abbey workshop;
• The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, printed at Morris’s Kelmscott Press;
• wallpaper designed for Queen Victoria; and
• the Sussex chair, which is one of Morris’s more popular mass-produced products.

The gallery also has works by other artists in the Arts and Crafts movement who were inspired by William Morris. These works include decorative arts (mostly furniture, ceramics, glass and textiles) designed by Sidney Barnsley, Frank Brangwyn, Ernest Gimson, Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo and the Century Guild as well as Morris’s daughter May Morris.

The gallery also has displays on Morris’s life including the letter he wrote to his mother explaining his motives for devoting his life to art as well as displays on his political views as an early proponent of socialism.

The museum went through an extensive redevelopment project, reopening in August 2012. Displays are complemented by audio and video as well as hands-on interactive exhibits making it accessible to both William Morris enthusiasts and to people new to Morris’s work.

Temporary exhibitions at the William Morris Gallery

The gallery has a programme of temporary exhibitions, some of which have an entry charge. Current and upcoming temporary exhibitions include:

Art Without Heroes: Mingei
Art Without Heroes: Mingei (until 22 September 2024) is the UK’s largest exhibition on Mingei, the Japanese folk-craft movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. Featuring various media including ceramics, woodwork and textiles, the exhibit incorporates unseen pieces from private collections, museum loans and historical footage. Coined by Yanagi Sōetsu (1889–1961), Mingei values traditional craft, unnamed makers and a simpler life. The exhibition explores Mingei’s historical context, principles relevant to modern craft, and its dialogue with the British Arts and Crafts movement. Divided into three parts, it covers 19th-century inspirations, the 20th-century movement led by Yanagi, Hamada Shōji (1894–1978) and Bernard Leach (1887–1997), and 21st-century interpretations, including works by contemporary artists like Theaster Gates.

Visiting the William Morris Gallery

The William Morris Gallery is located in Walthamstow in northeast London. It is on the grounds of Lloyd Park, around a 15-minute walk north of Walthamstow Central tube and railway station.

Walthamstow Central station is at the northeastern terminus of the Victoria line and it is also served by Overground trains from London Liverpool Street station in the City. From Walthamstow Central station, simply walk north on Hoe Street until you get to Gaywood Road and follow Gaywood Road for three minutes until you get to the gallery.

The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday and admission to the permanent collection is free of charge but there is often a charge to visit temporary exhibitions.

All areas of the gallery are fully wheelchair-accessible.

The gallery has a gift shop selling a variety of items printed with William Morris’s designs and an orangery-style tea room with views of Lloyd Park. The tea room serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

There is quite a lot to see here and you can spend 2–3 hours exploring the museum.

If you enjoyed the William Morris Gallery you may also want to visit Emery Walker’s House in Hammersmith and the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in South Kensington, which has a strong emphasis on decorative art including many works by William Morris. At the V&A it is possible to have afternoon tea in the William Morris-designed Morris Room.