William Morris Gallery

After the heat of last week, I didn't think I would be going anywhere. It was too hot to think, let alone go out. I walked Rue earlier and earlier (he even went without a walk one day). He was suffering, even at night, with his cool mats and the windows wide open. But come Sunday the temperature dropped, and me and a friend went off to the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow. I'd been before, but not my friend. She's become very interested in William Morris since we've known each other. Maybe it's all the places I drag her!

William Morris lived in this house, then known as The Water House, from1848-1855 with his widowed mother and eight brothers and sisters.As a child he loved messing around in the large garden. He also wrote some of his poetry here and was visited by his friend Edward Burne-Jones.

After the Morris' left, the house became the home of Edward Lloyd, a publisher of Penny Dreadfuls. After his death, his son Frank donated the house and gardens to Walthamstow. The gardens opened to the public in 1900.

William Morris window

The picture shows Red House in Bexleyheath, designed by Philip Webb for William Morris

By Edward Burne-Jones

We arrived in time for lunch in the lovely cafe and then set off to look around. The exhibition gallery was closed as they were dismantling the last exhibition, but the rest of the place was open. Since I was last there they have put all the fabric samples behind glass. You used to be able to touch them, but I guess with all those hands over the years, the fabrics wouldn't have survived.

William Morris was always concerned for his staff and made sure their working surroundings were pleasant, including planting flowers around the outside of the workshop.

Model of the workshops at Merton Abbey Mills with the River Wandle running through

Settle

A painting of Morris' shop in London

Wallpaper Book

Music cabinet with painted panels by Philip Webb

The house seemed smaller, but perhaps that's because the exhibition space was shut. I can't remember what was there last time. After wandering around rooms, we spent a long time in the gift shop! Then we grabbed a drink and sat outside, before having a wander around the gardens. It was very busy in Lloyd Park where every family seemed to be celebrating birthdays.

To clarify, the gallery is about to close as part of the Renewal Project and reopens in October. It will be interesting to see what it's like then.