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ONE TO DO ON YOUR OWN
William Morris's bed recently spent five months
at Tate Britain as part of an exhibition but it has
now come home to Kelmscott Manor on the River
Thames in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Groups can
only visit this splendid property which is looked
after by the Society of Antiquaries of London on
Thursdays between April and October and as most
dates (but not all) are now fully booked for 2013
this is something to plan now for 2014.
William Morris chose Kelmscott as his summer
home in 1871, signing a joint lease with the
Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti,
who’d been having an affair with Jane Morris for
many years. Morris loved this Tudor house as a
work of true craftsmanship, totally unspoilt and
unaltered, and in harmony with the village and the
surrounding countryside. Kelmscott Manor looked
to Morris as if it had "grown up out of the soil".
In addition to the beautifully furnished and
decorated rooms of the house there’s a lot to see
outside in the attractive gardens including
dovecotes, barns and a wonderful three-seater
privy! To make the most of your day out I would
suggest the following plan: Arrive at Kelmscott
Manor for pre-booked coffee and biscuits.
The coach can drop you right outside the gate and
there is room to park a coach (you need to bags this
single space as they can accommodate two coach
parties on any given Thursday). Over morning
refreshments a knowledgeable volunteer guide will
give you a 20-30 minute introductory talk about
William Morris and the manor after which you can
browse the rooms at leisure. There are descriptions
to read as well as house stewards in each room
who can answer your questions.
Stay on site for a pre-booked lunch and afterwards
allow an hour for a leisurely exploration of the
gardens and a walk out to look at the River Thames
before setting off to walk into the village, which
will take about five minutes. Kelmscott village is
very attractive with buildings designed by Ernest
Gimson and Philip Webb - associates of Morris.
William Morris, his wife and daughter are all
buried in the churchyard.
has useful descriptive notes
for the village buildings and history. End your day
with a glass of wine or maybe a hot drink at the
village pub The Plough ( 01367 253 543).
This day would run quite well if you arrived at
Kelmscott Manor between 10.45 and11.00am and
had the coach collect you at The Plough at 4.45pm.
So: 11.00am coffee and introductory talk, 11.45am
visit the house, 1.00pm lunch on site, 2.30pm visit
the gardens and Riverside before 3.30pm walking
into the village and finishing the day with drinks at
The Plough from 4.00pm. Head home at 4.45pm.
Call Kelmscott Manor on 01367 253 348 or go to
Morning coffee,
lunch and the house visit will cost in the region
of £25.00 per person.
Kelmscott
Manor
Oxfordshire
William Morris