Monday 3 August 2015

The Red House (London Museum #20)

This was the home of William Morris from 1860 -1865
William Morris (1834-1896) was an English textile designer, artist, writer and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. This is the Red House designed by Morris and Philip Webb. Webb went on to be one of the major architects of the Gothic Revival movement in England.







You enter the house through a large wooden door with beautiful stained glass windows. They are designed by Anthony Holloway and represent the four seasons.



       


                 


Also in the hallway is this piece of furniture painted by Morris, based on Mallory's Morte d'Arthur.










From the hall you go into the dining room  with the original dining room table still in place as well as the fireplace with its decorative tiles.









Also in the dining room is this  an embroidery of Aphrodite designed by Morris and thought to have been worked by his sister-in-law, Bessie Burden. It returned to the Red House in Feb 2009 after an absence of 143 years. It was bought at auction in Edinburgh in 2007 and has recently been conserved and put into a frame so that it could go on display. The original plan by Morris was to have 12 embroideries of female figures from Geoffrey Chaucer's poem The Legend of Good Women.






Morris, his wife Jane, Webb and the painter Edward Burne Jones all worked together to design everything in the house from the wallpaper to the furniture as well as the stained glass windows.
















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Some of Morris's wallpaper designs that have been found in the house and reproduced to give you an idea of what the house would have looked like.


           















The ceiling above the hall








Detail of the ceiling's design.



In one of the bedroom's is this settle. On top of the settle is known as the  minstrel's gallery and was used to perform plays at Christmas time. The wall paintings are by Edward Burne Jones and were a wedding present to William and Jane.
                         




When the National Trust took over the property in 2003 they began to remove the modern paint and have discovered many of the original pieces of artwork beneath.




This room was used as a studio. It had excellent natural light

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This is the design on the ceiling. Whilst the one below is the wallpaper design.








The gardens are much smaller than you would normally find in a  National Trust property but this is a house in the middle of a suburban area in Bexleyheath SE London.








33 comments:

  1. This is beyond lovely. Each aspect overflows with the tender touch of its creators. The windows especially are magical. The two small acorns on the chair are also inspired.

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  2. Wow, every detail was thought about and created with love.

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  3. Beautiful house with interesting interiors.

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  4. What an awesome, incredible place!! Beyond lovely indeed!! Terrific captures!! Thanks so much for sharing this today!! Have a beautiful new week!!

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  5. I admire Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites and would like to visit the Morris house. Every aspect of it was designed to be harmonious.

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  6. Wow, what an amazing home. Such incredible tapestries!!

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  7. Hello, what a beautiful home! It looks grand! I love the windows and the embroidery. The grounds are pretty too, lovely post and images. Have a happy new week ahead!

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  8. I adore that amazing stained glass, like nothing I've ever seen before. And the wallpaper is simply amazing! :-)

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  9. That house is so beautiful and the decorations and furnishings all look so well together. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

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  10. Morris lived very well! I love Art Nouveau.

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  11. The windows are especially beautiful but your pictures really do show what a wonderful place it is
    I think they showed the house on the TV show "Flog It"?

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  12. The windows are especially beautiful but your pictures really do show what a wonderful place it is
    I think they showed the house on the TV show "Flog It"?

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  13. Nice insight into this house. I love the stained glass and the style of the house.

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  14. Aside from the decoration, the house itself is architecturally fascinating.

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  15. What an amazing house. The title reminds me of a song by one of my favorite musicians - "There's a red house over yonder..."

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  16. I love William Morris's works. Beautiful home, love that arbour, and the stained glass is exquisite.

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  17. Oh my - so gorgeous!

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  18. I just wanted to ask where this beautiful house is when I read it is in a suburban area in Bexleyheath !
    Could live in there of course only with enough servants !

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  19. Nice. We have some arts and crafts style houses in the suburb in which we live - I always go and have look inside them when (if) they come up for sale.

    Sorry my image perplexed you!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  20. Whatv a nice place with so many details. Great they find missing pieces and bring them back where they belong.

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  21. I love those windows, they are sooo beautiful

    mollyxxx

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  22. It is a beautiful house. Some of the inside designs are a bit overpowering but how interesting that they designed everything themselves.

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  23. I love the windows and the mosaics... so intriguing, like full of mystery. That sure looked like a very interesting home. I specially love that sitting area with two throw pillows by the window. Someday, I would like to have a bay window in my home similar to that. :-)

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  24. The details are wonderful. I've never heard of designing one's own wallpaper before.

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  25. I like everything that you've shown of the house and garden. The love and joy that Morris, his wife, and friend had for the house shows. Thanks for sharing.
    Take 25 to Hollister

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  26. This is a lovely old house, I'm glad it is being preserved.

    Diana

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  27. Been to his house in Kelmscott and want to visit this one as well

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  28. It's a beautiful house - I particularly like the line of round windows. The gardens look good too.

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  29. A labour of live. From the original design and build through to the restoration. I enjoyed this tour so much ... Thanks for it!

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  30. A home filled with inspiration. No wonder these intricate William Morris fabrics are still popular today.

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  31. such a beautiful house. But you could visit it for the windows only :) Thanks for sharing.

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  32. What a talented man. Glad to know the house is preserved now for all to enjoy. And why would someone paint over the lovely artwork?

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