William Morris & His Gardens
About the event
William Morris is celebrated as the preeminent pattern designer of the nineteenth century, and as a forefather of the environmental movement, yet the gardens that informed his creative vision have remained largely overlooked. From Red House and Kelmscott Manor to Kelmscott House and his remarkable factory garden at Merton Abbey, these landscapes were not simply settings for his life but vital sources of artistic inspiration, shaping his patterns, decorative arts, writing and pioneering environmental thought. Cultural botanist, writer and heritage advisor Gavin Francis Stoneystreet traces Morris’s relationship with these four gardens, revealing how each reflected a distinct moment in his life and artistic development. Drawing on previously unpublished archival material, he offers a fresh perspective on Morris as an intuitive artist, devoted gardener and cultural thinker, demonstrating how an understanding of his gardens deepens our appreciation of one of Britain’s most influential designers. To mark the publication of William Morris & His Gardens, the talk will be followed by book sales and signings.
