William Morris Society Events Programme
Previous Events
2011 Events
| Sat 29 January 2.15pm | Daniel Robbins on: Frederic Leighton Frederic Leighton’s reputation derives, in part, from the position he occupied at the forefront of British art of the late nineteenth century. From his position as the President of the Royal Academy he contributed to many aspects of contemporary cultural life, participating in innumerable campaigns and issues of the time. However, this talk will focus on his achievements as a practicing artist of great ambition, drive and technical accomplishment and explore the critical reaction to his output. Daniel Robbins is the Senior Curator at Leighton House Museum and was responsible for the recent refurbishment project. He is working on a new edition of the guidebook to the museum and an exhibition about the architect of the house, George Aitchison. |
| Sat 19th February 2.15pm | Tiles and Taste: The Search for Lucy Orrinsmith Mrs Lucy Orrinsmith (née Faulkner), who had been employed by the Firm before her marriage, was commissioned to write The Drawing Room: its decoration and furniture as part of the ‘Art at Home’ Series, a highly successful collection of domestic advice manuals aimed explicitly at a growing lower middle-class readership. Exposing the difficulties of using this book as a conventional source of information on the Victorian interior, this presentation paper aims to recover the hidden history of Mrs Orrinsmith and to explain her involvement with the ‘Art at Home’ Series. Dr Emma Ferry received her Doctorate for interdisciplinary research carried out on Macmillan’s ‘Art at Home Series’ (1876-83) in December 2004. She has published widely on nineteenth women’s involvement in interior design and currently works as a Senior Lecture in Design and Visual Culture at the School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University. |
| Sat 19th March. 2.45pm | A Century of Great Women - part of 'Celebrating the centenary of International Womens Day. An event of words and music about women who have shaped our lives, for better or worse. Download Flyer. The event is taking place at Kelmscott House and costs £10. Cheques are to be made payable to the William Morris Society and sent to their address at Kelmscott House with an SAE. |
| Tue 29th March 11.00am | Visit to the William Morris Gallery Curator-led behind the scenes tour. A last opportunity to see the gallery before it closes at the end of the month when its multi-million pound redevelopment begins. We will hear about the plans for the gallery and see treasures from the storerooms, as well as being able to view the current exhibition on the gallery’s new acquisition, the Peacock and Bird carpet. Meet at the entrance of the gallery. |
| Sat 2nd April (new date) 2.15pm | One Man Out: William Morris and the Aesthetic Movement Morris is usually described as a progenitor of the Aesthetic Movement, which is to be commemorated by an important exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum starting in April. Yet Morris, as a follower of Ruskin, was hostile to some aspects of that Movement, particularly as it was associated with the idea of Art for Art's Sake. It is this apparent contradiction that will be considered in this lecture by Peter Faulkner, a former Honorary Secretary of the Society and editor of the Journal. Following this talk we will have our annual celebration of Morris’s birthday with wine and cake. |
| Sat 21st May at 2.15pm | The William Morris Society’s 56th Annual General Meeting This year’s meeting will take place in the Coach House of Kelmscott House. The Morris Kitsch Archive is an installation created by artist David Mabb that contains over 700 images of commercially produced domestic objects decorated with the textile and wallpaper designs of William Morris. Following the AGM, David Mabb will give the Penelope Fitzgerald Memorial Address by considering the implications of the way in which Morris’ designs have been appropriated for a mass consumer society. The meeting will conclude with tea and biscuits. Admission free. |
| Sat 11 June 2pm till 5pm | Garden Party Joy and Jock Birney, who live in the main part of Kelmscott house, are once again generously opening their garden and house to members and their guests on this afternoon, when tours of the main house for small groups will be available. Refreshments will be served. £7 members, £9 non-members |
| Sun 12 June 10am till 5pm | Open Gardens PLEASE COME AND HELP! We will be participating in the Open Gardens Weekend by inviting visitors to view the gardens at Kelmscott House as well to look around as the WMS Museum. We need your help with greeting visitors, providing refreshments etc. Contact our Curator, Helen Elletson at the WMS Office, details below. |
| Sun 26 June 1.00pm till 5.30pm | Summer Party and Exhibition Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Morris & Company and the 25th Anniversary of the WHS A joint summer event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Wallpaper History Society and 150th anniversary since the foundation of Morris & Company. A full afternoon programme to include printing demonstrations on Morris's Albion Press, a riverside heritage walk, taster tour of the Emery Walker House, lectures and other demonstrations and a chance to view an exciting anniversary exhibition including the finalists of a ceramic design competition from students from the London College of Communication, University of the Arts. A full celebratory afternoon tea (to include strawberries, cake and a glass of bubbly) will be provided. Please contact Caroline McNamara with any booking queries at cmcna12@aol.com. Download Booking Form. Cheques to be made payable to the Wallpaper History Society and sent with your full contact details to: Caroline McNamara, WHS, 12 Roding Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 3ED by 26 May 2011. Prices: WMS & WHS Members £25, Non Members £30, and students £12 |
| Tue 12 to Fri 15 July | Visit to the Cotswolds Visits will include: Selsley church to see the early Morris & Company glass, Gloucester Cathedral for the Christopher Whall glass, Broadway and Chipping Campden to see the houses and workshops connected with the Arts & Crafts movement and visits to Court Barn Museum, the enclosed gardens at Hidcote (National Trust) created by Lawrence Johnston, Chalford church to see woodwork by Peter de Waal, a walk around Sapperton to view houses associated with Ernest Gimson and the Barnsleys, a visit to Rodmarton Manor, visits to Chedworth Roman villa (National Trust), Cirencester church, Colne Valley, Bibury, and ending at Kelmscott. The cost will be around £325 per head, including three nights in single rooms at the Cheltenham University Campus, with meals, coach, and entry fees. |
| Sat 23 July 2.15pm | The Wonder of Woodblocks and Textile Printing Combining their skills as a textile designer and woodblock carver Lizzie and Leo Hillier founded Woven Oak, a small company specialising in block-printed textiles. The traditional block-printing process used by William Morris is at the heart of what they aim to promote. Through their talk and exhibition they hope to increase the awareness of this historic process, giving value again to the principles Morris campaigned for and wrote about during his life. Their talk will include a history of wood block carving and printing from Morris’ work to the present day. They will also refer to their time spent working with artisans in India and give a practical demonstration of carving and printing using traditional methods. The exhibition will include a collection of their hand block-printed fabrics with corresponding woodblocks. |
| Thu 18 August 11.00am | Visit to Leighton House Located on the edge of Holland Park in Kensington, the house is one of the most remarkable buildings of the 19th century. The house was the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). Built to designs by George Aitchison, it was extended and embellished over a period of 30 years to create a private palace of art. The Arab Hall, which was designed to display Leighton's priceless collection of over a thousand Islamic tiles, evokes a compelling vision of the Orient. The opulence continues with gilded ceilings and walls lined with peacock blue tiles by the ceramic artist William De Morgan. Our small group will be given a 1.5 hour guided tour of the house and have a chance to see the recent and most extensive refurbishment in the house's history, which includes the re-introduction of Morris & Company furnishings. Tickets £10 (including entrance fee and guide), numbers strictly limited. |
| Sat 3 September 2.15pm | Morris & Company Tiles Richard and Hilary Myers are the authors of William Morris Tiles, published in 1996. Their book documents the designs produced by Morris himself, other members of ‘the Firm’, and artists associated with it. This illustrated talk will explore the ceramic techniques employed (not always successfully) by Morris; the development of pattern design for tiles in parallel with other media; and figurative subjects on panels ranging in size from just two or three tiles to an entire chancel wall, via the ‘strip-cartoon’ fairy-tale overmantels for Birket Foster’s house and elsewhere. After their talk there will be a display of tiles including the Daisy that initiated their interest, now thought to have been an early prototype. |
| Sat 17 & Sun 18 September 11.00am till 5.00pm | London Open House We need your help with greeting visitors, providing refreshments etc. A detailed knowledge of William Morris is not required. Contact our Curator, Helen Elletson at the WMS Office. |
| Thu 22 September 10.30am (Meet at Kelmscott House) | Visit to 7 Hammersmith Terrace 7 Hammersmith Terrace is a tall Georgian house on the River Thames and from 1903 – 1933 was the home of the printer Emery Walker (1851-1933), a great friend and mentor to William Morris. The decoration and furnishings have been preserved as they were in Emery Walker’s lifetime and feature carpets, wallpaper and furniture from Morris & Company. A final opportunity this year to visit the last authentic Arts and Crafts interior in Britain. We will be given a fully-guided private tour of this beautiful house and its riverside garden with views overlooking the Thames. Please meet at Kelmscott House at 10.30 for refreshments, to be followed by a short arts & crafts riverside walk to 7 Hammersmith Terrace for our tour at 11.30. Tickets £12, numbers strictly limited. |
| Sat 1 October 2.15pm | Sanderson: A Story of English Design Founded by Arthur Sanderson in 1860, Sanderson is an internationally renowned brand in the field of interior design and decorating. Its quintessentially English fabrics and wallpapers offer classic, inspirational product, design innovation and exceptional quality. In 1940 Morris & Company went into voluntary liquidation and Sanderson bought the wallpaper business together with the rights to use the company name, acquiring blocks, logbooks and existing stock. This year will see a new Morris & Company collection revealed to celebrate the 150th anniversary. Michael Parry’s forty-year career with Sanderson’s began as an interior designer and culminated as Managing Director. His lecture will cover the rise, fall and renaissance of the Sanderson business over the past 150 years. |
| Thu 27 October 10:30 – 12:00 | Create an Autumn Collage - Children's Autumn Workshop Investigate the textiles and wallpapers of William Morris to develop your own Autumn collage with our selection of fabrics, ribbons, sequins and buttons. See the education page for full details. |
| Thu 27 October 12.30 - 2pm | Autumn Bag Designing - Children's Autumn Workshop Make a really useful bag to take home with you! Morris's swirling leaves, glowing fruit and enchanting flowers will be the inspiration to produce your own design which will be transferred onto a cotton bag. See the education page for full details. |
| Sat 5th November 2.15pm | Fiona McCarthy on Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris: A Great Victorian Friendship Due to the amount of interest in this lecture, the venue has been changed to larger premises just five minutes’ walk from Kelmscott House in the main hall of: Friends Meeting House, 20 Nigel Playfair Avenue, Hammersmith, London W6 9JY. Fiona McCarthy will be available for book signing of her new publication The Last Pre-Raphaelite and copies will be on sale. Refreshments will be served afterwards at Kelmscott House. Fiona MacCarthy re-examines the friendship and artistic collaboration between Burne-Jones and William Morris in the light of her research for a new biography of Burne-Jones being published this autumn by Faber and Faber. She will argue that their divergences are at least as interesting as their parallels, especially when it came to their opposing views on the politics of art. Fiona MacCarthy’s biography of Morris was published in 1994. She has also written books on C. R. Ashbee, Eric Gill and Byron and recently received the OBE for services to literature. |
| Sat 19 November 2.15pm | Kathryn Ferry will talk on Owen Jones and the Grammar of Ornament Kathryn Ferry is the leading authority on the work of the vitally important Victorian designer and architect, Owen Jones. In her talk she will consider Owen Jones’ progressive attitude to the function and purpose of design and consider the extent to which William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement both drew upon and rejected his approach. |
| Sat 26 November 2.15pm | Florence Boos and Patrick O’Sullivan on Morris and Devon Great Consols. The Devon Great Consols copper mine near Tavistock, Devon, was the main source of the Morris family wealth, and the young Morris clearly benefited greatly from his father’s investment. Later, Morris used at least some of his income from the mine to build up ‘the Firm’, but eventually sold his shares. Many questions remain, however, regarding Morris’s relationship to the mine. For example, why did he apparently never visit it, despite having the opportunity? What was his relationship to his uncle, Thomas Morris, who for a time was ‘resident director’ of the mine? Most important, what lessons, if any, did Morris learn from his directorship of the mine which informed his (later) political shift to socialism, and his critique of ‘the system under which we live as it really is’? These, and other questions will be discussed in the context of an illustrated lecture on Devon Great Consols and its history. Florence S. Boos is a professor of English at the University of Iowa and vice-president of the William Morris Society in the United States. She is the general editor of the virtual Morris Edition, and has recently completed a forthcoming book, Love and Work Enough: The Early Writings of William Morris. Patrick O'Sullivan is an environmental scientist and editor of the Journal of William Morris Studies. He was co-editor (with Stephen Coleman) of William Morris and News from Nowhere (Green Books, 1990), and continues to write and speak on Morris and 'green' issues. |
| Sat 3 December 2.15pm | Talk and Book Launch Martin Crick will speak about his research for his book, ‘The History of the William Morris Society 1955 – 2005’. Martin Crick is an ex-schoolteacher and lecturer, and is currently coach education manager for the Rugby Football League. He is author of ‘The History of the Social-Democratic Federation’ and various articles on labour history and socialist politics. |
| Sat 10 December 2.15pm | Recital by Zadok Baroque Period instrument ensemble Zadok Baroque are to present delightful classical rarities in the form of quartets for the unusual combination of 2 flutes and 2 strings (viola and cello) by JC Bach and CE Graf. To be followed by seasonal refreshments. |
2010 Events
| Sat 16 January | Roger Huddle will talk on: Antiscrap, A Campaign for the William Morris Gallery The future of the William Morris Gallery has been a major concern to the Society and all Morrisians. Roger Huddle is an artist who was an organiser of the campaign against the running down and threatened closure of the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow. He will talk about the campaign and its achievements as well as bring us news of the latest developments. This event will include the showing of a short film. |
| Sun 31 January 7 pm |
Recital by Zadok Baroque Trio Bryon Mahony, flute; Philip Yeeles, violin; and Bridget Cunningham, harpsichord. A concert of English Georgian music played on period instruments. Wine at £2.50 per glass. |
| Sat 27 February | Mohamed Ali ......A contemporary artist speaks about his work, art & politics, and the influence of William Morris Mohamed Ali is an acclaimed young artist who cites William Morris as both an influence and inspiration. He is best known for his large murals, the detailed designs for which draw on Islamic calligraphy and other complex cultural references. Some of his murals have had anti-war and other ‘political’ subjects. This is the first talk in our ‘William Morris’s Legacy Here and Now’ series of talks, which will feature important designers, conservationists, artists, craft workers, writers and others who in their work are inspired by Morris. |
| Sat 13 March | Ian Hamerton on: W.A.S. Benson William Morris’s friend and colleague William Arthur Smith Benson was an architect and designer who is now best known for his innovative design and manufacture of lamps, light fittings, and brass vessels & hollow ware. As well as founding the important Arts & Crafts firm of Benson & Co, W.A.S. Benson headed Morris & Co Decorators after Morris’s death. Our speaker, Ian Hamerton, is the leading authority on the work of W.A.S. Benson and has extensively researched his oeuvre. |
| Sat 20 March | Ashley Givens on: William Morris and the photography of Frederick Hollyer William Morris was an enthusiast for the then new art of photography. Frederick Hollyer was Morris’s photographer of choice, who took photographic portraits of William Morris, his family, and his friends and colleagues. Ashley Givens is a curator at the V&A’s department of Photographs, Word, and Image. Her talk will be illustrated with important and rarely seen photographs from the V&A’s collection. |
| Also on Sat 20 March | William Morris’s Birthday Celebration Come and celebrate William Morris’s birthday. This event will be held in our Library immediately following Ashley Givens’ talk. Birthday cake will be served together with wine at £2 a glass. |
| Tue 20 April | Visit to Wellcome Library This is a repeat of our previous visit in 2008. Julianne Simpson, the Library’s Rare Books Librarian has again kindly agreed to show our party some of the 200 treasured volumes from William Morris’s own library which was acquired by Henry Wellcome after Morris’s death, and to talk about this unique collection. Tickets £10 to members, and £5 to student members. Tickets are only offered to members who did not attend the previous visit. Our party is limited to15 members, so early application is advised. Assemble at the entrance to the Wellcome Library, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE before 2.15. |
| Sat 24 April | Catriona Blaker on: Connections and Contrasts: Aspects of the Life and Work of A.W.N. Pugin. A.W.N. Pugin was the leading architect and designer of the first half of the C19th whose work gave both impetus and direction to the Gothic revival. His contributions to architectural and design theory were a vital part of the contemporary cultural context to which William Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement responded. Catriona Blaker is an authority on Pugin and is the former editor of True Principals, the journal of Pugin studies; she is a founder and a trustee of the Pugin Society. |
Sun Evening 2 May at 7 pm | The William Morris Society present a VERY SPECIAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE MAY DAY: A Supper Party and Special Performance of William Morris’s play The Tables Turned by the New Factory of the Eccentric Actor William Morris’s only play, ‘The Tables Turned’, is an undeservedly neglected masterwork. It was first performed at the premises of Commonweal in 1887, with William Morris himself playing the part of the Archbishop of Canterbury. During the next two years, William Morris and his cast put on a further eleven performances at socialist club venues, including two performances in our Coach House. As well as being of historic importance, (it was the first explicitly ‘socialist drama’ and the original piece of agit prop theatre,) it is also a witty and highly entertaining play. George Bernard Shaw stated he regarded Morris as a great playwright on the strength of this work. This production by the New Factory of the Eccentric Actor may well be the first performance by a professional cast the play has ever had. The performance will be preceded by a buffet supper with wine. Tickets £15 members, £18 non-members, and £10 students. Audience numbers have to be limited to 40. Early applications for tickets are advised. |
| Sat 8 May at 2pm | The 56th Annual General Meeting of the William Morris Society at the Birmingham Art Gallery, off Chamberlain Square, Birmingham Our AGM will this year be held at Birmingham Art Gallery. The AGM accommodation will be sign posted from the gallery entrance lobby. On the rising of the AGM, Dr. Tessa Sidey has kindly agreed to show groups of WMS members some of the drawings by Ned Burne Jones in the Gallery’s reserve collection. Admission to our AGM (and to the Gallery’s superb displays which include Arts & Craft’s stained glass, tiles, and silver, as well as Pre-Raphaelite art) is without charge. |
Sat 22 May | Professor Hassan Mahamdallie on: William Morris’s Vision, the synthesis of art and politics Hassan Mahamdallie has recently made important new contributions to the understanding of William Morris’s political philosophy and how it shaped his art & design theory. He is the author of Crossing the 'river of fire': the Socialism of William Morris. |
| Thu 3 June 11am - 3pm | Parent/Child Drop in Workshop  Click here to view full size flyer |
| Sun 13 June 1pm till 5pm | Open gardens - please come and help us We will be participating in the Open Gardens Weekend by inviting visitors to view the gardens at Kelmscott House as well as the WMS Museum. We need your help with greeting visitors, providing refreshments etc. (A detailed knowledge of William Morris and/or the house is not required.) Contact our Curator, Helen Elletson at the WMS Office, details below. |
Sat 10 July | Catriona Blaker on: Connections and Contrasts: Aspects of the Life and Work of A.W.N. Pugin. A.W.N. Pugin was the leading architect and designer of the first half of the C19th whose work gave both impetus and direction to the Gothic revival. His contributions to architectural and design theory were a vital part of the contemporary cultural context to which William Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement responded. Catriona Blaker is an authority on Pugin and is the former editor of True Principals, the journal of Pugin studies; she is a founder and a trustee of the Pugin Society. This event will be taking place at 2.30pm. |
| Thu 15 July | William Morris in Cambridge: an all day guided visit to Cambridge This visit will be led by Peter Wright. We will visit places with connections to Morris and his associates, including: Queen’s College, Peterhouse College, and The Fitzwilliam Museum. Early booking is recommended as our party will be limited to 24. The event will start at 10.40 in Cambridge. Joining instructions and other information will be given when tickets are issued. Tickets are £12 and include all entrance charges. |
| Sat 17 July | Arts & Crafts Trails start at 7 Hammersmith Terrace at 10.00, 12.00 and 14.00. A riverside trail, highlighting the connections with the Arts & Crafts Movement inthe Hammermsith Mall area starting at 7 Hammersmith Terrace and ending at William Morris's Kelmscott House where the Art Workers Guild and the William Morris Society will have artists demonstrations. £5 per person. To reserve a place call 020 8741 4104. |
| Sat 24 July | Robin Stannard on: Hugh Thackeray Turner Thackeray Turner was Morris’s successor as Secretary to the SPAB. A brilliant and inventive Arts & Crafts influenced architect, his works include notable buildings for the Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair and country houses in Surrey. Robin Stannard’s recent researches have revealed a wealth of fascinating new information about this previously neglected important designer and his dealings with both William and May Morris. |
| Thu 5 August | The Victoria & Albert Museum Reserve Collections: a morning guided visit This visit to the V&A Reserve Collections at Blythe Road, West Kensington, W14, will be led by Duncan Smith, assisted by V&A curatorial staff. We will have the opportunity to see a wealth of interesting items not normally on display, including works by Arts & Crafts designers, and items which Morris recommended to the Museum. Early booking is strongly advised, as the size of our party is limited. THIS EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED. |
| Thu 26th August & Thu 2nd Sept 11am - 3pm |
A parent/child drop-in workshop This free workshop will be the ideal cure for holiday boredom! Children can come and explore arts and crafts in a variety of forms, and create items to take home, whilst at the same time learning about William Morris. Download flyer |
| Sat 11 September 2.15 p.m. |
A Fantasy on Violet Gordon Woodhouse: a performance by Zadok Baroque Violet Gordon Woodhouse was a Victorian virtuoso harpsichordist and clavichordist, who enjoyed a scandalous private life, and whose friends included: Morris, George Bernard Shaw, and Dolmetsch. She will be portrayed in this fantasy by Bridget Cunningham. The part of her flautist companion will be played by Byron Mahoney. As well as music played by members of the Zadok Baroque Trio, there will be readings from Violet Gordon Woodhouse’s diary, biography, and poetry. Early booking recommended as only 40 tickets will be available. Tickets £8 (£4 Students) |
| Sat 18 and Sun 19 September 1pm till 5pm |
London Open House WE DO NEED YOUR HELP We will be participating in the Open Gardens Weekend when again visitors will be invited to view our premises. We need your help with greeting visitors, providing refreshments etc. (A detailed knowledge of William Morris and/or the house is not required.) Contact our Curator, Helen Elletson at the WMS Office, details below. |
| Sat 25 September | Watts’ Symbols and Morals: a talk by Hilary Underwood George Frederick Watts was known in the nineteenth century as “The English Michelangelo”, and widely considered a painter and sculptor of international importance. Perhaps now most regarded for the intensity and psychological insight of his late portraits of chosen Victorian personages, including William Morris, his other now less prized work is also full of interest. Hilary Underwood is a leading authority on Watts will talk about the rich and complex meanings she has discovered in his work. |
| Sat 16 October | The Kelmscott Lecture: Tony Benn on: The Legacy of William Morris Our Kelmscott Lecture this year will be given by Tony Benn. Early booking of tickets is strongly recommended. We are limited to 42 seats for this lecture. THIS LECTURE IS NOW SOLD OUT |
| 7-9 October | "Useful & Beautiful: The Transatlantic Arts of William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites". William Morris Society US Conference - for more information go to the Conference Page |
| Thu 28 October 11am - 2pm |
Children's Workshop this Autumn Half Term We would like to welcome you and your children to our holiday workshop for the half term. The event will take place at the old home of William Morris himself, and children will get the chance to get messy and crafty, creating their own items to take home. In the colourful (although chilly!) midst of the Autumn season, children will be trying their hand at leaf-rubbing, and will get to create greeting cards, wreaths and collages. Admission is free but please do register your interest by replying to this email with your name, or giving us a call on 0208 741 3735, so we can prepare accordingly. Suitable for ages 5- 13 years old. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Many thanks. |
| Sat 13 November 4.30pm |
You are invited to celebrate the launch of William Morris in the Twenty-First Century eds. Phillippa Bennett and Rosie Miles (Oxford & Bern: Peter Lang, 2010) Kelmscott House, Hammersmith  Book cover image: David Mabb, Construct 13. Morris, Willow Boughs/Popova, Untitled Textile Design (2005), paint on wallpaper, 22 x 22 inches. Collection: Vital Arts, Barts and London Trust. |
| Video of the launch of William Morris in the Twenty-First Century | |
| Sat 13 November | Professor Andrew Meharg on: Poisonous Mines, Wallpapers and Seamstresses - William Morris & Arsenic William Morris was a progenitor of the modern environmental movement, but also a man of his time. His fortune was based on some of the most polluting mines in Britain and his widespread fame on interior decor constructed from toxic salts. He also employed the most notorious murderesses of the 19th century. Professor Mehag will explain how the element arsenic links all these activities and explore the contradictions involved. |
| Sun 14 November 2.15 p.m. |
A Recital by the Zadok Baroque Ensemble
Byron Mahoney, Nick Jackmann (flutes) and Michael Mullen (5 string 'Piccolino' Cello) will be playing chamber music on period instruments. The programme of 18th century
music will include: Haydn's London Trios and works by Hoffmeister & Abel. Early booking recommended as only 40 tickets will be available. Tickets £8 (£4 Students) |
| Sun 5 December | A Celebratory Recital by Zadok Baroque Ensemble The programme will include a force of five baroque flutes playing the fabulous and rarely heard Boismortier concerti. As well as the music, seasonal poetry will be read. The recital will be followed by a reception for the members of Zadok Baroque, with mince pies, Xmas cake, and seasonal drinks. Early booking is recommended. We can only accommodate 40 people. Tickets £8 (Students £4) |
| Sat 11 December at 2.15 |
Katherine Ferry will talk on Owen Jones and the Grammar of Ornament. Katherine Ferry is the leading authority on the work of the vitally important Victorian designer and architect Owen Jones. In her talk she will consider Owen Jones’ progressive attitude to the function and purpose of design and consider the extent to which William Morris and the Arts& Crafts movement both drew upon and rejected his approach. Cancelled |
Unless otherwise stated:
- Events are at Kelmscott House starting 2.15 p.m.
- Tickets: members , £6; non-members £8; students £4
All applications for tickets to WMS office via the Contacts and Location Page.
Please note:
- Your participation in any event is entirely at your own risk. The Society cannot accept any liability for injury, loss, or damage, however caused. You must arrange your own travel and personal insurance.
- Kelmscott House has only limited wheelchair access.
- The Society reserves the right to cancel, alter, or postpone any events, as may be necessary.
- Refunds will only be given if a cancellation is by the Society.
The William Morris Society and Kelmscott Fellowship
Registered Charity number 261437