William Morris’ Kelmscott Manor – Then and Now. Thursday 27th August. Kathy Haslam.
Ancient, unpretentious and rooted to its rural community and landscape setting, 17th century century Kelmscott Manor was the ‘beloved Oxfordshire home’ of Victorian polymath William Morris and his family.
Largely known nowadays for his designs, Morris was also an extraordinary writer, craftsman, social thinker and activist. When the Society of Antiquaries of London took ownership of the Manor in 1960 it was a property of international significance in a perilous state of repair. A five-year programme of renovation and conservation saved it.
It has recently undergone another major project to preserve and re-present it, bringing the materiality and homeliness of the Manor’s interiors back into focus through the research that has informed decisions at every level.
In this illustrated talk, the Manor’s Curator, Kathy Haslam, will look at the Morris family’s relationship with Kelmscott Manor, and at some of the challenges and complexities of working with a site of such fragility and significance.
William Morris’ Kelmscott Manor
Find out more about Kelmscott Manor by visiting the website here: https://kelmscottmanor.org.uk/
When and where
Our talks take place in the council chamber in Swindon’s civic offices on Euclid Street. Doors open at 7pm.
£8 for members and £10 for non-members. As with all our talks you can pay at the door. In cash or via credit card.
Find our full talks programme here: https://friendsofmas.org/events/categories/talks/
Join the Friends
Find out more about joining the Friends and the ways in which we support the work of MAS here: https://friendsofmas.org/membership/
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Date/Time
Date(s) - 27/08/2026
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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