William Morris and His Gardens

Exploring the gardens of William Morris—Red House, Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott House, and his factory garden at Merton Abbey—and the central role they played in his life, his patterns, and workWilliam Morris (1834–1896) was the preeminent pattern designer of the nineteenth century; his designs in continuous production have become part of the national consciousness. Less attention has been given to the gardens that inspired his patterns, influenced his wider craftwork and writing, and informed his place as a forefather of the environmental movement. Cultural botanist Gavin Francis Stoneystreet journeys through Morris’s gardens to reveal a lesser-known figure: a tender father, an intuitive artist, a dreamer with a wild sensitivity. Each garden is a unique expression of his life and art in the moment of its making, with his response to the qualities of each place and its vegetal life ever present. His factory garden at Merton Abbey is also unearthed to reveal a radical utopia in the heart of industrial London. Featuring previously unpublished archival material, this book brings to life the ubiquitous “Morris print” and reveals a deeper understanding of the designer’s life’s work. William Morris & His Gardens forms a sincere example of how to live a creative life in sympathy with nature.