Kelmscott Manor and Village

Oxfordshire

24th July 2016                                                    Photos by Hetty

Kelmscott Manor is a member of the HHA, and was William Morris‘s home

First we looked in Kelmscott church, which has Norman parts and a bellcote with a 13th century bell. Additions and alterations are medieval, but it was not altered after 1530. This is largely due to William Morris preventing a Victorian rebuild. He and his family are buried here.

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Norman doorway with Tudor door

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S1052442 copyNorman pillars c.1210, with original wall paintings on the arches. The nave is plastered, as it was in medieval times.

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11th or 12th century font

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The wall paintings in the north chapel date from c.1280

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Stained glass c.1430 – St George and the dragon

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The roof was raised in Tudor times, but the corbels that supported the previous roof remain

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Then we walked through Kelmscott village, passing the Old School  (1872)S1052456 copyThe village hall built in 1934, a memorial to William Morris by his daughter, was opened by George Bernard Shaw

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The Plough, built 1631

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Outside is the base of a medieval cross at an old crossroads

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William Morris’s wife had this pair of cottages built in 1902, in memory of her husband, and he is depicted on a panel

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Manor Farm rebuilt c.1700

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has a dovecote

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and barns

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There are unusual fences made of vertical stone slabs

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17th century barn at Kelmscott Manor

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Dovecote and stable

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Kelmscott Manor was built c.1570 and extended in 1670, for the Turner family. William Morris lived here from 1871 to 1896, mainly in the summer.

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The fireplaces and tapestries are from the times of the Turner family. The fabrics were designed by William Morris

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This unusual staircase is modern and very steep, but it works well (public access to the attics required a second staircase)

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The old kitchen

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Field Barn

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The manor is very near the Thames Path, so we walked a short way along the Thames and saw some boats

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Ugly ducklings, but no heads!

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All images on the website copyright of HettyHikes.co.uk

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