Ancient, unpretentious and rooted to its rural community and landscape setting, Kelmscott Manor was the ‘beloved Oxfordshire home’ of William Morris and his family.
In 1961 ownership of the estate devolved upon the Society of Antiquaries of London; it was a property of international significance in a perilous state of repair. A five-year programme of renovation and conservation saved the Manor and its outbuildings. Sixty years later, the £6 million Kelmscott Manor: Past, Present and Future project has safeguarded the estate’s future. This comprehensive project will enable the Society of Antiquaries to deliver an imaginative and engaging experience for new and returning audiences.
In this illustrated talk the Manor’s Curator, Kathy Haslam, will discuss the extent of the works from infrastructure to interpretation, the challenges and complexities of working with a site of such fragility and significance, the research that has informed decisions at every level, and the Society of Antiquaries’ vision for the site. She will take questions after the talk.
This is a virtual event that will be held on Zoom. Please register below.
Dr Kathy Haslam FSA is a specialist in William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. She has worked in curatorial roles at various institutions, including Victoria and Albert Museum, The Museum of the Home (formerly Geffrye Museum) and Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House. Since 2012 she has been responsible for the collection, displays and exhibitions at Kelmscott Manor. She acts as Advisor to the William Morris Society on collections-related matters.