William Morris Gallery reopens after major restoration

The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, London, is set to reopen on October 3 following a major £1.5 million restoration and rehang project. This marks the first significant overhaul since the gallery’s 2012 redevelopment and coincides with the 130th anniversary of the death of designer and activist William Morris.

Led by architect Sam Jacob, the project focused on restoring the historic Water House—the former home of Morris during his adolescence—to create a more domestic and accessible atmosphere. The restoration involved transforming six exhibition spaces, enhancing architectural details, and utilizing local craftspeople to create furniture-like plinths.

The reopening will feature previously unseen items, including a dress designed by Morris for his wife, Jane, and items related to the Hammersmith Socialist League. The project was funded by the Garfield Weston and Wolfson foundations, alongside the Waltham Forest Council. Gallery director Hadrian Garrard noted that the approach aims to move away from formal institutionalism toward a space that reflects Morris’s philosophy of finding importance in the details of everyday life.