Watts Gallery, Art museum in Compton, England
Watts Gallery is an art museum in Compton housing a collection of over 7,000 works by Victorian artist George Frederic Watts, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, prints, and photographs. The exhibition spaces use natural light and display the works as the artist originally intended them to be seen.
The museum opened in 1904 in a Grade II* listed building designed by architect Christopher Hatton Turnor as a dedicated space for Watts' legacy. The artist established this place to preserve and present his body of work to future generations.
George Frederic Watts created this space not simply as a gallery but as part of an artists' village with homes and working studios. Visitors experience Victorian art within the setting that Watts himself envisioned, with works displayed in their original context.
Wear comfortable shoes as the exhibition spaces are spread across multiple levels with lighting that changes throughout the day as natural light shifts. Plan to spend several hours if you want to see most of the collection without feeling rushed.
The chapel beside the museum was designed by Mary Watts, the artist's wife, showcasing Arts & Crafts craftsmanship in every detail. This rare example shows how the artistic couple created an integrated vision across multiple buildings.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
