Kelmscott House

Kelmscott House is a Georgian brick building in Hammersmith that sits on the Upper Mall overlooking the River Thames across three storeys with substantial windows. The property includes a coach house at ground level, which now functions as a museum space.

William Morris, the influential textile designer and artist, established this as his London residence in 1878 and named it after Kelmscott village in Oxfordshire. He lived here until 1896, using the space to pursue his artistic and craft work.

The William Morris Society maintains a museum in the coach house, displaying original works, including Morris's Albion printing press used for the Kelmscott Press Chaucer.

The house sits directly on the riverside with easy pedestrian access from Hammersmith along Upper Mall. Visitors should check opening times beforehand since the museum operates on limited days and may have restrictions for group bookings.

Sir Francis Ronalds built the first working electric telegraph in the garden in 1816, a groundbreaking invention for communication technology. This early scientific achievement occurred long before Morris arrived at the site, revealing how the location held importance across different historical periods.

Location: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Architectural style: Georgian architecture

Address: Upper Mall

Website: https://williammorrissociety.org

GPS coordinates: 51.49050,-0.23540

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:02