Oh hallowed ground!
From the National Trust website: "The only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement, Red House is a building of extraordinary architectural and social significance. When it was completed in 1860, it was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'. Only recently acquired by the Trust, the house is not fully furnished, but the original features and furniture by Morris and Philip Webb, stained glass and paintings by Burne-Jones, the bold architecture and a garden designed to 'clothe the house', add up to a fascinating and rewarding place to visit."
a counter-clockwise walk around house......
northside
the kitchen garden
The British are such masters of the beautiful garden. Here the most basic raised beds are bordered by simple sticks---nothing fancy but quite easy and beautiful (although I'm left with the nagging thought that if I lined my garden beds with sticks it would just look like I hadn't done my fall clean-up yet.....need that magic British touch!)
Also in the garden, attached to the back of the house, is the site of the old greenhouse that was torn down and replaced by bomb shelters (above) during WW2. These themselves are now quite rare and being preserved for posterity by the National Trust.
This bench alcove is through the archway you see two pics above. Again, it is such a simple design you could easily and inexpensively do something similar anywhere you had an alcove. A plank bench rests on bricks and the tile back and sides are bordered by a piece of molding that was probably added last. Morris made the tile and they are quite faded, apparently because he used improper glazing.
Tomorrow the interior....even more fabulous!
Posts
