• Architects to complete a £3.7m extension to the UK’s only dedicated gallery to the work of William Morris, to reopen to the public on 2 August 2012, in time for the 2012 Olympic Games
• £10m revamp of gallery, gardens and park creates a new world-class destination to explore the life and works of William Morris, the revolutionary and globally influential designer, decorator, environmentalist and political activist
• New galleries, learning resources and Georgian orangery inspired extension 

Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects have worked tirelessly to transform the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, London, the place of Morris’ birth – into a new world-class destination and international centre of excellence for the study of Morris, where visitors can enjoy the most intense and personal encounter with one of the foremost creative artists and original thinkers of the nineteenth century. Both the William Morris Gallery and the Gardens will open on 2 August. Entry is free.

The William Morris Gallery is housed in Morris' family home where he lived from 1848 to 1856. The 18th Century, Grade II* listed building has been completely refurbished, revealing many of the orginal Georgian features for the first time and enabling people to experience the house as Morris would have done. The gardens have been restored using design and planting inspired by Morris and plans of the garden from the 18th Century. The drive to the house has been remodelled as a circular carriageway sweep, giving a fitting, and historically accurate approach to the house. The Gardens have been restored as part of a wider refurbishment of Lloyd Park, in which the Gallery is situated.

The transformation delivers increased and fully-refurbished exhibition space with three new galleries and the chance for previously unseen works to be displayed, a library, research and education centre and a new Georgian orangery-inspired extension housing a new tearoom and balcony overlooking the gardens.
Key elements of the transformed William Morris Gallery
The work has created approximately 50 per cent more exhibition space and increased the number of galleries from nine to 12, including a new temporary exhibition space.

• Existing building and gallery restoration: Restoration and new lift access to all floors has been implemented. Throughout, existing fabric has been re-used, re-furbished, improved and restored as much as possible with an approach of ‘minimal intervention’: all existing windows are refurbished & draft sealed; all existing historic shutters have been made user friendly and operable; existing doors are retained and refurbished; existing walls, ceilings and floors have been improved through surface treatment and application of light colours.
• New tea rooms and large balcony over looking the gardens and park. Housed in the new extension inspired by Georgian & Victorian Orangery precedents the tearoom’s windows incorporate William Morris ‘Thistle’ frit pattern.
• New education and research centre and library: including into two craft studios one ‘wet’, one ‘dry’ and lecture theatre and research library. New special exhibition gallery: Housed in the new extension, the new 60m² gallery provides a large flexible space for temporary exhibitions.
• New Museum shop: Stocking William Morris inspired items from around the world.
• New object store: 118m² transforming the objects that can be held on site and increasing the rotation of objects to and from the Galleries

Chris Robbins, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “The new-look William Morris Gallery is truly stunning and promises a wonderful family day out whether you’re visiting from a few streets away or another part of the country altogether.

“We’re all extremely proud to have been part of the multi-million pound development. The work has seen the building restored to its former glory and complemented by a new tearoom, a fantastic new exhibition space, beautiful surroundings and the means to have more of our collection on display than ever before.

“It’s a first-class destination and a true one-off for fans of Morris or anyone interested in art and design – fields that continue to draw influence and inspiration from Walthamstow’s most famous son to this day.”

Wesley Kerr, HLF London Committee Chairman, said: “William Morris famously said ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’ The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted that the representation of Walthamstow’s wonderful William Morris Gallery follows that advice; our grant of £1.6m has made the childhood home and landscape which inspired the 19th century’s most influential designer to show 50 per cent more exquisite objects in a fabulous setting.

“Morris wanted ordinary people to enjoy quality Arts and Crafts artefacts - from furniture to stained glass, tapestries to pottery - and the Gallery presents hundreds from its world class collection, inside the now fully accessible and expanded 18th-century mansion. There’s a new cafe, fresh exhibition spaces and an exciting programme of activities which will connect Morris’s cross-cultural designs with all communities.

“The £3.5m which HLF and the Big Lottery Fund have jointly awarded to Lloyd Park means that Waltham Forest has been able to undertake a once in a generation restoration of Gallery, ornamental gardens and Park - with its rare medieval moat - giving a huge boost for visitors and residents.”

William Morris, born in Walthamstow in 1834, was a founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, supporter of the Pre-Raphaelites, a socialist pioneer, designer, craftsman and visionary, whose work still influences these fields today. The collection housed at the William Morris Gallery is the only one in the world to represent all aspects of Morris’s work and the transformation of the building provides a unique opportunity for the visitor to become immersed in the life and works of this creative genius.

The William Morris Gallery was first opened in 1950 by then Prime Minister Clement Attlee, reflecting Morris status to political thinking and his contribution the nation.
The redevelopment works in the Gallery have been carried out by Pringle Richards Sharratt Architects only made possible by funding from Waltham Forest Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) as well as many notable trusts, foundations, sponsors and Friends of The William Morris Gallery. The restoration of Lloyd Park has been made possible through funding from Waltham Forest Council, HLF and the Big Lottery Fund.

Almost 600 objects will now be on display across 12 galleries. Many artefacts are on display for the first time and arranged across six major themes exploring different aspects of Morris’ life.