William Morris museum threatened with closure

[biffvernon]

Closure Threat to Morris Museum

A museum dedicated to the life and work of William Morris, one of Britain's foremost designers and a major influence in the revival of stained glass, is being threatened with closure.

Treasures from the Arts and Crafts movement worth millions of pounds, including Morris's original sketches for the acanthus-leaf wallpaper, a design classic, and his woodpecker tapestry, will become less accessible, along with bronzes by Auguste Rodin and work by pre-Raphaelites Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Works by his Pre-Raphaelite colleagues and his followers - Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Philip Webb, Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo and the Century Guild - give a fascinating insight into the 19th century artistic milieu he inhabited.

The gallery's curator Peter Cormack, who has been at Walthamstow for almost thirty years, is one of the most respected Morris experts on the international circuit, particularly specialising in stained glass. In terms of original research the Walthamstow exhibitions have been exceptional for a local gallery. Especially revealing was Cormack's marvellous show on 19th and early 20th century women stained glass artists. With the closure of the gallery all this accumulation of knowledge and expertise would go.

Waltham Forest borough council, in east London, has cut back the opening hours of the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow to save money, even though many of the exhibits on the site are the gift of artist Sir Frank Brangwyn, one of Morris's students, who stipulated that all the donated pieces should be on view to members of the public for a minimum period each week.

Former Culture Secretary Chris Smith has joined campaigners fighting to save the museum. They warn that closure would bring shame on the local politicians involved.

A gathering at the William Morris Gallery was scheduled to occur this morning, Tuesday, 13th February. According to Chairman of the Friends of the William Morris Society, Martin Stuchfield: 'more than 160 people attended the public meeting at Greenleaf Road Baptist Church. This represented a wonderful achievement and sent out a powerful message in the best possible way. We must maintain the pressure and momentum'.

Morris was born in Walthamstow in 1834. The gallery was once the designer's family home. He became an ardent medievalist and socialist and developed his famous 'golden rule' for living: 'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.'

http://www.keepourmuseumsopen.org.uk/
http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/news/wmg-vhm.htm

 

[Nemesis]

Yes I knew of this - but the strange co-incidence is that I've just been writing something about Mackmurdo! Great minds Biff, or fools seldom differing?

 

[andrew gayton]

this is a national treasure................. it must remain.

 

[Nemesis]

I understand one T Jowell has failed to fight the heritage corner and EH's dosh for the coming year has again not kept up with inflation.

Still, it's not the Olympics so who cares?

 

[CHRIS]

From the local rag last week.

http://www.walthamstowguardian.co.uk/search/display.var.1161749.0.united_in_anger_at_plans_to_restrict_museum_hours.php

Nemesis you are right, if it is not the Olympics the council does not care.

I grew up a few streets away on Forest Road and remember it well but I have moved now, it does not suprise me at all as the council is skint and all services are now truly terrible - may be thats why after living 200m away for 65 years my Dad sold his house and moved to New Zealand last week.