Subject

Designer, author and visionary socialist. Born Elm House, Walthamstow, Essex. The family moved to Woodford Hall in 1840 and to Water House in 1848. He moved in with his friend Edward Burne-Jones first at 1 Upper Gordon Street and then at 17 Red Lion Square. Here he and Burne-Jones joined DG Rossetti in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. With Burne-Jones and others formed the decorating firm Morris & Co. His wife, Jane, became a semi-invalid but still managed two major affairs, one with Rossetti, who lived with the Morrises for a time in a ménage à trois at William's much-loved home at Kelmscott Manor near Lechdale. Her other affair was with Blunt. Co-founder of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Died at Kelmscott House, Hammersmith. Buried at Kelmscott church, Lechdale.