Red House Bexley: The 19th century home of William Morris

William Morris, famously known for his work in design, art and socialism, was and still is an integral part of British art to this day, with many people still showcasing his designs in their homes.

Some of his most famous works include Strawberry Thief and Peacock and Dragon, and over the course of his career Morris produced over 50 wallpaper designs.

But did you know that the south east London borough of Bexley has strong ties with Morris?

Bexley has strong ties with William Morris, famously known for his work in design, art and socialism. (Image: National Trust Images/Andrew Butler) On Red Lion Lane you’ll find an opening within a brick wall leading to Red House, a striking brick building that was the former home to William Morris and his wife.

Red House was first built in 1859 by Philip Webb in a neo-gothic style, that was a cutting edge and largely popular architectural style during the Victorian period.

Red House is a striking brick building that was the former home to William Morris and his wife. (Image: National Trust Images/Andrew Butler)

With its striking appearance, many windows and simplistic brick structure, celebrating the material from which it was made, it is still studied by many architects to this day.

​Although the house isn’t as red as it once was, you can still see examples of where the brickwork has been restored to show you just how vibrantly red the house once would have been.

The structure is still studied by many architects to this day. (Image: National Trust Images/Andrew Butler)

The property came under the care of the National Trust in 2003 and it is celebrated as being William Morris’ former home for five years between 1860 and 1865.

The house was intended to be their home where they would receive clients and friends, however during their time at Bexley many were unable to make the trip from London to the borough.

So after five years in the house during the early stages of his artistic and socialist career, Morris decided to swap the quiet life in Bexley to live once again in Bloomsbury to help his business prosper.

The property came under the care of the National Trust in 2003. (Image: National Trust Images/Andrew Butler) The house is described by National Trust volunteers as William Morris’ ‘medieval style mansion”, with its interior finishes and woodwork that nod to the era.

The house has several rooms to see if you visit, where you’ll see many examples of William Morris’ wallpaper that he produced after leaving Red House as his career advanced.

The house is described by National Trust volunteers as William Morris’ ‘medieval style mansion”. (Image: National Trust Images/John Hammond) However, when Morris lived there the house was instead covered with ceiling art and wall paintings, some of which were painted by himself, his friend Dante Gabriel Rosetti and his wife Jane Morris.

The National Trust has begun to peel pack some of the wallpaper to expose some of the original features beneath, including a wall painting depicting biblical figures painted by Morris himself with his friend Rosetti, which was discovered in 2013.

The house has several rooms to see if you visit. (Image: National Trust Images/Nadia Mackenzie) The house also features original woodwork pieces that the house had or would have had during Morris’ time there, including a cupboard by Philip Webb with artwork depicting various characters from Chaucer.

You can also see examples of how furniture would have looked, as many pieces of woodwork would have been in a deep red shade named “Dragon’s Blood” to match the medieval aesthetic of the house.

The house also features original woodwork pieces that the house had or would have had during Morris’ time there. (Image: National Trust Images/John Hammond)

The house also features a small garden with a number of interesting features, from a neo-classical style well to a pagoda walkway running parallel with the house.

The house also features a small garden with a number of interesting features. (Image: National Trust Images/Andrew Butler) The gardens also feature a kitchen garden, with many of the crops that would have been used to stock the kitchen at the time Morris was in residence, and a small second-hand bookshop housed in the former stables. 

The kitchen garden has many of the crops that would have been used at the time Morris was in residence. (Image: National Trust Images/Chris Davies) You can visit the house today, which is owned and managed by the National Trust, with house tours bookable between Thursdays and Saturdays and on bank holiday Mondays, running from 45 minutes to an hour.