We lived in Bexleyheath for nine years- but in all that time, I never went inside the Red House – the home of the artist William Morris – although I drove past it often. At that point, it was still in the private ownership of the Hollanby family. They did open it to the public four times a year – but I never managed to be available on the right days. Now the house is in the care of the National Trust- and last Saturday we packed a picnic and drove over to see it [Jon cycled, and met us there] The house is amazing – the NT are still working on it [the new cafĂ© and giftshop open next week] I took loads of photos. Click on the collage for a closer look![february 2014 february 2014](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCiIk9jhztpm7SHRLZ_ZcE4FwpU3sOsf3X5INEGYFP3xU639b6imq2zNfXP_L-u2nDCx6kWKsXA2gRhrLY3bxumfEUnHAczVJc1sePedVWPMcAxdICociLADL658brwSeAsfhQN0rvcXr/?imgmax=800)
Morris said “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful” - and the house is decorated with lots of beautiful wood panelling, clever brickwork, wall paintings, and textiles.
![IMG_1544 IMG_1544](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjp5vH9BtT-KT4NQks1DYQINlghEtB7I8AxYKB_0ZE-mChEL7M5AuZJvAIe7xKOUaqN_u3Yob7TJb5p0fNet-gCRVQXzeUv_j-2iiz7ROHUtPQNcGYVevUHnyz7Bm6aZ399hF6nwUSbEM/?imgmax=800)
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His personal motto was “Si je puis” [If I may] and crops up all over the place, on stained glass windows and tiles. On another door, I found two lions painted over the Latin tag “Esto quod esse videris” [Be what you seem to be] Over one mantel, “ars longa, vita brevis” [art is long, life is short]
![IMG_1541 IMG_1541](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWv2amcc69bMZVMSpHMic8A9GxrPhvpyTsjjkN8Kr2R87fEb8q_nc7A5DxZeh9gFwQF-0kQWNXR36yMLMlNnr8x9JS9hthCW0rs2T4qTqUCT1l94bUdqnLqQxfaTqca4d77OhIVITvTI5/?imgmax=800)
Over another [in English at last!] Our content is our best having![IMG_1556 IMG_1556](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bROBALsZmLcT4uZgnoq7eSMa-he6KkPPdT8joQoheQBLjQtzNE6WutJrZtMQpIXrFatKLmE6T91YauCgy7p9UbsIbctqsEG9gv7uQShAyo2emhaimM1o3XVRL01g7T2HqmSFZOMclO3e/?imgmax=800)
Although the wood and brickwork was beautiful, I think my favourite items were the fabrics and the embroideries. The detail was amazing. This is Aphrodite [believed to have been sewn by WM’s SIL] She’s had a ‘modesty panel’ attached across her hips! The stitching is lovely – look at those shaded cheekbones [nearly as good as those of newsreader Romilly Weeks]
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I felt that I wanted to go home and start doing some crewel work immediately. Of course I didn’t- but I have put it on my 52 Projects list! I thought of many of my blogfriends as we wandered around. I could see this embroidered cushion at The Custards and this fabric in the Land of the Strawberries!
![IMG_1539 IMG_1539](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRf1qQllMlZTBKT5Nj8JQlzoF754rNJIe99La8ox2swOaCnOBhCZIj2BKDUEpIbwEut47UC9DktnkxwQCwX0yyA7DD6hmJSqeOf4Uy_2WtNX_jy3CuGqQCJGNJE2Q7fQWUBrEYWydBjcX/?imgmax=800)
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Because it was half term, there was even a Wombat Trail for the children. Do check out the NT Red House site. Good to visit, with free parking nearby and picnic benches in the lovely garden outside.
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“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”
Well, it is probably a good thing to aspire to – but looking around me as I sit at the PC, I realise I will have to declutter drastically before I get anywhere near Morris’ ideal!