Holy Grail tapestries loaned to Kelmscott Manor in rural Oxfordshire

Kelmscott Manor in rural Oxfordshire is famed as the country retreat of Victorian polymath William Morris who was one of the great re-inventors of ancient and disregarded crafts, rejuvenating amongst other things historic embroidery, early printing techniques, vegetable dyeing, calligraphy and tapestry weaving.

Visitors to Kelmscott Manor this season can see stunning examples of his enthusiasm for this technically challenging craft. Guests will encounter the drama of two tapestries from Morris & Co.'s breathtaking Holy Grail series, designed in 1890 and regarded as one of the greatest achievements of the Arts and Crafts movement. By that date Morris & Co. had raised the art of tapestry weaving to new heights, producing exquisite examples on looms set up at the company's Merton Abbey works.

The series was designed by Morris and his close friend and associate Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones to illustrate the quest for the Holy Grail by the Knights of the Round Table. The tapestries have been loaned to the Manor for the 2023 Open Season thanks to the generosity of one of its long-term supporters, Lord Lloyd-Webber. Kelmscott Manor is open to the public from 1st April- 28th October.

To find out more, visit www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor