thumb|main entrance to kelmscott manor. thumb|kelmscott manor. thumb|upright|kelmscott manor. thumb|tombstone of the morris family in the nearby churchyard. kelmscott manor is a limestone manor house in the cotswold village of kelmscott, oxfordshire, england. it dates from around 1570, with a late 17th-century wing, and is a grade i listed building. it is situated close to the river thames, and it is frequently flooded. the nearest town is faringdon in the vale of the white horse. ==history 1570 to 1870== the house was built by local farmer thomas turner and remained in the family for many generations. after george turner died in 1734, the house was rented out.britain express kelmscott manor: history, travel and accommodation information (accessed 14 aug 2011) the house was originally called lower house, but became kelmscott manor when james turner (d.1870) purchased 53Â½ acres of manorial land together with the lordship in 1864. after james died the manor passed to his nephew, charles hobbs, who let out the property. ==william morris and family== kelmscott manor was the country home of the writer, designer and socialist william morris from 1871 until his death in 1896. today it is owned by the society of antiquaries of london, and is open to the public on wednesdays and saturdays during the summer.kelmscott manor website opening times and admissions (accessed 16 aug 2011) morris drew great inspiration from the unspoilt authenticity of the house's architecture and craftsmanship, and its organic relationship with its setting, especially its garden. the manor is featured in morris' work news from nowhere. it also appears in the background of water willow, a portrait of his wife, jane morris, painted by dante gabriel rossetti in 1871. after william morris's death in 1896, the manor continued to be occupied by his widow, jane morris (who purchased it in 1913) and later, his daughters. may morris died in 1938 and bequeathed the house to oxford university, on the basis the contents were preserved and the public were granted access. the university were unwilling to preserve the house as 'a museum piece' and passed the house and land to the society of antiquaries in 1962. the internal decor today is
Arts_and_Crafts_architecture_in_England Country_houses_in_Oxfordshire Grade_I_listed_buildings_in_Oxfordshire Grade_I_listed_houses Historic_house_museums_in_Oxfordshire Visitor_attractions_in_Oxfordshire West_Oxfordshire William_Morris