Morris

WILLIAM MORRIS (1834 - 1896)

The celebrated poet, craftsman and socialist was the author of News from Nowhere (1890), the influential vision of a pastoral utopia, as well as much mediaevalist verse, like The Earthly Paradise. He had founded Morris and Co. in 1861 with Pre-Raphaelite friends, including Rossetti (q.v.), and there is much of interest by the firm in the North East. There is a splendid display in the church at Brampton; Christ Church Sunderland has a fine East window, while E.S. Prior's grand church of 1906-7 St Andrew Roker, probably the best in the country of its date, contains tapestry and carpeting by Morris and Co. There is also work by the firm at Cragside and Lanercost Priory.

It was at Bensham Grove in Gateshead, which also has Morris and Co. stained glass, tiles and fittings, that Robert Spence Watson (q.v.) entertained Morris on his visit to the North East in 1887. There was much debate in the house with local politicians and churchmen on society and democracy. Spence Watson describes Morris as ' so attractive, so fiery, so unpractical'. Morris would declaim: 'It's a revolution we must have, a bloody revolution if need be!' Priestley (q.v.) visited Bensham Grove in 1933, in the course of his English Journey but was not aware of this episode.

On Easter Monday, 11 April 1887, Morris, after a six-mile march to Hartford near Blyth, addressed a meeting of miners while perched on a plank - in response to the cry:' If yon man does na stand on the top, we canna hear him!' Morris found it very inspiring to speak to such a large crowd of eager and serious persons: 'I did pretty well and didn't stumble at all.' After a train journey to Newcastle, where Morris met Joseph Cowen in the refreshment room ('very friendly and nice, I must say') the company went on to Ryton Willows along the Tyne for another successful meeting, among the swings, cricket and dancing.

Hartford was the only outdoor meeting Morris ever addressed and he was greatly inspirited by his success in the North East. Back in London, he was disappointed. 'I spoke the next Sunday at Beadon Rd. and couldn't help contrasting our Cockneys much to their disadvantage with the northerners...'

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
WILLIAM MORRIS (1834 - 1896) The celebrated poet, craftsman and socialist was the author of News from Nowhere (1890), the influential vision of a pastoral utopia, as well as much mediaevalist verse, like The Earthly Paradise. He had founded Morris and Co. in 1861 with Pre-Raphaelite friends, including Rossetti (q.v.), and there is much of interest by the firm in the North East. There is a splendid display in the church at Brampton; Christ Church Sunderland has a fine East window, while E.S. Prior's grand church of 1906-7 St Andrew Roker, probably the best in the country of its date, contains tapestry and carpeting by Morris and Co. There is also work by the firm at Cragside and Lanercost Priory. It was at Bensham Grove in Gateshead, which also has Morris and Co. stained glass, tiles and fittings, that Robert Spence Watson (q.v.) entertained Morris on his visit to the North East in 1887. There was much debate in the house with local politicians and churchmen on society and democracy. Spence Watson describes Morris as ' so attractive, so fiery, so unpractical'. Morris would declaim: 'It's a revolution we must have, a bloody revolution if need be!' Priestley (q.v.) visited Bensham Grove in 1933, in the course of his English Journey but was not aware of this episode. On Easter Monday, 11 April 1887, Morris, after a six-mile march to Hartford near Blyth, addressed a meeting of miners while perched on a plank - in response to the cry:' If yon man does na stand on the top, we canna hear him!' Morris found it very inspiring to speak to such a large crowd of eager and serious persons: 'I did pretty well and didn't stumble at all.' After a train journey to Newcastle, where Morris met Joseph Cowen in the refreshment room ('very friendly and nice, I must say') the company went on to Ryton Willows along the Tyne for another successful meeting, among the swings, cricket and dancing. Hartford was the only outdoor meeting Morris ever addressed and he was greatly inspirited by his success in the North East. Back in London, he was disappointed. 'I spoke the next Sunday at Beadon Rd. and couldn't help contrasting our Cockneys much to their disadvantage with the northerners...'
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