Kelmscott is a village and civil parish on the River Thames in West Oxfordshire, about east of Lechlade in neighbouring Gloucestershire. Since 2001 it has absorbed

Little Faringdon Little Faringdon is a village and civil parish in West Oxfordshire, about north of Lechlade in neighbouring Gloucestershire. The 2001 Census recorded its population as 63. Manor In the late Anglo-Saxon era Little Faringdon was part of a larg ...

, which had been a separate civil parish. The 2011 Census recorded the merged parish's population as 198.

Kelmscott Manor

Kelmscott Manor is a Cotswold stone house, built in about 1570 during the

Great Rebuilding A Great Rebuilding is a period in which a heightened level of construction work, architectural change, or rebuilding occurred. More specifically, W. G. Hoskins defined the term "The Great Rebuilding" in England as the period from the mid-16th cent ...

of England and extended late in the 17th century. It was the country home of William Morris from 1871 until his death in 1896. He drew great inspiration from the unspoilt authenticity of the house's architecture and craftsmanship, and its organic relationship with its setting. Kelmscott Manor now belongs to the Society of Antiquaries of London. Morris renamed his London town house

Kelmscott House Kelmscott House is Grade II* listed Georgian brick mansion at 26 Upper Mall in Hammersmith, overlooking the River Thames. Built in about 1785, it was the London home of English textile designer, artist, writer and socialist William Morris fro ...

after Kelmscott when he bought it in April 1879. He named his private press, which he started in 1891, Kelmscott Press.

Parish church

The nave of the

Church of England parish church A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within each Church of England parish (the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative unit; since the 19th century sometimes ca ...

of Saint George was built in about 1190 in the transitional style between

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

and Early English, and the chancel is probably of the same date. The building has transepts that were added in about 1260. The

clerestory In architecture, a clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey) is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both. Historically, ''clerestory'' denoted an upper l ...

of the nave was added in the 15th century. Many of the windows of the nave and chancel are

Perpendicular Gothic Perpendicular Gothic (also Perpendicular, Rectilinear, or Third Pointed) architecture was the third and final style of English Gothic architecture developed in the Kingdom of England during the Late Middle Ages, typified by large windows, four-c ...

additions, including the east window of the chancel. The church is a Grade II* listed building. In the churchyard is the tomb of William Morris, designed by Philip Webb. Morris featured the church in his novel '' News from Nowhere'', when in the final part of the book the Guest is taken there for the feast. St George's parish is now part of the

Benefice A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

of Shill Valley and Broadshire, which includes also the parishes of

Alvescot Alvescot is a village and civil parish about south of Carterton, Oxfordshire, England. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 472. Archaeology A Neolithic stone hand axe was found at Alvescot. Petrological analysis in 1940 identi ...

Black Bourton Black Bourton is a village and civil parish about south of Carterton, Oxfordshire. The village is on Black Bourton Brook, a tributary of the River Thames. The 2011 Census recorded the parish population as 266. RAF Brize Norton adjoins the par ...

, Broadwell,

Broughton Poggs Broughton Poggs is a village in the civil parish of Filkins and Broughton Poggs in West Oxfordshire. Broughton Poggs is southwest of Carterton. Parish church Parts of the Church of England parish church of Saint Peter are early Norman, incl ...

Filkins ''For people with the surname, see Filkins (surname).'' Filkins is a village in the civil parish of Filkins and Broughton Poggs, about southwest of Carterton in Oxfordshire. Church and chapel Church of England The Gothic Revival architect ...

, Holwell,

Kencot Kencot is a village and civil parish about south-west of Carterton in West Oxfordshire. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 101. Archaeology A Neolithic stone hand axe was found at Kencot. Petrological analysis in 1940 ident ...

, Langford,

, Shilton and Westwell. In the village, next to the pub The Plough Inn, are the remains of a 14th or 15th century cross. Base of cross at Kelmscott

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Kelmscott Village
{{Authority control Civil parishes in Oxfordshire Populated places on the River Thames Villages in Oxfordshire West Oxfordshire District

Kelmscott Manor

Parish church

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Further reading

External links