£3m revamp for William Morris home

The William Morris Gallery, in Walthamstow, east London, was threatened with funding cuts several years ago but has now been awarded 1.5m by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with Waltham Forest Council pledging to match the amount.

The money will pay for an extension to the building, which was home to Morris for eight years from 1848, including more exhibition space, a tea room and a learning centre.

Morris was one of the main figures in the arts and crafts movement which advocated simplicity in design, with works often reminiscent of the medieval period.

He was also a writer and one of the figureheads of the early socialist movement.

The gallery collection is made up of examples of his work including

fabrics, ceramics, wall-paper, furniture and political tracts.