Bradford Celebrates Morris Month with Local Connections

Discover the legacy of William and May Morris in Bradford

March 2026 has been designated as Morris Month, a series of events organised by the William Morris Society and its partners to celebrate the life, work, and influence of William Morris and his daughter May Morris. The celebrations culminate with William Morris’ birthday on 24 March and May Morris’ birthday on 25 March, offering an ideal opportunity to explore their contributions to craft, art, and social activism.

William Morris and Bradford’s Artistic Heritage

William Morris is best known for his pivotal role in the Arts and Crafts movement, especially in textile, wallpaper, and stained-glass design. His philosophy, famously expressed as “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful,” inspired the creation of handcrafted works that remain popular today.

Morris travelled to West Yorkshire several times, and Bradford holds several important examples of work by Morris & Co, the company he founded in 1861 alongside notable artists including Ford Madox Brown and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

• Cliffe Castle Museum: Visitors can view a series of stained-glass panels depicting the Cornish legend of Tristan and Isolde, originally from Harden Grange near Bingley. These panels feature work by William Morris and other Pre-Raphaelite artists such as Edward Burne-Jones and Rossetti.
• Bradford Cathedral: The East Window contains stained glass commissioned in 1863, one of the earliest Morris & Co commissions. The cathedral also houses a Morris & Co altar cloth likely embroidered by May Morris, displayed in the Lady Chapel beneath the East Window.

William Morris as a Social Activist in Bradford

Beyond his artistic achievements, William Morris was a committed socialist and one of the founders of the Socialist League in 1884. He delivered lectures across England and Scotland, including venues in Bradford such as the Co-operative Hall in Shipley, the Temperance Hall, and St George’s Hall. His speeches inspired early members of the Independent Labour Party, which was established in Bradford in 1893.

May Morris: Designer, Embroiderer, and Advocate

May Morris, William’s younger daughter, was a talented designer and craftswoman who directed embroidery at Morris & Co. Much of her work was historically misattributed to her father. She was also an advocate for women’s rights and co-founded the Women’s Guild of Arts in 1907.

May’s embroidery style is noted for its bold yet delicate floral and nature-inspired patterns. She taught embroidery at the London Central School of Art until 1905 and was also skilled in fine jewellery making. Some of her jewellery was donated to the National Museum in Cardiff by her long-term companion, Mary Lobb.

Although there is no direct evidence that May and Mary Lobb visited Bradford, their scrapbooks and watercolours illustrate extensive travels in Wales, the Cotswolds, and Cornwall. The altar frontal cloth in Bradford Cathedral, attributed to May, is a significant example of her work in the city.

Upcoming Exhibition and Further Information

Bradford District Museums and Galleries will celebrate Morris Month’s themes of craft, beauty, and social justice with the forthcoming “Made by Many Hands” heritage craft exhibition, launching in early May 2026.

For readers interested in exploring the rich history of the Morrises and their connection to Bradford in greater detail, the original blog post by Bradford Museums offers a comprehensive insight and can be accessed here: Bradford Museums Blog: Morris Month.