Emery Walker Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Sir Emery Walker was a renowned English engraver, typographer, and antiquarian who made significant contributions to the Arts and Crafts movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1851, Walker began his career as an apprentice to the Typographic Etching Company in London. He quickly developed a passion for typography and became a master of his craft.

Walker’s expertise in typography led him to collaborate with many notable figures of his time, including William Morris, the father of the Arts and Crafts movement. Together, they founded the Kelmscott Press in 1891, which produced beautiful, hand-crafted books that are still admired today for their exquisite design and craftsmanship. Walker’s keen eye for detail and his deep knowledge of typography were instrumental in the success of the press.

In addition to his work with the Kelmscott Press, Walker was also a founding member of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society and served as a consultant to the Dove’s Press and the Ashendene Press. He was a passionate collector of rare books and manuscripts, and his extensive collection was donated to the University of Manchester after his death.

Walker lived at 7 Hammersmith Terrace in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham from 1903 until his death in 1933. The house, which overlooks the River Thames, was a gathering place for many of the leading figures of the Arts and Crafts movement. Today, it is preserved as a museum dedicated to Walker’s life and work.

In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Walker was knighted in 1930, becoming Sir Emery Walker. His legacy lives on through the beautiful books and typography he helped create, as well as through the museum that bears his name in Hammersmith. Visitors to London can pay tribute to this remarkable man by visiting the blue plaque that marks his former home at 7 Hammersmith Terrace.