Philip Webb

Philip Webb - William Morris & Co Friends | Willy Morris Home Emporium

Philip Speakman Webb (12 January 1831 – 17 April 1915) was a British architect and designer sometimes called the Father of Arts and Crafts Architecture. His use of vernacular architecture demonstrated his commitment to 'the art of common building'.[1] William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti were his business partners and he designed many notable buildings including one for Morris. He co-founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Beyond architecture, Webb played a crucial role in William Morris & Co., co-founding 'Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.' in 1861. William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti were three of his partners in the interior decorating and furnishing business, Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., later to become Morris & Co. He contributed designs for furniture, stained glass and decorative arts, helping to shape the distinctive aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His emphasis on authenticity and craftsmanship aligned with Morris’s socialist ideals, promoting an ethical approach to design and labor. Despite his significant influence, Webb withdrew from commercial design later in life, instead focusing on conservation efforts, including early campaigns to protect historic buildings. His legacy endures in the continued appreciation of Arts and Crafts principles in architecture and design.

The creator and designer of Trelis