Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Was a Remarkable

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Alfred and Emily’s Marriage Certificate Marriage Emily’s and Alfred

Alfred in later life later in Alfred Poet of the People the of Poet

Julia Margaret Cameron Margaret Julia

Voice of the Victorian Age, Victorian the of Voice

over the world today. world the over

Enterprise inspire and comfort people from all from people comfort and inspire

leaves a legacy of words which still which words of legacy a leaves

hamlet nestling in rural Lincolnshire, rural in nestling hamlet

VISIT

gentle, thoughtful man from a small a from man thoughtful gentle, after Prince Albert’s death. Albert’s Prince after

notable people of that time. This time. that of people notable

from reading In Memoriam In reading from

£57,000, Tennyson mixed with the most the with mixed Tennyson £57,000, Tennyson’s life. Tennyson’s Produced by Economic Development, East Lindsey District Council District Lindsey East Development, Economic by Produced Victoria, who gained comfort gained who Victoria,

The Collection Lincolnshire County Council County Lincolnshire Collection The Emily Sellwood Sellwood Emily

income of £10,000, leaving an estate of estate an leaving £10,000, of income 1850 was the most significant year of year significant most the was 1850

many of his visitors, and Queen and visitors, his of many Photographs by kind permission of Jean Howard and the Tennyson Research Centre, Research Tennyson the and Howard Jean of permission kind by Photographs

Compiled by Jean Howard Howard Jean by Compiled

the Victorian age, earning an annual an earning age, Victorian the

Cameron, who photographed who Cameron,

Acknowledgements: Acknowledgements:

appointed in his place. place. his in appointed

Deemed the most successful poet of poet successful most the Deemed the photographer Julia Margaret Julia photographer the

died in April that year and Alfred was Alfred and year that April in died

acquaintances. His neighbours on the Isle of Wight included Wight of Isle the on neighbours His acquaintances.

Malvern Spa Spa Malvern

64118 to GOODTASTE attend, but the Abbey was so full, hundreds also stood outside. stood also hundreds full, so was Abbey the but attend, Poet Laureate William Wordsworth had Wordsworth William Laureate Poet

As his reputation grew so did his circle of friends and friends of circle his did so grew reputation his As farm shops and tea rooms text rooms tea and shops farm

01427 676666 01427 Tel

Westminster took the service. Emily Tennyson was too weak to weak too was Tennyson Emily service. the took Westminster

for him through a Civil List pension. List Civil a through him for

Lincolnshire” pubs, restaurants, pubs, Lincolnshire”

Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough Yard, Marshall’s Rawnsley at his parish in Shiplake, Oxon. Shiplake, in parish his at Rawnsley

To find out nearest “Tastes of “Tastes nearest out find To

Alfred was buried in Westminster Abbey, and the Dean of Dean the and Abbey, Westminster in buried was Alfred

write The Charge of the Light Brigade. Light the of Charge The write During this time, a number of friends secured £200 a year a £200 secured friends of number a time, this During

Information Centre Information

married by their friend Revd Drummond Revd friend their by married

64118 to HISTORY text Tourist Gainsborough Times’ report of the Battle of Balaclava, Tennyson went on to on went Tennyson Balaclava, of Battle the of report Times’ gout, not epilepsy, and his health started to improve. to started health his and epilepsy, not gout,

at Aldworth. at in Lincolnshire Lincolnshire in In June that year, Alfred and Emily were Emily and Alfred year, that June In

84118 to DISCOVER text or

his popularity and his bank balance! In response to The to response In balance! bank his and popularity his Malvern he was persuaded his symptoms were actually were symptoms his persuaded was he Malvern

For news of similar historic trails historic similar of news For

something more serious and he died on 6th October 1892, October 6th on died he and serious more something 01507 601111 01507 Tel

the legends of King Arthur, and Enoch Arden strengthened Arden Enoch and Arthur, King of legends the visited a number of places to take the ‘water cure’. At cure’. ‘water the take to places of number a visited as the poet of the age. the of poet the as

www.visitlincolnshire.com Louth Street, Cannon

now in decline and eventually, a simple cold developed into developed cold simple a eventually, and decline in now

where to stay to where Centre Information Tourist

opportunity to read it aloud. Idylls of the King, based on based King, the of Idylls aloud. it read to opportunity Alfred’s health broke down and over the next few years he years few next the over and down broke health Alfred’s

Alfred’s life, giving him financial security and establishing him establishing and security financial him giving life, Alfred’s

hundreds of letters and telegrams. His health however, was however, health His telegrams. and letters of hundreds attractions, events and events attractions, and Point Access Customer Louth

remained one of Alfred’s favourites and he took every took he and favourites Alfred’s of one remained had failed and the family lost almost all their money. their all almost lost family the and failed had critical acclaim and sold very well. So much so, it transformed it so, much So well. very sold and acclaim critical

Lincolnshire, its history, its Lincolnshire,

In 1889, Tennyson celebrated his 80th birthday and he received he and birthday 80th his celebrated Tennyson 1889, In 84118 to DISCOVER text or

For more information about information more For

Despite unexpected criticism of Maud when it appeared, it appeared, it when Maud of criticism unexpected Despite However, by the end of that year the wood carving project carving wood the year that of end the by However, and family, In Memoriam AHH was published anonymously to anonymously published was AHH Memoriam In family, and 01507 601111 01507 Tel

www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/tennyson Horncastle Road, Wharf

India on a ship, Lionel Tennyson died leaving his family devastated. family his leaving died Tennyson Lionel ship, a on India

engaged again. With the agreement of friends of agreement the With again. engaged

Arthur Henry Hallam. Henry Arthur www.tennysonsociety.org.uk Point Access

their second, Lionel. second, their established Alfred as an outstanding poet. outstanding an as Alfred established

Heartbreak met the family in 1886, when whilst returning from returning whilst when 1886, in family the met Heartbreak Alfred. The two were reconciled and became and reconciled were two The Alfred. www.tennyson2009.com Community Horncastle

children, the first christened Hallam, (after Arthur), and Arthur), (after Hallam, christened first the children, new work, was favourably reviewed and this now this and reviewed favourably was work, new

Sellwood and she returned it with a note for note a with it returned she and Sellwood Lord Tennyson can be found on found be can Tennyson Lord contact please

needed it for his writing. The couple doted on their two their on doted couple The writing. his for it needed A two volume collection, Poems 1842, half of which was which of half 1842, Poems collection, volume two A playwright were generally unsuccessful. generally were playwright

Further information on Alfred, on information Further information further For

friends gave their copy to his former love, Emily love, former his to copy their gave friends

friends to stay and ensured Alfred had quiet when he when quiet had Alfred ensured and stay to friends continued to be popular, but Tennyson’s attempts as a as attempts Tennyson’s but popular, be to continued

Alfred asked for their comments. One of his of One comments. their for asked Alfred

to produce wood carvings, investing £8,000 in the project. the in £8,000 investing carvings, wood produce to

secretary, ran an efficient household, had her husband’s her had household, efficient an ran secretary, Tennyson’s secretary and support. New volumes of poetry of volumes New support. and secretary Tennyson’s

THE LIFE THE

copies done for friends to take a look and look a take to friends for done copies

decided to support Allen’s dream of setting up a factory a up setting of dream Allen’s support to decided

Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. Here Emily acted as Alfred’s as acted Emily Here Wight. of Isle the on Freshwater By 1874, Emily’s health declined and their son, Hallam, became Hallam, son, their and declined health Emily’s 1874, By

POET LAUREATE POET release something so personal, he had some had he personal, so something release

Septimus, Alfred and Dr Allen became friends and Alfred and friends became Allen Dr and Alfred Septimus,

By 1853 they had established a home at Farringford, near Farringford, at home a established had they 1853 By

who said it should be published. Reluctant to Reluctant published. be should it said who similar place run by Dr Matthew Allen. Whilst visiting Whilst Allen. Matthew Dr by run place similar expense, into a substantial home. substantial a into expense,

TENNYSON

saw. Finally Alfred showed it to his publisher, his to it showed Alfred Finally saw.

stability he needed. he stability asylum and another, Septimus, was a voluntary patient at a at patient voluntary a was Septimus, another, and asylum ‘Aldworth’ developed, despite Alfred’s grumbles about grumbles Alfred’s despite developed, ‘Aldworth’

ALFRED, LORD ALFRED, inspired him in writing verse, which few seldom few which verse, writing in him inspired she was never in hearty health, Emily certainly gave him the him gave certainly Emily health, hearty in never was she His brother, Edward, had been committed to a private a to committed been had Edward, brother, His Surrey/Sussex border. Originally intended as a summer cottage summer a as intended Originally border. Surrey/Sussex

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of his great friend, Arthur Hallam, which Hallam, Arthur friend, great his of as he exchanged marriage vows with Emily. Although Emily. with vows marriage exchanged he as staying with relatives and friends around the country. the around friends and relatives with staying and Tennyson bought a plot near Haslemere on the on Haslemere near plot a bought Tennyson and

or 16 long years, Alfred grieved over the loss the over grieved Alfred years, long 16 or lfred said that the peace of the Lord came into his life his into came Lord the of peace the that said lfred espite having a home, Alfred spent the next 13 years 13 next the spent Alfred home, a having espite lagued by sightseers, the family looked for another home another for looked family the sightseers, by lagued ON THE TRAIL OF TRAIL THE ON

FINDS FAME FINDS SUCCESS AND FOR COMFORT FOR REMEMBER

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THE FAMILY MAN FAMILY THE RUIN WANDERING, TOO FAMOUS FAMOUS TOO TO YEAR A

In April 1827, Jacksons, Booksellers and During that summer vacation, Alfred returned home to HISTORY MATTERS CHILDHOOD HEAD OF THE HEARTBREAK Printers at Louth, produced Alfred’s Somersby, which was unusually peaceful, as his father was AND SCHOOL first appearance in print, a small away. George Tennyson, Alfred’s Grandfather and a FAMILY AND LOSS TENNYSON’S volume, Poems by Two Brothers. successful solicitor from Market Rasen, had paid for his lfred Tennyson, born on Unusually, Jacksons paid Alfred and son to take a trip to France in an effort to cure him of his y February 1831, George Clayton Tennyson was gravely earby Harrington Hall LINCOLNSHIRE A 6 August 1809 at The his brother Charles £20 for copyright. addictions. The family held a number of parties that B ill and his sons were brought home from Cambridge. Nwas rented by Arthur Rectory, Somersby, was the third The brothers spent some of their summer and here, Alfred met his future wife, Emily He died on 16 March. Throughout his life he had felt Eden whose family included ON THE TRAIL OF surviving child of Reverend money hiring a carriage to ride to Sellwood, one of three children of Horncastle solicitor bitterness towards his own Father, who had disinherited his stepdaughter, Rosa Jacksons’ A POET LAUREATE George Clayton and Elizabeth Mablethorpe, a favourite holiday Printing Henry Sellwood and his late wife, Sarah Franklin, whose him in favour of his younger son, Charles who was Baring. She became good Office, (nee Fytche) Tennyson. destination, and shouted their Louth brother John was a famous explorer. much more charismatic than George Clayton. friends with Alfred and the Somersby Rectory poetry joyously to the sea. However, Grandfather George was very generous family. He wrote her several Harrington Hall from an 1892 engraving The Tennyson children went to the village school and were also At the end of the year Alfred brought Arthur Hallam to to the Somersby family and this continued. poems but, as a suitor, he was considered socially inferior taught by their Father, using the 2,500 books in his library. Alfred Somersby, and the family took him to their hearts. One lfred, Lord Tennyson, was a remarkable and his attentions were discouraged and in 1838 Rosa enjoyed learning and began to write poetry at an early age. UNIVERSITY Tennyson loved him much more than the rest of her family Alfred decided that he must now take married MP Robert Shafto, from Durham. man, who led a remarkable life. He was AND FRIENDSHIP and Arthur and Emily Tennyson, Alfred’s sister, later responsibility for the family and never A Aged 7, Alfred’s Father decided he was became engaged. returned to University and the In July 1835 George Tennyson, the most successful poet of Victorian times ready to go to Louth Grammar School. n 1827 Alfred joined his two elder brothers at Trinity Tennysons continued to live at the Alfred’s grandfather, died. He left and is still read and loved by many today. He hated the severe discipline and College Cambridge. The brothers, all tall and The following year - 1830 - brought two significant events: I Rectory for another six years. his Somersby grandchildren well bullying and after four unhappy years, unconventional looking, stood out from other students and the publication of Alfred’s Poems, Chiefly Lyrical and an provided for, but they were jealous Follow in Tennyson’s returned home to Somersby Rectory to having only been used to the small and close world of his expedition by Alfred and Arthur through the Pyrenees to Reviews of Alfred’s latest volume, including one footsteps – and join us on a be taught again by his Father who, family, Alfred found it difficult to mix. take money and despatches to the Spanish revolutionaries. from Hallam, were mixed. Alfred, very hurt by criticism, of the large inheritance their Uncle trail through Lincolnshire although an educated man, was erratic The journey through the valley of often anticipated the same thing happening again, and he Charles had received. Almost a year later, Arthur Henry Hallam entered Trinity as a learning about his life, love, in his tutoring. By 1820, Alfred’s family the Cauteretz was inspirational to hated publishing new work for the rest of his life. student. Son of an eminent historian, Henry Hallam, Arthur Alfred’s elder brother also called heartbreak and verse and Mr William Cadney, home was very “crowded”, with his Alfred, who often returned to was a charming and vivacious young man, who was highly Newly engaged and back at Cambridge, Arthur Hallam was Uncle Charles Charles, inherited another family see the places which gave village schoolmaster parents, six brothers, four sisters, servants those memories when writing. regarded. Arthur and Alfred instantly became friends. Both miserable. Disapproving of his son’s choice of a “socially estate and became engaged to Louisa Sellwood, the him so much inspiration. and a variety of pets. His affectionate Mother brought her of them were elected to a discussion group, limited to 12 inferior” bride, Henry Hallam ordered his son to take a year- children up as free spirits and Alfred was known in the younger sister of Emily Sellwood. They were married at people and known as The Cambridge Apostles, where Alfred long separation from Emily Tennyson, but after witnessing neighbourhood for wandering, book in hand, at almost any Horncastle in May 1836, Alfred being best man and Emily became a popular contributor to debate. Almost all the their continued affection for each other, he changed his “I am part of all hour of day or night. bridesmaid. Alfred fell in love with Emily that day and that I’ve seen” group members remained life-long friends, and Alfred’s mind. Father and son went on holiday together touring within a short time they too were unofficially engaged. Sadly, his father suffered from severe depression, blamed on a friendship with Hallam was perhaps the most influential Europe and in Italy tragedy struck. Arthur Hallam, aged 22, family disagreement and his growing dependence on drink and of his life. died in Vienna from a stroke. The Tennysons were the first By the spring of 1837 a new Rector at Somersby needed the drugs, made him ill. Evidence implies that he suffered from people outside the family, to be told the news by letter and Rectory and Alfred organised the family to move to Beech In June 1829, Alfred was persuaded to enter a poetry epilepsy, which was aggravated by his drinking. Elizabeth and Emily broke down completely. Alfred appeared to take the Hill House in Epping Forest. With mental health issues in competition, and he won the Chancellor’s Gold Medal. her sensitive children were frightened by his unpredictable, news calmly, in an effort to support his sister and the family. his dependents and growing money worries, Alfred broke Still very shy, he asked a friend to read the poem in public at sometimes violent, behaviour. Often left to his own devices, He was however, anguished over the loss and his grief up with Emily. the Senate House. Alfred would read or write poetry. inspired some of his greatest work. Arthur Henry Hallam 1 2 3 4 5