Rod Collins

Alfred, Lord Tennyson of Somersby in Lincolnshire is famous for being born and living in the Sceptred Isle of Lincolnshire but did you know he also wrote poetry ?
My trip on the trail of the famous poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson is dedicated to Annie Flinn

Regular commenter and friend of the site Annie Flinn has, as so many in the world have, a cross to bear . . . that’s right . . .
She doesn’t live in Lincolnshire . . . but fear not - wherever you live we’ll bring Lincs to you !
Alfred Tennyson was born 6 August 1809 at the Rectory in Somersby, see picture below, and was educated both at the village school and by his father who used his own 2,500 book library, clearly to great effect.

Home life was erratic with a father suffering from depression and problems induced by drink and drug dependency so much was left in the hands of his mother who doted on her ten, yes ten, children.

In 1827 a bookseller in Louth, Jacksons, published Tennyson’s work for the first time. The poems were written by him and his brother Charles for which they received £20. It was in the same year he joined his brothers at Trinity College Cambridge.

The story of Tennyson, seen left in bust form, I took the picture in Somersby church, goes well beyond the scope of this page and makes remarkable reading - even a potted history would fail to do his life justice.

Suffice is to say his home and domestic life, family problems and the like were almost like a Greek Tragedy.

The Rectory ~ Somersby ~ Tennyson’s Birthplace

His success as a poet cannot be over-stated, toward the end of his life he has hugely popular and enjoyed an annual income of £10,000 a year - a small fortune in in the late 1800s and his popularity remains as strong today.
He died on 6th October 1892 at Aldworth and was buried in Westminster Abbey. The number attending his funeral was so great that 100s had to stand outside the Abbey - an enduring tribute to one of the finest poets ever to have taken quill to paper.

Somersby Church ~ St. Margaret.

Above is the church in which Tennyson’s father preached. It’s primarily a 15th century building of modest proportions and is now most notable for the family connection. Built pre 1612 of sandstone it was restored 1863-5 and whilst relatively small is quite delightful and beautifully set - a quintessential small Lincolnshire village church. It’s quite a thing to stand by the font on the very spot that Alfred Lord Tennyson was baptised !

The manor House

Above is the Manor House which is situated opposite the church and very close to the Rectory. This unusual and impressive building dates about 1722 and I believe is often confused as Tennyson’s house due to its grandiose nature. Interestingly this is backed up anecdotally by two people asking me if it was the Poet Laureates house during my visit to the village.

I suspect many reading this, whilst knowing the name, may believe they are unfamiliar with his work but . . . you might be more familiar with the prose of Tennyson than you may imagine.
In the standard reference work The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations he is the second most featured author, beaten only by Shakespeare.
Here are a few lines which just may ring a bell

Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death   Rode the six hundred. And a personal favourite oft quoted by your host: My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure

This article could have gone on for an age but I’ve tried to keep in manageable, I would encourage further reading of this mans fascinating life and work should your interest be sufficiently roused. Likewise a visit to Somersby is certainly to be recommended, especially for fans of his work - the pilgrimage is worth the effort if practicable.
It’s not that there is much to see in Somersby for the tourist but let yourself drift, take a guide book or pick up a leaflet and let the words swirl around your head - stand in the same places Tennyson himself stood and found inspiration for some of his finest work - you could do a lot worse with a day !

Hope you enjoyed this short journey through the narrow winding lanes of this tiny village in the Lincolnshire Wolds which is dedicated to Annie Flinn whom I was minded of whilst there, indeed the reason I actually went that day.

If you have anything you’d like to share about the author, village, church, history or legend, if you’ve visited yourself, indeed anything at all do leave a comment.

Poetically Yours
Rod