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Friends of Coleridge Special Collection at the Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey

These two lists (Coleridge Collection catalogue glass fronted case and Coleridge Collection catalogue open shelves) itemise those books owned by the Friends of Coleridge which we believe are either important enough or useful enough to justify being shelved for display and reference in the Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey (TPLNS). They represent the cream of a much larger collection acquired over the years by gift, purchase or accident.

The history of the collection has its origins in the idea that Coleridge Cottage would one day house this collection, ideally as part of a Coleridge study centre. Many distinguished scholars and members of the Friends have donated works, in many cases written by themselves, in this hope. However, the renovation of the Cottage in the present century and the existing policies of the National Trust meant that this idea was not to come to fruition. The books, therefore, were removed from the Cottage and stored for safe keeping in Dunster Castle.

The Friends have long debated what to do with these books. Fortunately, Eliza and Terence Sackett, both recent office holders on the committee and residents of Stowey, became involved in the TPLNS and suggested that this would be an appropriate place to display the books. The Library’s trustees swiftly agreed, and two bookcases of the required size were purchased by the Friends, one of which was glass-fronted and lockable.

TPLNS is Nether Stowey’s public library, now totally volunteer-run and a registered charity, while retaining close links with Somerset’s library service. The building used to be Nether Stowey’s free school (the second free school in the whole country), built by Tom Poole in 1813.

Before and after Christmas 2021, Terence and Eliza Sackett, Justin Shepherd and Tom Mayberry checked the books held at Dunster, weeded out those belonging to the National Trust, made a preliminary selection of books suitable for the TPLNS, boxed them all up, and transported them to the appropriate places.

Those in the TPLNS were divided into two categories. In the glass-fronted, lockable case are shelved early editions of Coleridge and his circle; standard modern scholarly editions of the Works, Letters and Notebooks; and miscellaneous other significant volumes. The books on open shelves include books by and about Coleridge and his circle which are useful for those who are, perhaps, less experienced readers of Coleridge.

Highlights of the collection include: a first edition of Joan of Arc, a youthful collaboration with Robert Southey, which Joseph Cottle, its publisher and friend of them both, called with justification ‘the most handsome volume ever to come out of Bristol’. There are also first editions of Sibylline Leaves and some of the prose works.

Visitors to Stowey are urged to visit the TPLNS and ask the librarians to see the books. Access is necessarily controlled, but the books are there to be consulted and enjoyed by anyone who is interested.

Incidentally, we do not have a complete set of the Bollingen Edition of the Collected Works. If you would like to donate a missing volume, or any other volume suitable for display, please contact the Friends.

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Talk at Cadhay House near Ottery St Mary

On 14th October Justin Shepherd of the Friends of Coleridge gave a talk to a Bristol-based walking group of twenty-two, who had taken Cadhay House near Ottery St Mary, the birthplace of STC, for the weekend. Cadhay is a magnificent Grade 1 listed Elizabethan manor house just outside Ottery and is close to where Coleridge is thought as a child to have slept out on the banks of the River Otter after a row with his brother Frank about ‘crumbly cheese’. In the account he gave of this incident in 1796 he mentions seeing someone on Cadhay bridge. A further link is that it was at Cadhay House that Admiral Thomas Graves lived, who became a friend of the Coleridge family. Coleridge’s father, ever assiduous in ‘placing’ his sons, arranged that Frank, the ‘handsome Coleridge’ and next up from Samuel in age, should serve under him as a midshipman. In September 1781, the Reverend John Coleridge took Frank to Plymouth to join his ship. It was on his return home a few days later that he died.

This beautiful house is in private hands but is open to the public on Friday afternoons in summer. A visit to the house and gardens is warmly recommended. (https://cadhay.org.uk/)

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Coleridge's 250th Birthday Anniversary and Statue

Friday 21st November 2022 marked the 250th anniversary of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s birth. Amongst the events held to commemorate the life and works of the Romantic poet was the unveiling of Nicholas Dimbleby's statue of Coleridge, funded by the Coleridge Memorial Trust.

The life-size bronze statue, the culmination of a ten-year project, was unveiled by Dr John Pilsworth, vice chair of the Trust and Richard Coleridge, a  great-great-great-great grandson of the poet, at St Mary’s Church in Ottery, Devon, the place of Coleridge's birth.

The statue depicts Coleridge standing with his notebook in hand, gazing from the churchyard towards the site of the schoolhouse where he was born.

Included by the statue is a plaque which reads, ‘With unclosed lids, already had I dreamt / Of my sweet birth-place, and the old church-tower, / Whose bells, the poor man’s only music, rang / From morn to evening, all the hot Fair-day…’

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Members of the Friends of Coleridge were present for the unveiling of the statue at Ottery St Mary. The event was a rousing success!

A video of the unveiling of the statue is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTjgvlk8KfY&ab_channel=WilliamJamesRIDER

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Performance of ‘The Ancient Mariner’, Highgate October 22

To commemorate Coleridge’s birth, the Live Literature Performance Company will put on a performance of ‘The Ancient Mariner’ in St Michael's Church, Highgate, on Saturday October 22nd. Matinee: 3.00pm. Evening performance: 7.00pm.

Highgate Ancient Mariner

L R Deborah Baddoo Bawren Tavaziva Kay Crook Michael Joseph. c 2022 Richard Budd

Coleridge Unbound – the poet as abolitionist, a dance and music project at Alfoxton

Inspired by the Museum of Somerset’s exhibition ‘In Xanadu: Coleridge and the West Country’, State of Trust have delved deep into the history of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s life in Somerset, in particular his stance as an abolitionist. Being a lay preacher, Coleridge often spoke out against the transatlantic slave trade from the pulpit of the Unitarian Chapel in Taunton.

This project develops work done by State of Trust during lockdown in 2021, which resulted in the creation of 5 short dance films (www.stateoftrust.net/coleridge-unbound). This year State of Trust is creating a new dance film with Somerset Film, and a site-specific performance entitled ‘Coleridge Unbound’, to take place on Saturday 3rd September at Alfoxton House near Bridgwater, where Coleridge was a frequent visitor to his friends William and Dorothy Wordsworth in 1798.

‘Coleridge Unbound’ celebrates Coleridge and the landscape of the Quantock Hills, and raises the ghosts of the past through original dance, film, and music performance. Bring a picnic and enjoy an enchanted evening under the stars in the spectacular grounds of Alfoxton Park. The performers are Deborah Baddoo, Bawren Tavaziva, Michael Joseph, and Kay Crook with music by Steve Marshall. The performance will be preceded by a sharing of new work by local young people attending State of Trust’s creative writing and movement workshops which focus on Coleridge and the Abolition.

Date: Saturday 3rd September
Time: 8pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Alfoxton Park, Holford, TA5 1SG.
Tickets: Free + donation. All proceeds towards the restoration of Alfoxton House.
Parking:  Available on site or in the lanes leading up to the house.

There will also be an improvised performance at the Unitarian Chapel in Taunton on 4th September at 2.30pm.

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