By Tommy Bonnet
A new book written in the same house where Lord Byron first turned his hand to poetry includes previously-unpublished work by the legendary Nottinghamshire writer.
For the last 33 years, Geoffrey Bond has lived in Burgage Manor, Southwell – where Lord Byron lived from 1803 to 1808.
The house is where Byron’s career as a poet was born, and Geoffrey wrote the new book – ‘Byron’s Manor: Birthplace of his Poetry’ – in his former bedroom.
Geoffrey is an expert on Lord Byron’s life, and a former chairman of the London Lord Byron society. He has already written two previous books on Byron, one of which won an international prize.
Geoffrey said: “I’m telling the readers the genesis of his writing was here, with his first four volumes of poetry, and he went to Newark to get them published.
“However, it’s not just about Byron but also about what it’s like living here, in the house where one of the most famous men in Europe of his day, wrote his books.”
Lord Byron, George Gordon Noel, sixth Baron Byron, is world-famous as a 19th century romantic poet who lived a lavish and adventurous lifestyle, spending time living in Southwell and then later Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire. He died in 1824 aged 36.
While he does believe Byron was a “genius” and has “huge influence”, Geoffrey doesn’t know how he would’ve gotten on with the poet.
He added: “He was quite a temperamental fellow, whether he would’ve taken to me or I would’ve got on with him I just don’t know, he was a difficult man.
“Writing in this room at night people often ask me – ‘does he come and visit me?’ well sadly no he doesn’t but I do think sometimes he must look down on me and think ‘what is this chap doing, writing all this nonsense about me’.”
The book was released today (December 4th) and had a launch event at the historic Archbishop’s Palace, Southwell Minster. Geoffrey, Lord Robert Byron (the modern 13th Byron) and Sir John Peace, former Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, spoke at the launch.
Geoffrey hopes the book can further develop tourism in the area, saying: “I hope the local authorities will take note and put this famous man Byron in the quiver of tourist arrows, he’s not fictional like robin hood, and he’s more well-known abroad then he is here.”
Similarly, Sir John Peace, also Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said: “It shows us the opportunities when you have characters like Lord Byron to promote our area about Nottinghamshire and all the amazing things that have happened here historically.
“So this launch is a catalyst for us in many ways to be very proud and raise the bar, not only have Robin Hood famous but all these other things that have happened here as well.”
In 2023, across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, the value of tourism reached £2.36 billion, with over 34 million tourists welcomed to the county, an 4.1 per cent increase from the previous year.
Lord Robert Byron, the 13th Baron Byron, who is a descendent of the famous poet, said how impressed he was with the book and Geoffrey’s personal collection of Byron memorabilia.
He said: “He’s made (Burgage Manor) into a Byron museum – a real shrine – and has far more artefacts and books then we have so its wonderful for me.
“This was where the genesis of Lord Byron’s writing was, he was encouraged by his friends here in Southwell.”
Geoffrey’s book contains unpublished Byron poems that were written in Southwell and highlights the importance of Newark and Southwell in his life.
He aims to get Burgage Manor an Historic England Blue Plaque in 2025.
