Welcome
Welcome to the website of the Norman Nicholson Society. The site aims to provide information about Nicholson and his work and encourage the study and enjoyment of this remarkable man's writings. Here you will also find information about the NN Society which holds regular events and publishes the newsletter Comet. The Society is based in Millom, on the banks of the River Duddon and in the shadow of Black Combe, and has a worldwide membership.
MembershipNew members of the Norman Nicholson Society are warmly welcomed. Membership fees are £15 per annum or £20 for a couple living at the same address, and £6 youth membership (up to age 25). Check out benefits of membership here, including how to access the Members' exclusive area of this website. Please contact us at [email protected]
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Norman Nicholson
Norman Nicholson was born in Millom, Cumbria, in 1914 and lived there until his death in 1987 with the exception of two years in his late teens when he was sent to a sanatorium in Hampshire to recover from tuberculosis - an event which shaped his subsequent life. His writing career lasted from 1930 until his death and embraced plays, poetry, novels, criticism and essays. He is best known for his poetry and was awarded the Queen's Medal for Poetry in 1977 and the OBE in 1981.
Read an appreciation of Norman Nicholson by Fran Baker, former archivist at the John Rylands University of Manchester Library, HERE. Most frequently-asked question: Where can I get hold of Nicholson's work? Very sadly the Greetings shop in Lapstone Road, Millom, which had a range of Nicholson books in stock, has closed. Try Faber & Faber HERE or Amazon HERE, or click HERE for links to Nicholson's poems online. If you know of a shop currently selling NN's work, please let us know. |
Social Media: We're on Facebook, Bluesky, and YouTube. Click on the icons below and you can
email us by clicking the envelope.
email us by clicking the envelope.
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Get out and about with our three Nicholson walking trails! Go to Google Play or the App Store and search for 'Norman Nicholson's Millom'
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Catch up on news and pics from our 2023 Festival HERE
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Our anthology of lockdown poetry by our members and friends is available from Amazon or from the publishers at a reduced rate. Email [email protected] for details.
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Find out about the Norman Nicholson House Project HERE
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LATEST NEWS
A Colourful Nicholson Christmas!
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Far left: 'Colour through the eyes of Norman Nicholson'.
Left: A miniature crimson-coloured box kite flies at the top of the frost-coloured Christmas Tree, just below Norman's 'signature' comet. Below: A view of the full display below Christine Boyce's magnificent Norman Nicholson Memorial Window. |
The annual Millom Christmas Tree Festival opened on Friday, 28th November at St. George's Church with a display of more than sixty trees from the many community groups in the area.
Our Schools and Communities Officer, Sue Dawson, designed this year's Norman Nicholson Society Christmas Tree to reflect the colours in the beautiful Nicholson Memorial Window and to respond to the colour palette in Nicholson's poems and prose. The display includes a quiz and plenty of interesting quotations to inspire you!
The Christmas Tree Festival is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December, from 12 noon to 4.30pm, including on Christmas Eve. It will also be open on 27th and 28th December at the same times. Refreshments are available in the church.
Posted 10/12/2025
Wed. 17th December 2025 - start at 11.00am
'Joe Nicholson’s Festive Walk Around the Block'
A short literary walk around Millom New Town about Norman Nicholson’s accounts of his father.
The recently restored frontage of Norman Nicholson's lifetime home, St. George's Terrace, Millom - photo by Sue Dawson
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Our Chair, Jonathan Powell, will be leading a walk in Millom on 17th December as part of The Ramblers 'Wellbeing Walks' Programme.
This is a short walk of less than 1km around Millom on level pavements. It starts at The Clocktower, Millom at 11.00am. Overview Joseph Nicholson (1880 – 1957) lived above his gentleman’s outfitters shop at 14 St George’s Terrace. Each afternoon, he would take a break and walk around the block along Lapstone Road to the School and back along St George’s Road. People were said to set their clocks by him. His son, Norman Nicholson the poet, spent almost all of his life living in that building and he gives accounts of Joe and his life in Millom in his poetry and autobiography Wednesday Early Closing. There are few opportunities to sit down on the walk. We will have a short discussion first outside the shop and afterwards in the Market Square where there is seating. The Nicholsons worshiped in St George’s Church, Millom, just up from the Market Square. On the walk day, the Church will be open and hosting the traditional Christmas Tree Festival. As a local “Warm Hub” on Wednesdays, hot refreshments will be served. We may have a reading of one of Norman Nicholson’s Christmas poems. Everyone is welcome! All Ramblers Wellbeing Walks are classed as Easy Access which means: “Walks for everyone, including people with conventional wheelchairs and pushchairs, using easy access paths. Comfortable shoes or trainers can be worn. Assistance may be needed to push wheelchairs on some sections” More information here: Joe Nicholson’s Festive Walk Around the Block Posted 15/11/2025 |
Norman's prose featured in beautiful exhibition at Wordsworth Grasmere
Sparkling Waters of Morecambe Bay by Kate Tame; photo by Glenn Lang
'An amphibious, ambiguous world of mists and ripples and broken lights on pools and gulleys...' (Norman Nicholson, The Lakes, Chapter 1: 'The Coastal Route'). |
After several successful projects over the past few years at Wordsworth Grasmere, the South Cumbrian Textile and Multimedia Arts Collective Flax has another exciting exhibition there. It has been on display in the Community Arts Gallery at the Wordsworth Museum for the past four months and will continue for just a few more days. The beautifully crafted artwork is inspired by Dorothy and William Wordsworth's excursions to Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary, but two of the pieces on display reference the words of our own writer, Norman Nicholson!
Kate Tame’s 'Sunset ripples of Haverigg Sands' is inspired by a description by Norman Nicholson of the effect of mist and light on the watery world of the estuary: 'An amphibious, ambiguous world of mists and ripples and broken lights on pools and gulleys' (Norman Nicholson, The Lakes, Chapter 1: 'The Coastal Route'). The textile art inspired by these words is a wonderfully abstract representation of the dark red and orange light of the setting sun on the rippling sands and waters of The Duddon Estuary. Kate Tame's second reference to Nicholson's work is taken from his topographical book Greater Lakeland: 'The tide flows and ebbs... Nothing really changes. In fact the landscape of the sands is probably the least changed...in the whole of the Lakes... for centuries the main stream of life has flowed along the coast route... crossing the sands of Morecambe Bay & the Duddon Estuary' (Norman Nicholson, Greater Lakeland, Chapter 7: 'Morecambe Bay'). The image displayed is in a silver frame and shows subtly irregular lines of gold, silver, bronze and black embroidery on a shining creamy-white background, capturing the 'dazzle' on the waters of Morecambe Bay in textile, just as Nicholson's words captured it in text. This exhibition is part of the Walking for Wellbeing: Accelerating Cultural, Creative and Environmental Enrichment in Morecambe Bay project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council - AHRC and in collaboration with Lancaster University. The Norman Nicholson Society is delighted that words by our own poet, who so admired the work of Dorothy and William Wordsworth, have been included in this exhibition. Hurry up if you want to catch it before it is dismantled! posted 26/10/2025 |
Call-out for textile artists
Norman Nicholson is the inspiration behind a new collaboration between a group of Cumbria-based poets and textile artists from across the county. Creative collective Alder and Wiza are compiling an illustrated book of new poetry named, Through-stone and Thread: a Lived Cumbrian Landscape. Inspiration comes from the pamphlet Stitch and Stone: a Cumbrian Landscape, which features some of what became Nicholson’s best-known poems, alongside hand-stitched embroideries of rural Cumbrian scenes and landscapes by textile artist Kenneth Dow Barker. This year marks 50 years since the pamphlet’s publication.
The orginal Stitch and Stone, published 50 years ago
Inspired by Nicholson’s poems, a group of Cumbria-based poets have now compiled a captivating and dynamic collection of new writing as the framework for textile art illustrations. Poets include Kerry Darbishire, winner at the Lakeland Book
Awards 2025 for her collection River Talk; Peter Rafferty who featured in The New Lakes Poets alongside Norman Nicholson which was published by Bloodaxe Books (1991); and Antoinette Fawcett, founder member of The Norman Nicholson Society.
Contributing and lead artist for the collaboration is Cumbria-based artist, Julia Garner of Julia Garner Arts, best known for her landscape works in textiles and other media.
Artwork for Through-stone and Thread: a Lived Cumbrian Landscape is being created through callouts to as many contributors from across Cumbria as possible. If you’re an emerging or experienced textile artist, Alder and Wiza would love you to get in touch for details on how to submit your work for potential inclusion in the book. And, if you’re in a community art group looking for a new theme, or if you’ve got a quick five minutes to express yourself creatively, you can get involved too by contributing to larger public artworks being led by Alder and Wiza.
Deadline for all submissions is June1st 2026. Publication is planned for 2027 as part of The Norman Nicholson Society’s
21st birthday year, which also marks the 40th anniversary of Nicholson’s death. Please contact Alder and Wiza at [email protected] for more information. Or catch up with them on Instagram.
posted 18/10/2025
Awards 2025 for her collection River Talk; Peter Rafferty who featured in The New Lakes Poets alongside Norman Nicholson which was published by Bloodaxe Books (1991); and Antoinette Fawcett, founder member of The Norman Nicholson Society.
Contributing and lead artist for the collaboration is Cumbria-based artist, Julia Garner of Julia Garner Arts, best known for her landscape works in textiles and other media.
Artwork for Through-stone and Thread: a Lived Cumbrian Landscape is being created through callouts to as many contributors from across Cumbria as possible. If you’re an emerging or experienced textile artist, Alder and Wiza would love you to get in touch for details on how to submit your work for potential inclusion in the book. And, if you’re in a community art group looking for a new theme, or if you’ve got a quick five minutes to express yourself creatively, you can get involved too by contributing to larger public artworks being led by Alder and Wiza.
Deadline for all submissions is June1st 2026. Publication is planned for 2027 as part of The Norman Nicholson Society’s
21st birthday year, which also marks the 40th anniversary of Nicholson’s death. Please contact Alder and Wiza at [email protected] for more information. Or catch up with them on Instagram.
posted 18/10/2025
Place, Space and Time...
Seventy attendees, some travelling from as far as London and South Wales, ensured that our three-year series of Norman Nicholson symposiums ended in style at the University of Cumbria's Ambleside campus yesterday. With the title of Place, Space and Time in Norman Nicholson's Oeuvre presentations ranged from our keynote speaker Dr David Cooper reflecting on the value of not just reading but re-reading Nicholson's work, to a collage of words, sounds and images from Nicholson's war poetry produced by Ann Thomson, to Meghann Hillier-Bradley exploring environmental issues as expressed in Nicholson's short stories and plays - and much more. The Society thanks everyone who came, and special thanks to Dr Penny Bradshaw, leader of Cumbria Uni's MA course in Literature, Romanticism and the Lake District, and the staff and volunteers from the Ambleside campus who helped make this such a success. Thanks also to our generous USA-based donor whose support has enabled us to offer these events free of charge over the last three years. We also wish to say a heartfelt thank-you to our committee member and editor of Comet, Antoinette Fawcett, for her immense efforts in organising the event. At the end of the symposium everybody who was there recognised her crucial role and applauded Antoinette for it.
posted 28/9/2025
posted 28/9/2025
Our Christmas Lunch - when and where
The Society's Christmas Lunch will once again be held at the Netherwood Hotel, Grange-over-Sands - a great chance for members and friends to get together in an informal social setting. The date is Sunday November 30th, 12.30pm for 1.00pm. Full details will be posted here in October when the menu is published. We will also confirm booking arrangements and further details then.
Meanwhile, do save the date!
posted 20/9/2025
Meanwhile, do save the date!
posted 20/9/2025
Alliance of Literary Societies
The autumn edition of the ALS Newsletter has just been published. It's available to all members of the Norman Nicholson Society. You can find it by logging onto our Members Area on this website. You need to register in oreder to access the Members Area. If you're a member and haven't already done this, the details can be found HERE.
posted 20/9/2025
posted 20/9/2025
Christine Boyce exhibition
An exhibition featuring the work of the stained glass artist Christine Boyce is to be held at Dacre Hall, Lanercost, near Brampton, between the 2nd and 7th September. Christine designed and made the Norman Nicholson Memorial Window in St George’s Church, Millom, installed in 2000. This exhibition will show a wider range of her works, including her paintings, sketchbooks and plans for her windows. It promises to be a unique opportunity to view her work and find out about the woman behind the designs.
posted 25/8/2025
Nicholson House project: important update
The house before and after recent remedial work. The blue plaque has been restored and is due to be fixed back into place shortly.
Plans for the development of Norman Nicholson's house have been scaled down as a result of funding difficulties.
The Society launched this project to buy and restore the Victorian terraced house in Millom in 2016, and set up Norman Nicholson House Community Interest Company to focus on the work. The CIC succeeded in buying the house earlier this year and then obtained funding to repair the exterior, including a new roof. This work has also been completed. But now the project team have had to revise further plans after a series of funding rejections.
This means that the intention to build a three-storey extension at the rear of the building has been abandoned and instead the team will focus on refurbishing the house as it currently stands.
Project chair Charlie Lambert said: ‘We always knew that our aims were ambitious and make no apology for that. But we also recognise the reality of the funding landscape and it’s clear that our project as originally envisaged is asking too much. So we’re now looking to concentrate on the house within its current footprint. We will reduce the amount we’re requesting from funding organisations but retain the same objectives – to create a lively museum to celebrate Nicholson’s work, provide a focus for creativity, and a hub for community activities in Millom.
‘We will take a bit of time to consult our advisors and then look forward to moving ahead with our revised project.’
posted 25/8/2025
The Society launched this project to buy and restore the Victorian terraced house in Millom in 2016, and set up Norman Nicholson House Community Interest Company to focus on the work. The CIC succeeded in buying the house earlier this year and then obtained funding to repair the exterior, including a new roof. This work has also been completed. But now the project team have had to revise further plans after a series of funding rejections.
This means that the intention to build a three-storey extension at the rear of the building has been abandoned and instead the team will focus on refurbishing the house as it currently stands.
Project chair Charlie Lambert said: ‘We always knew that our aims were ambitious and make no apology for that. But we also recognise the reality of the funding landscape and it’s clear that our project as originally envisaged is asking too much. So we’re now looking to concentrate on the house within its current footprint. We will reduce the amount we’re requesting from funding organisations but retain the same objectives – to create a lively museum to celebrate Nicholson’s work, provide a focus for creativity, and a hub for community activities in Millom.
‘We will take a bit of time to consult our advisors and then look forward to moving ahead with our revised project.’
posted 25/8/2025
The Bloody Cranesbill at Hodbarrow
photo: GLENN LANG
This is just one of the memorable sights which our members enjoyed at the Society's recent Summer Event in Millom. Our exploration of the nature reserve at Hodbarrow yielded, among other things, a close-up of the Bloody Cranesbill, the plant celebrated by Norman in his poem of the same name in the Sea to the West collection of 1981. The flower was always a reminder to Norman of the habitual Sunday walks he would undertake with his father and Uncle Jim.
We scuffed through a scabbed and scruffy valley of ruddled rocks
To Cumberland's southernmost point....
Norman described the flower as
...red as the ore
It grew from, fragile as Venetian glass, pencilled with metal-thread
Haematite-purple veins.
The mine was still in production in those days, but now,
Fifty years later,
And it's hard to tell there ever was a mine: pit-heads
Demolished, pit-banks levelled, railway-lines ripped up...
So much has changed, so much has gone, but the flower lives on, a symbol of tenacity, determination, and survival:
A town's
Purpose subsides with the mine; my father and my Uncle Jim
Lie a quarter of a century dead; but out on its stubborn skerry,
In a lagoon of despoliation, that same flower
Still grows today.
And 45 years on from publication, it still does - and without the despoliation.
Thanks to Glenn Lang for the photo.
posted 30/6/2025
We scuffed through a scabbed and scruffy valley of ruddled rocks
To Cumberland's southernmost point....
Norman described the flower as
...red as the ore
It grew from, fragile as Venetian glass, pencilled with metal-thread
Haematite-purple veins.
The mine was still in production in those days, but now,
Fifty years later,
And it's hard to tell there ever was a mine: pit-heads
Demolished, pit-banks levelled, railway-lines ripped up...
So much has changed, so much has gone, but the flower lives on, a symbol of tenacity, determination, and survival:
A town's
Purpose subsides with the mine; my father and my Uncle Jim
Lie a quarter of a century dead; but out on its stubborn skerry,
In a lagoon of despoliation, that same flower
Still grows today.
And 45 years on from publication, it still does - and without the despoliation.
Thanks to Glenn Lang for the photo.
posted 30/6/2025
Irvine Hunt: poet, author and friend
The Norman Nicholson Society was very sorry to receive the sad news in April of the death of the author, poet and storyteller Irvine Hunt, a founder member of the Norman Nicholson Society and a great friend and supporter of Norman Nicholson. Irvine died peacefully at home on April 2nd at the age of 95.
Irvine often helped Norman by driving him to poetry readings at which they both performed, including in Morpeth and Ashington for the MidNAG festivals in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. The friendship between the two writers was strong and lasting, and Irvine and his family were entrusted with the Nicholson Literary Estate after Norman's death in 1987. Irvine honoured Norman's memory in many ways, including compiling and editing the selection of Nicholson's topographical prose Norman Nicholson's Lakeland: A Prose Anthology, published by Robert Hale Ltd in 1991.
Irvine’s funeral service took place in the lovely St. Kentigern’s Church in Castle Sowerby. The service ended with a reading of Nicholson's beautiful poem 'Sea to the West'.
We know that Irvine always treasured his connection with the Society and that he valued the positive contribution it has made to Norman’s literary legacy. We will greatly miss his kindly and gentle interest in our activities. We hope to publish a more formal tribute to Irvine in our Society Bulletin later this year, in recognition of the work that he and his family have done to keep Norman’s name alive.
posted 24/6/2025
Irvine often helped Norman by driving him to poetry readings at which they both performed, including in Morpeth and Ashington for the MidNAG festivals in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. The friendship between the two writers was strong and lasting, and Irvine and his family were entrusted with the Nicholson Literary Estate after Norman's death in 1987. Irvine honoured Norman's memory in many ways, including compiling and editing the selection of Nicholson's topographical prose Norman Nicholson's Lakeland: A Prose Anthology, published by Robert Hale Ltd in 1991.
Irvine’s funeral service took place in the lovely St. Kentigern’s Church in Castle Sowerby. The service ended with a reading of Nicholson's beautiful poem 'Sea to the West'.
We know that Irvine always treasured his connection with the Society and that he valued the positive contribution it has made to Norman’s literary legacy. We will greatly miss his kindly and gentle interest in our activities. We hope to publish a more formal tribute to Irvine in our Society Bulletin later this year, in recognition of the work that he and his family have done to keep Norman’s name alive.
posted 24/6/2025
Philip Gardner thesis available at Millom Library
There's a valuable addition to the resources available in Millom Library. Philip Gardner's 1969 PhD thesis, a key text for Nicholson scholars over many years, is now available in hard copy for readers to access within the library. It's kept in the reserve collection, but with a note on the shelf with Nicholson's work to say that it is available. The thesis is also available online from Liverpool University at https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3174119/
The thesis was the precursor to Gardner's writing the first full-length book devoted to Nicholson’s work, his Norman Nicholson, published by Twayne of New York in 1973, combining literary criticism with biographical and geographical information which provide important context. It’s a book written with authority. Gardner’s appreciation of Nicholson dates back to student days in 1955, later prompting him to travel to Millom to meet him. From this visit a valued friendship developed, which in turn informed the thesis.
A detailed article about Philip Gardner, who now lives in Ottawa, appeared in Comet, the Norman Nicholson Society's newsletter, in March 2024.
posted 5/6/2025
The thesis was the precursor to Gardner's writing the first full-length book devoted to Nicholson’s work, his Norman Nicholson, published by Twayne of New York in 1973, combining literary criticism with biographical and geographical information which provide important context. It’s a book written with authority. Gardner’s appreciation of Nicholson dates back to student days in 1955, later prompting him to travel to Millom to meet him. From this visit a valued friendship developed, which in turn informed the thesis.
A detailed article about Philip Gardner, who now lives in Ottawa, appeared in Comet, the Norman Nicholson Society's newsletter, in March 2024.
posted 5/6/2025
New chair and changes to our committee
JONATHAN POWELL. Photo: 4-5 Gray's Inn Square
We are pleased to announce that Jonathan Powell was elected as our new Chair at the 2025 Norman Nicholson Society AGM in April. Jonathan is a barrister at Gray’s Inn and divides his time between London and The Hill, just outside Millom. He has been a member of the NNS since 2018 and joined the NNS committee last year.
After serving as Joint Acting Chairs of the NNS last year, Prof. Brian Whalley remains as the Membership Secretary and Glenn Lang has returned to his old position as NNS Secretary. Dr Antoinette Fawcett continues as the editor of The New Comet and The Comet Bulletin, and Brian Charnley remains as Treasurer. Antoinette and Glenn are also the NNS Joint Representatives to the Alliance of Literary Societies. Sue Dawson continues to be our Schools and Communities Officer.
Abi Palmer’s place on the NNS committee was ratified at the AGM; Abi is based at the University of Cumbria and is currently writing a Ph.D. thesis on the renowned Yorkshire diarist Anne Lister. John Grieve will continue to serve as a co-opted member of the committee.
Dr Laura Day, Janice Brockbank and Simone Faulkner have recently resigned from the committee due to the pressure of other commitments. Janice served as the NNS Secretary from November 2019 to April 2023 and continued on the committee till December 2024. Dr Laura Day was the NNS Youth Representative from 2021 to 2025 and Simone acted as an important contact in Millom. We thank them all for their vital contributions to the work of the Norman Nicholson Society over the years.
posted 23/5/2025
After serving as Joint Acting Chairs of the NNS last year, Prof. Brian Whalley remains as the Membership Secretary and Glenn Lang has returned to his old position as NNS Secretary. Dr Antoinette Fawcett continues as the editor of The New Comet and The Comet Bulletin, and Brian Charnley remains as Treasurer. Antoinette and Glenn are also the NNS Joint Representatives to the Alliance of Literary Societies. Sue Dawson continues to be our Schools and Communities Officer.
Abi Palmer’s place on the NNS committee was ratified at the AGM; Abi is based at the University of Cumbria and is currently writing a Ph.D. thesis on the renowned Yorkshire diarist Anne Lister. John Grieve will continue to serve as a co-opted member of the committee.
Dr Laura Day, Janice Brockbank and Simone Faulkner have recently resigned from the committee due to the pressure of other commitments. Janice served as the NNS Secretary from November 2019 to April 2023 and continued on the committee till December 2024. Dr Laura Day was the NNS Youth Representative from 2021 to 2025 and Simone acted as an important contact in Millom. We thank them all for their vital contributions to the work of the Norman Nicholson Society over the years.
posted 23/5/2025
The Norman Nicholson Society Summer Event:
Poets, Artists and Inspiration
photo: SUE DAWSON
Saturday 14th June 2025
11.00am to 4.30pm (approx)
This year is the 25th anniversary of Christine Boyce’s stained glass masterpiece, the
Norman Nicholson Memorial Window, which was completed in time for the
millennium, just thirteen years after Nicholson’s death. Christine Boyce (1928-
2019) spent two years immersing herself in Nicholson’s poetry and prose and was
given almost complete freedom in terms of the design of the window.
The event will take place in St. George’s Church, Millom, where the window is
located. There will be a general introduction to the images in the window and their
inspiration, followed by a consideration of Nicholson’s key poem ‘Caedmon’. The
Anglo-Saxon poet Caedmon is the first English poet known to us by name and his life
and work clearly had deep significance for Nicholson. Christine Boyce places the
figure of The Poet at the centre of her design to stress the importance of ‘Caedmon’ in her conception of the task of the creative artist: not only that of the poet
memorialized in her own work of art, but that of all artists, whether working in the
visual arts, music, dance or literature. The morning session will be followed by lunch and the consideration of other poems portrayed in the window, particularly ‘The Bee Orchid’ and ‘The Bloody Cranesbill’.
If the weather permits, we will take a walk at Hodbarrow to see these flowers in bloom. We will include a short visit to Nicholson’s house, either in the morning or the afternoon, to see the current renovations. There will also be the option to visit the ancient Church of the Holy Trinity on the outskirts of Millom, which will be celebrating the Festival of the Holy Trinity the same weekend. This was Nicholson’s favourite church, where his mentor the Rev Sam Taylor was the vicar from 1935-1944. At Holy Trinity Church there will be the opportunity to see an exhibition of the work of the artist David Bates ARCA
(1929-2024) which portrays Millom as it was when Nicholson knew it. The exhibition also includes work by David Bates’s wife, June Moss, and his pupil, Jim Billsborough. Malcolm Bates will give a talk about the work of his father and
mother (details to be released later).
The Norman Nicholson Society Summer Event will start at 11.00am promptly, so please arrive before the starting time. St. George’s Church will be open from 10.30am. We expect the day to finish between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. There is no need to book, but do send us an email if you hope to attend: [email protected]. NOTE: All activities are at your own risk. Please ensure that you wear suitable clothing and footwear for the walk and bring necessary refreshments. Tea and coffee will be available in St. George’s Church.
Whatever the weather may be, this summer event will give friends and members the chance to acquaint or reacquaint themselves with the wellsprings of Nicholson’s inspiration. See you there!
posted 15/5/2025
(1929-2024) which portrays Millom as it was when Nicholson knew it. The exhibition also includes work by David Bates’s wife, June Moss, and his pupil, Jim Billsborough. Malcolm Bates will give a talk about the work of his father and
mother (details to be released later).
The Norman Nicholson Society Summer Event will start at 11.00am promptly, so please arrive before the starting time. St. George’s Church will be open from 10.30am. We expect the day to finish between 4.30pm and 5.00pm. There is no need to book, but do send us an email if you hope to attend: [email protected]. NOTE: All activities are at your own risk. Please ensure that you wear suitable clothing and footwear for the walk and bring necessary refreshments. Tea and coffee will be available in St. George’s Church.
Whatever the weather may be, this summer event will give friends and members the chance to acquaint or reacquaint themselves with the wellsprings of Nicholson’s inspiration. See you there!
posted 15/5/2025
Norman Nicholson Symposium, September 27th 2025:
Place, Space and Time in Norman Nicholson’s Oeuvre
Ambleside Campus of the University of Cumbria
We’re delighted to announce that the third Norman Nicholson symposium in the series organised by the Norman Nicholson Society, and hosted at the University of Cumbria’s Ambleside Campus by Dr. Penny Bradshaw, Associate Professor of
English Literature and Theme Lead for Cultural Landscapes within the University of Cumbria’s Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, will take place on Saturday September27th 2025. The topic this year will be Place, Space and Time
in Norman Nicholson’s Oeuvre, themes that are central to Nicholson’s writing in all the genres in which he worked.
This symposium will continue and extend the range of debate about Nicholson’s place in English Literature; his lifelong engagement with the landscape, industry, culture and history of Greater Lakeland; his sensitive awareness of and response to
the natural world; and his abiding commitment to societal, environmental, and spiritual issues. We are especially interested in papers or presentations which explore these themes in the context of Deep Time, local distinctiveness and,
particularly, environmental, societal and industrial transitions, theological space and rural modernism.
The programme of speakers is almost complete, but we do still have space for one or two further presentations. If you are interested in reading a 20-minute paper, making a creative presentation, giving a performance, or reading at this symposium,
please contact the Norman Nicholson Society at [email protected].
We are also delighted to announce that Dr. David Cooper of Manchester Metropolitan University, and a former chair of the Society, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Other speakers will include the art historian Dr David A. Cross and the writer and environmentalist Dr Karen Lloyd, as well as several poets and writers, including Luke Bateman, Kelly Davis, and Mary Robinson. Recent research on Nicholson will be presented by Meghann Hillier-Broadley and we expect there to be news of Nicholson-related projects and lively readings from his work.
Thanks to a generous private donation, places will be free of charge and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The day will include a light lunch and refreshments, and will provide plenty of opportunities to chat to the speakers and
each other.
Registration for the event will open in mid-August. Please keep an eye on our website, social media, and Society emails and bulletins for the opening of the booking period, and do send in your booking request quickly to ensure your place.
posted 10/5/2025
New look to 14 St George's Terrace!
Repairs to the exterior of Norman Nicholson's house in Millom have been completed on schedule – and a new look to the 140-year-old building has been revealed.
The £99,000 project to carry out vital repairs to the exterior of the house at 14 St George’s Terrace included installing a new slate roof, strengthening the chimney stack and dormer, replacing the windows, drainpipes and gutters, and returning the lay-out of the front of the building to its original design.
The house was suffering badly from damp, missing slates and damaged timber and brickwork. Now it looks in great condition, boasting a brand-new appearance with the woodwork painted an eye-catching shade of pink as a nod to Millom’s past as the site of one of the world’s richest seams of haematite, something frequently referenced in Nicholson’s poetry.
Chair of the Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘This is a massive step on the way towards fully reopening the house as a café, a place for small-scale community events, a Nicholson exhibition, and accommodation for a writer in residence and general tourists. Our aims are to celebrate Norman Nicholson’s outstanding writing and to make a genuine contribution to Millom and the surrounding area. We’re extremely grateful to South Copeland GDF Community Partnership and Cumberland Council/UK Shared Prosperity Fund for providing the funding to carry out the work.’
Now that the building is secure and weatherproof the project will seek further funding to renovate the interior, build an extension at the back, and fully equip the house for its future role.
The £99,000 project to carry out vital repairs to the exterior of the house at 14 St George’s Terrace included installing a new slate roof, strengthening the chimney stack and dormer, replacing the windows, drainpipes and gutters, and returning the lay-out of the front of the building to its original design.
The house was suffering badly from damp, missing slates and damaged timber and brickwork. Now it looks in great condition, boasting a brand-new appearance with the woodwork painted an eye-catching shade of pink as a nod to Millom’s past as the site of one of the world’s richest seams of haematite, something frequently referenced in Nicholson’s poetry.
Chair of the Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘This is a massive step on the way towards fully reopening the house as a café, a place for small-scale community events, a Nicholson exhibition, and accommodation for a writer in residence and general tourists. Our aims are to celebrate Norman Nicholson’s outstanding writing and to make a genuine contribution to Millom and the surrounding area. We’re extremely grateful to South Copeland GDF Community Partnership and Cumberland Council/UK Shared Prosperity Fund for providing the funding to carry out the work.’
Now that the building is secure and weatherproof the project will seek further funding to renovate the interior, build an extension at the back, and fully equip the house for its future role.
THEN: January 24th 2025. photo: CHARLIE LAMBERT
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NOW: April 7th 2025. photo: SUE DAWSON
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posted 8/4/2025
ALS Newsletter now available to our members
The Alliance of Literary Societies Spring 2025 newsletter has been published and is available for our members to read in the members' area of this website. There are many interesting articles, including one about Arthur Ransome which members will find interesting, given Ransome's Cumbrian connections. If you're not yet a member, you would be very welcome to join us. Membership details are HERE.
posted 2/3/2025
posted 2/3/2025
Work starts at 14 St George's Terrace
photo: SUE DAWSON
Repair work has started on Nicholson's old home in Millom! Having secured funding to pay for a new slate roof and numerous other external repairs the Nicholson House project, which was launched by the Society in 2016, has commissioned Millom company J.Nuttall Building Services to carry out the work. Scaffolding began to appear today and the builders are due to complete the job at the end of March. South Copeland GDF Community Partnership and Cumberland Council are very kindly providing the funds for this. Our project team will now began the quest for further funding to cover the cost of interior repairs and refurbishment.
Read more about this on the BBC website HERE and the NW Mail website HERE - and watch Border TV tomorrow when there's due to be a report on this milestone moment.
posted 30/1/2025
Read more about this on the BBC website HERE and the NW Mail website HERE - and watch Border TV tomorrow when there's due to be a report on this milestone moment.
posted 30/1/2025
Find out about the Nicholson Papers
Jessica Smith (photo: University of Manchester)
Our second event of the year comes up on Wednesday February 5th (7.30pm) when Jessica Smith, archivist and curator in charge of the Modern Literary Archives at the John Rylands Library in Manchester, will talk about the papers of Norman Nicholson held in their archive, and the work of the archive in general. The talk, on Zoom, is a great opportunity to learn about the scope of the Nicholson-related materials and to understand the kind of use that can be made of this treasure trove and the insights it can give us.
Although Norman Nicholson is known to have destroyed many of his papers, including drafts of poems and personal letters, he also kept a range of important materials until his death. These were eventually deposited with the John Rylands Library, which is part of the University of Manchester. This extensive collection is known as The Papers of Norman Nicholson and is complemented by the Norman Nicholson Book Collection and The Papers from the Norman Nicholson Book Collection, also held at the John Rylands.
The importance of these collections was stressed by former archivist, Stella Halkyard, as they formed the initial basis of the Modern Literary Archives at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. The first Nicholson deposits attracted further donations, including the Papers of Doreen Cornthwaite relating to Norman Nicholson and many more important and interesting Nicholson-related papers and artefacts. These donations and long-term loans make the John Rylands Library the richest and most complete source of archival material relating to Norman Nicholson.
Registration for this event is now open. Please contact the Society at the usual email address, [email protected], by Monday 3rd February at 5.00pm. The event is open to all and is free of charge.
posted 21/1/2025
Although Norman Nicholson is known to have destroyed many of his papers, including drafts of poems and personal letters, he also kept a range of important materials until his death. These were eventually deposited with the John Rylands Library, which is part of the University of Manchester. This extensive collection is known as The Papers of Norman Nicholson and is complemented by the Norman Nicholson Book Collection and The Papers from the Norman Nicholson Book Collection, also held at the John Rylands.
The importance of these collections was stressed by former archivist, Stella Halkyard, as they formed the initial basis of the Modern Literary Archives at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. The first Nicholson deposits attracted further donations, including the Papers of Doreen Cornthwaite relating to Norman Nicholson and many more important and interesting Nicholson-related papers and artefacts. These donations and long-term loans make the John Rylands Library the richest and most complete source of archival material relating to Norman Nicholson.
Registration for this event is now open. Please contact the Society at the usual email address, [email protected], by Monday 3rd February at 5.00pm. The event is open to all and is free of charge.
posted 21/1/2025
Our first events of the New Year
Members and friends gathered online on the evening of Wednesday January 8th to celebrate the 111th anniversary of Norman Nicholson's birth. A dozen Society members read favourite poems, including a wonderfully-illustrated reading of a little-known Nicholson poem, Cricket in Cumberland, by Sue Dawson. There was also a reading of Askam Unvisited by John Killick who recalled meeting Nicholson at an event in Doncaster and telling him that he rated this as his one of his greatest poems. 'Nicholson agreed,' said John - adding 'although he might have just been being polite!'
The evening, hosted by Antoinette Fawcett, also included a reading by Martyn Halsall of his own poem The Inheritors, written in tribute to Nicholson. The event concluded with a toast to Norman with more than one of our number choosing Norman's favourite tipple, a good Scottish malt whisky.
Our next event comes up on Wednesday February 5th, 'Norman Nicholson and the John Rylands Library Archive', an online talk
by Jessica Smith, Archivist in charge of the Modern Literary Archives at the John Rylands Library in Manchester, starting at 7.30pm. To register, please email [email protected] by Monday February 3rd at 5pm.
posted 12/1/2025, updated 16/1/2025
The evening, hosted by Antoinette Fawcett, also included a reading by Martyn Halsall of his own poem The Inheritors, written in tribute to Nicholson. The event concluded with a toast to Norman with more than one of our number choosing Norman's favourite tipple, a good Scottish malt whisky.
Our next event comes up on Wednesday February 5th, 'Norman Nicholson and the John Rylands Library Archive', an online talk
by Jessica Smith, Archivist in charge of the Modern Literary Archives at the John Rylands Library in Manchester, starting at 7.30pm. To register, please email [email protected] by Monday February 3rd at 5pm.
posted 12/1/2025, updated 16/1/2025
Celebrating Norman's 111th birthday
We've been celebrating Norman's birthday (January 8th) as a Society since 2007, when a group of us stood outside what was then the Norman Nicholson House café and toasted Norman with champagne. Eighteen years later we still mark the start of each new Nicholson year with a special celebration, although this year’s event will be online rather than in person.
As for our celebration last year, we are asking friends and members to be involved in the reading of poems and prose passages by Nicholson, with one suitable choice for each month of the year. Prose passages can be chosen from Wednesday Early Closing or Provincial Pleasures. This will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday January 8th 2025.
If you would like to participate as a reader, do let us know as soon as possible, as the programme is filling up. You should give details of your chosen poem or passage and the month you would like that poem or passage to represent. You should also give second and third choices, in case other people have chosen the same pieces/months as you.
Registration for the event will open on Monday December 16th and closes at 5pm on Monday January 6th. We will send you the Zoom link on the morning of January 8th. To register, either as audience or reader, please email [email protected]
posted 16/12/24
As for our celebration last year, we are asking friends and members to be involved in the reading of poems and prose passages by Nicholson, with one suitable choice for each month of the year. Prose passages can be chosen from Wednesday Early Closing or Provincial Pleasures. This will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday January 8th 2025.
If you would like to participate as a reader, do let us know as soon as possible, as the programme is filling up. You should give details of your chosen poem or passage and the month you would like that poem or passage to represent. You should also give second and third choices, in case other people have chosen the same pieces/months as you.
Registration for the event will open on Monday December 16th and closes at 5pm on Monday January 6th. We will send you the Zoom link on the morning of January 8th. To register, either as audience or reader, please email [email protected]
posted 16/12/24
We move to Bluesky
The Society has opened an account on the social media platform Bluesky where you can find us by searching for Norman Nicholson Society. This will in due course replace our activity on X / Twitter where we will continue to maintain a presence until the New Year. If you've been following us on X / Twitter, thank you so much for your support and we look forward to linking up again as we build a following on Bluesky. Click HERE to start.
posted 7/12/24
posted 7/12/24
Driving Norman to see Josefina - latest in our Audio Archive
Former Haverigg teacher and one-time warden of the Harriet Trust Chris Powell has recorded his memories of Norman Nicholson for our Audio Archive, available on this website HERE. Chris often drove Norman to visit the founder of the Harriet Trust, the sculptor Josefina de Vasconcellos, and her husband, the artist Delmar Banner, at their home, The Bield, in Little Langdale. He recalls those days in an interview recorded on October 10th 2024.
posted 25/10/24
posted 25/10/24
for previous News items please visit our News Archive
Explore Millom and surrounding area:
Millom Arts & Heritage Centre St George's Church Hodbarrow RSPB Reserve
Millom Arts & Heritage Centre St George's Church Hodbarrow RSPB Reserve
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