Blake's Cottage
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Blake's Cottage
| image = William Blake House in Felpham.JPG
| caption = "Away to sweet Felpham for heaven is there"
| type = House
| locmapin = West Sussex
| map_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|50.7887|-0.6524|display=inline,title}}
| location = Felpham, West Sussex
| area =
| built =
| architect =
| architecture = Vernacular
| governing_body = Privately owned
| designation1 = Grade II*
| designation1_offname = Blake's Cottage
| designation1_date = 22 July 1949
| designation1_number = 1353792
| designation2 = Grade II
| designation2_offname = Roadside Garden Wall with Archway Linking It to Blakes Cottage
| designation2_date = 23 July 1998
| designation2_number = 1375729
}}
Blake's Cottage stands in the village of Felpham, West Sussex. The house dates from the 17th century. Its name commemorates the occupancy of the poet William Blake, who lived in the cottage from 1800 to 1803. During his time at the house, Blake wrote the verses "And did those feet in ancient time", the preface to his Milton: A Poem in Two Books, which were later set to music as the hymn "Jerusalem". The cottage, owned by a trust, is a Grade II* listed building.
History and description
William Hayley, poet and biographer of his friend William Cowper, began the construction of a house, called The Turret, at Felpham in 1798. In 1800, he invited William Blake, and his wife Catherine, to the village to illustrate his own works.{{sfn|Williamson|Hudson|Musson|Nairn|2019|pp=377–378}} Blake remained at Felpham for three years, residing at his "cot" south of the village church. During his residence Blake wrote much of Milton: A Poem in Two Books, the preface of which was subsequently adapted into the hymn "Jerusalem".{{cite web|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/almost-everything-you-know-about-the-hymn-jerusalem-is-wrong|title=Almost everything you know about the hymn Jerusalem is wrong|first=Jason|last=Whittaker|publisher=Prospect Magazine|date=26 December 2019}} The cottage is managed by the Blake's Cottage Trust{{Cite web|url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_regId=1160716&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_subId=0|title=The Blake Cottage Trust – Charity 1160716|publisher=Charity Commission|access-date=4 November 2021}} which bought the building in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/william-blake-s-cottage-sale-9614092.html|title=William Blake's cottage for sale|date=18 July 2014|first=Charlotte|last=Cripps|work=The Independent}} The trust has sought to raise funds to undertake restoration of the cottage{{Cite web|url=https://blakecottage.org/|title=Blake's Cottage – If a thing loves it is infinite|publisher=Blake Cottage Trust|access-date=4 November 2021}} but this has proved challenging.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/25/future-bleak-restoration-william-blake-cottage-jerusalem|title=The future looks bleak for the restoration of William Blake's cottage|date=25 August 2019|first=Richard|last=Brooks|work=The Guardian}} In 2017 the trust appointed architects to undertake reconstruction and redevelopment{{Cite web|url=https://micaarchitects.com/projects/blake|title=Blake's Cottage|publisher=Mica Architects|access-date=4 November 2021}} though their plans have generated some local opposition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bognorregispost.co.uk/2018/02/new-concerns-cottage/|title=New concerns over cottage|date=20 February 2018|publisher=Bognor Regis Post}}{{Cite web|url=https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-blake-s-cottage|title=Save Blake's Cottage|publisher=38 Degrees|access-date=4 November 2021}} In November 2021 concerns regarding the fabric of the building saw the cottage being placed on the 2021 Heritage at Risk Register.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/nov/04/william-blake-cottage-at-risk-of-being-lost-says-historic-england |first=Harriet|last=Sherwood|title=William Blake Cottage at risk of being lost|work=The Guardian|date=4 November 2021}} The trust aims to complete renovation of the cottage by 2027, the bicentenary of Blake's death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19691909.william-blakes-jerusalem-cottage-among-sussex-sites-risk-lost-forever/|title=Poet William Blake's Jerusalem cottage among sites at risk of being lost forever|first=Christian|last=Fuller|publisher=The Brighton Argus|date=4 November 2021}}
The original cottage dates from the 17th century.{{sfn|Williamson|Hudson|Musson|Nairn|2019|pp=377–378}} It is of two storeys and is constructed of cob, flint and brick with a thatched roof. It is a Grade II* listed building.{{NHLE|num=1353792|desc=Blake’s Cottage|grade=II*|access-date=4 November 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book
| first1= Elizabeth| last1=Williamson | first2=Tim | last2=Hudson | first3=Jeremy | last3=Musson | first4=Ian | last4=Nairn
| authorlink3 = Jeremy Musson
| authorlink4 = Ian Nairn
| title = Sussex: West
| url = https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1104943526
| series = The Buildings of England
| year = 2019 | origyear = 1965
| location = New Haven and London
| publisher = Yale University Press
| isbn = 978-0-300-22521-1
| oclc=1104943526 }}
External links
- [https://blakefest.co.uk/william-blakes-cottage-virtual-tour/ Virtual tour of Blake's Cottage]
- [https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-landscape-near-felpham-a00041 Blake’s Landscape near Felpham, showing the cottage to the right]
Category:Country houses in West Sussex