#hucknall

(*cough* if the ‘friend’ is thinking of breaking in then bonjour I quite literally have the floor plan *cough*) (not that we’d be the first to do it because there is that infamous story of the priest who opened up the Byron vault to check out the size of his lyre)

Byron is in the family vault in St Mary Magdalene church in Hucknall, Nottingham. With Ada (!!) which makes me happy because Lady Byron literally pulled a Dorian Gray and kept Byron’s portrait hidden behind a cloth in the attic and reallyyyyy did not want Ada knowing anything about her father. Which LOL cause he was the biggest celeb of his day. There’s also a whole bunch of Byron family members so can you imagine the chaotic energy in that place.

He ended up in Hucknall because Westminster Abbey turned him down, despite Hobhouse’s using every bit of his soul to argue for B to be interned there. Sad times. Can you imagine the chaos B’s ghost would have caused there? Also, best friend bonus point alert - Hobhouse continued to petition for the rest of his life for a statue of Byron to be erected (fitting word choice) in Westminster but alas it did not happen. He does however now have his very own floor tile in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey. I have been twice but yet to pluck up the nerve to risk being shouted at by an attendant for breaking ‘no pics’ rules. They have the eyes of hawks and the more I have loitered the more they have watched. I digress.

I *deep breath* have not been to Hucknall *the Greek chorus cries*. Although both Hucknall and Newstead Abbey are in Robin Hood land, a good Newstead trip takes the whole day and I’ve only been to Nottingham twice so sadly never made it to the family vault. Hucknall is easier to get to than Newstead Abbey though, you can get a tram from the city centre or train station whereas with Newstead Abbey you have to get the train to Nottingham -> 30(ish) minute walk across town -> bus station -> Pronto bus towards Mansfield (Austen connection!) -> Get off at Newstead (that’s what B said) -> walk the mile or so up the driveway -> NEWSTEAD BABY!

This has literally descended into me being an old lady on her porch giving you directions you didn’t ask for so I’ll stop here and attach a copy of the Byron pilgrimage pamphlet (be still my heart) that the church has on their website.