Somersby is a tranquil village which lies in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds. With rolling hills and quiet country lanes, this is a walkers' paradise and for those who enjoy biking there are some beautiful and challenging cycle routes. This is one of England's best-kept secrets, a landscape of timeless beauty.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born here: the Old Rectory and medieval St Margaret's Church sit within walking distance of our cottages, and the village still has the quiet character of his early years.
Somersby sits in the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Tennyson spent the first 28 years of his life in Somersby and was one of 12 children in a somewhat eccentric family. Somersby and the Lincolnshire Wolds deeply informed his early poetry; rural countryside and local gardens provided imagery for his poems, including references to gardens, beech trees, and local flora. The River Lymn, which runs through the village, is widely linked to the water imagery of "The Brook".
Known for his masterful, musical verse, vivid imagery, and ability to bridge the gap between religious faith and scientific progress, he was appointed Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria in 1850 after the death of William Wordsworth, holding the position until his death in 1892, tackling themes of grief, Arthurian legend, and patriotism.
In 1883 he accepted a peerage, becoming Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the first English writer elevated to the House of Lords specifically for his poetry. He was also the first poet in English history to gain significant fame and fortune during his own lifetime.