Subject strengths: Literature, Poetry, Visual Arts

The building known as Morden Tower dates back to the 13th Century, forming a defensive turret in the historical west walls of Newcastle, England, and was occupied by the Company of Plumbers, Plasterers and Glaziers from the 16th Century. The tower fell into a derelict state until 1964, when Connie Pickard took on the lease and started the Morden Tower poetry readings with her husband, Tom. The first reading took place on 16th June 1964, from poet and songwriter Pete Brown. At this time, Tom Pickard also contacted poet Basil Bunting and invited him to the readings; Bunting attended every event in the Tower's first two years, and it encouraged him to return to writing poetry, including his epic poem Briggflatts which he first performed at the Tower in December 1965. Many poets have given readings at Morden Tower, including Allen Ginsberg, Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Simon Armitage, Stevie Smith, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gregory Corso, Hugh MacDiarmid, J. H. Prynne, Alan Hull, Tom Raworth, Carol Ann Duffy and Helen Dunmore. The Morden Tower poetry readings were supported by funding from Arts Council England up until 2005.

This archive consists of 26 limited edition prints of posters relating to poetry readings at Morden Tower, Newcastle.

Collection Name:

Morden Tower Prints Archive

Ref Code:

MT

Date Range of Material

1964-2017

Type of Material

Poster prints

Size of Collection

1 oversize box

How To Order Items From This Collection

Please use the finding aid below to search through a list of the individual items we have within this collection. If you find an item you would like to consult in the Special Collections reading room, simply make a note of the reference number and title of the item(s) you are interested in (for example MT/1 Poster advertising poetry reading by Gael Turnbull).

You can then place your order by linking to our Request Form.

Finding Aid
 
Archival catalogue available via the Archives Hub.
 
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