The Thomas Chatterton Society
thomaschattertonsociety.com Bristol thomas chatterton society
Thomas Chatterton 1752 - 1770 Poet and Writer born in Bristol England who found international fame after his early and untimely death at 17 years 277 days.
Quote from Thomas Chatterton:
"God has sent his creatures into the world with arms long enough to reach anywhere if they could be put to the trouble of extending them."
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Exciting News
Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project - William Barrett's Chatterton Collection 2023
Click on Chatterton's picture for further details
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BBC4 Thomas Chatterton Documentary 8.30pm Monday 15th June 2015
Chatterton's House to start a Brand New Life!
Renovations by Bristol City Council almost completed.
Follow our wesite for house up-dates.
Chatterton's birthplace, now fornerly named "Chatterton's House" is at Pile Street opposite St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol, England. It was built in 1749 as a dwelling house for the school master of Pyle Street School and was bequethed to the school by Giles Malpas, a successful pinmaker. The House is owned by Bristol City Council and the Society has been working with the Council for many years to preserve and renovate the House. The renovations are now mostly complete.
Image Courtesy of Bristol City Council
Poet Michael Symmons Roberts explores the mythic afterlife of the 18th Century poet Thomas Chatterton. With access to rare documents and artefacts and featuring a surprising interview with Queen guitarist Brian May, Michael explains how Chatterton’s tragic young death in his London garret aged just seventeen was immortalised by a succession of poets and painters and photographers - most notably by the pre-Raphaelite Henry Wallis in his masterpiece known as The Death of Chatterton – and how these successive images of the young Chatterton have dogged poets ever since with the notion of the doomed young poet suffering and ultimately dying in service to the Muse.
Click on Chatterton's House picture for further details
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Chatterton's House
Courtesy of Bristol Central Library
Forthcoming this Autumn (2014):
An Exhibition at The British Library 3 October 2014 - 20 January 2015
includes Original Manuscripts by Chatterton, a portrait, his first letter to Horace Walpole, a Chatterton Hankerchief and explanatory texts.
Click on the Terror and Wonder picture to link to the British Library.
Images Courtesy of British Library
In conjunction with the above Exhibition:
BBC Programmes in conjunction with
The British Library Exhibition
The Art Of Gothic: The Shock Of The Old, (working title) BBC Four
In a three-part series, Andrew Graham-Dixon looks back at 19th century Britain and its obsession with all things Gothic.
Includes Chatterton in the first episode BBC4 9.00pm Monday 20th November, subsequent episodes 9.00pm Monday 27th October and 9.00pm Monday 3rd November. Click on the BBC logo to link to the BBC preview.
Image Courtesy of BBC
Further this Autumn (2014):
Dr Brian May of rock group 'Queen' and associate Denis Pellerin reveal the wonders of stereoscopic photography at Tate Britain Exhibition 7 October 2014 - 1 November 2015.
Includes Chatterton: Henry Wallis's iconic portrait 'Chatterton' has 3D treatment.
Thomas Chatterton in 'Stereo'
taken from 'Chatterton' 1856 by Henry Wallis on permanent display at Tate Britain
(requires special spectacles for 3D)
Image Courtesy of Dr Brian May
Click on photograph of Chatterton to link to Tate Britain
Exhibition Associated Book
Image Courtesy of Dr Brian May / Denis Pellerin / The London Stereoscopic Company Ltd
Click on 'The Poor Man's Picture Gallery' book
to link to publisher London Stereoscopic Company
New Chattertonia Manuscript Found:
Researcher: Simon Nuckley, Chiswick Auctions UK
Chiswick Auctions: Wednesday 24 September at 1pm
Lot 21 - see catalogue for full details
[CHATTERTON, Thomas (1752-177)] George GREGORY
(1754-1808) The Life of Thomas Chatterton. London:
Printed for G. Kearlsey, 1789. 8vo (202 x 130mm).
THE FRONT FREE ENDPAPERS CONTAIN A HIGHLY
IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNT OF CHATTERTON. "Chatterton was very stout in his person, but short. His eyes were grey, of a lustre that made them appear almost transparent ... when you looked full in the boy's face his eyes always withdrew from inspection, and he hung down his head....." (contd).
Manuscript written by William Seward (1749-1799).
Estimate £400 - £600
HOT off the PRESS!
This remarkable Chattertonian discovery was successfully sold to a fortunate buyer at the auction.
Images Courtesy of Chiswick Auctions
Top Image is the
William Seward Manuscript
Click on the Chiswick Auctions brochure
above to link to Press Report
thomaschattertonsociety.com Bristol thomas chatterton society