Suffolk has a rich literary and musical history and much of it is referenced in Sælig Suffolk.
Robert Greene and Fair Daisy
Elizabethan playwright Robert Greene was from Norwich and spent time in Fressingfield. The gamekeeper’s daughter there was called Daisy and was known as Fair Daisy and was the inspiration for his play Margaret, the Fair Maid of Fressingfield. Marguerite being French for Daisy.
George Crabbe and Sir Benjamin Britten
The poet George Crabbe (1754 – 1832)) came from Aldeburgh and his collection of poems titled The Borough are about Aldeburgh. The best known of the poems is Peter Grimes which composer Sir Benjamin Britten (1913 –1976) who was from Lowestoft wrote an opera about of the same name. Hence in Sælig Suffolk, Sir Benjamin Britten is referenced in the poem about Lowestoft and Peter Grimes is referenced in the poem about Aldeburgh.
Jane Taylor and Lavenham
Author Jane Taylor (1783–1824) lived in Lavenham with her siblings. She had an interest in Astronomy and wrote Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It was first published in an anthology of poems written by Jane and her sister Ann in 1806. In the poem Lavenham, nursery rhyme
Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable
Painter Thomas Gainsborough (circa 1727 – 1788 ) was from Sudbury hence the poem about Sudbury has a stanza about him He is famous for his portraits but preferred painting landscapes like his counterpart John Constable (1776 – 1837) who was born in East Bergholt and painted the landscapes around Dedham Vale, now known as Constable Country. He said “I should paint my own places best” and he did. He also referred to Suffolk’s undulating fields and vales. Hence the poem titled Undulating Fields and Vales is about him and the landscape that inspired him.
The Wits of Woodbridge
John Constable used to drink in the Bull Hotel, Woodbridge with fellow painter Thomas Churchyard (1798 -1865) who was born in Melton and painted scenes around the Melton and Woodbridge area. The two painters are mentioned in the poem Where Heights meet Fen. The poet Edward Fitzgerald (1809 – 1883) who translated The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, also drank with them. He is buried in Boulge churchyard and hence, the poem about Boulge talks a lot about his translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. British Poet Laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892) drank with them in the Bull also. The landscape in his poem The Lady of Shalott sounds like that of the landscape along the river Deben between Ufford and Woodbridge and hence in the poem Along the Deben, the poet wonders if it was the landscape of the Deben valley that inspired him. Constable, Churchyard, Fitzgerald and Tennyson were known as the Wits of Woodbridge. Hence the poem Woodbridge mentions them as the wits of Woodbridge. Poet Bernard Barton ( 1784 – 1849) was also considered a Wit of Woodbridge though he didn’t drink with the others because he was a Quaker. The poetry of Barton along with Fitzgerald are referenced in the poem Woodbridge.
William Wordsworth and Playford
British Poet Laureate William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) visited abolitionist Thomas Clarkson (1760 – 1846) at Playford Hall so is referenced in the poem, Playford
Mary Grimestone and Beccles
Poet and novelist Mary Grimestone (1796 – 1869) was born in Beccles. Her first novel was The Beauty of the British Alps, which she wrote in 1825 and is referenced in the poem, Beccles.
Charles Dickens in Suffolk
Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) spent much time in Suffolk and spoke glowingly of Bury Saint Edmunds which he called a handsome little town with well paved streets. Hence in the poem about Bury Saint Edmunds it is referred to having well paved streets and being a handsome little town. He also regularly travelled by coach between London and Great Yarmouth. The original coach road goes through Melton and hence he is mentioned in the poem about Melton because he is likely to have stayed in one of the two coaching inns in Melton of which one remains.
John Curwen and Stowmarket
John Curwen (1816 – 1880) was an English Congregationalist minister in Stowmarket who invented the Tonic Sol-Fa Press ‘Doe Ray me fah so hence there is a reference to the Tonic Sol-Fa Press in the poem about Stowmarket.
British Poet Laureate John Betjeman (1906 – 1984) stayed in Felixstowe where he wrote Felixstowe, Or The Last Of Her Order and hence he is referenced in the poem Felixstowe.
Ipswich Punk – The Adicts
Punk band, the Adicts formed in 1977, are from Ipswich and their songs Chinese Take Away and Songs of Praise are referenced in the poem called Ipswich.
The Threat and East Bergholt
1980’s Punk band, the Threat did a song called A Cup of Coffee and a Piece of Cake. Their vocalist Scat Rabies, is from East Bergholt and the song is referenced in the poem Undulating Fields and Vales.
Ed Sheeran and Framlingham
Ed Sheeran (1991 – Present) was brought up in Framlingham of which the songe Castle on a Hill is about and hence it ius referenced in the last stanza of the poem about Framlingham.
