Tennyson Research Centre
The Tennyson Research Centre, in the dome of Lincoln Central Library, is the most significant collection on Alfred Tennyson in the world.
For primary material related to Tennyson, the research centre has no equal. Tennyson’s library and those of many family members are held with manuscripts, proofs, letters, photographs and personal belongings and papers.
Researchers can study surrounded by the libraries and personalia and the more casual visitors can arrange a ‘tour’ to see some of the highlights which include:
- The letter of sympathy from Queen Victoria to Tennyson on the death of his son
- The copy of Through the Looking Glass that Lewis Carroll gave to Tennyson
- Prince Albert’s letter to Tennyson asking for his autograph
- The altered drafts of The Charge of The Light Brigade
- Cameron’s photographs of ‘King Arthur’
- Hand-illustrated editions by enthusiastic amateurs
The catalogues of the family libraries and a list of letters can be found in the download section.
There is always a small exhibition of the holdings of the Tennyson Research Centre in Lincoln Central Library. Please see below for details.
Groups and individual visits to the Research Centre are very welcome by appointment. The nature of the archive would, like Tennyson’s own work in his time, suit all ages and many interests.
Many of the holdings of the Tennyson Research Centre are available to search online through the Lincs To The Past website www.lincstothepast.com. Records of the libraries, letters, images and paraphenalia are added weekly. Online exhibitions and learning resources are available.
The centre is open Monday to Wednesday 9.30am to 2.30am. Arrangements are made for longer research visits and visits later in the week. Please contact the centre to book. Telephone: 01522 782010 or email: tennyson@lincolnshire.gov.uk
