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May 11, 2009
Aldeburgh, a portrait, by Tim Coates
Aldeburgh is a small fishing town in Suffolk, home to the wonderful musical festival started by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears 60 years ago.
"There is no sea like the Aldeburgh sea" wrote the Victorian poet, Edward Fitzgerald, most famous for his several translations of the ancient 'Rubayat' of Omar Khayam.
Two years ago I was privileged to be asked to write a book about Aldeburgh for Antique Collector's Club, who are one of the finest international publishers of Art books. The book is called 'Aldeburgh, a portrait' and I came to that name because I realised that in my decriptions of the town, its history and the stories of some people who have lived there, I am intruding on the deeply held affections and the relationship that everyone who knows the town has with it. It is like an artist who comes to your home and makes a painting of your mother. Everyone will have a view about whether the likeness is recognisable
The book tells the history from Roman times, describing how the coast line was overrun for hundreds of years by invaders from distant lands. It describes how Aldeburgh missed out on the riches of the wool trade, by the incompetence of the local monks, but found fortune as a Tudor boat yard, becoming the home to several of the most famous ships of English naval warfare.
There have been many famous people apart from Britten and Pears and their friends who lived in the town. It has been a centre for writers and painters and particularly the amazing Garret family who not only built the beautiful buildings at Snape that now house the concert halls, but also included Elizabeth Garret Anderson, the first woman doctor and her sister Millicent, one of the best known campaigners for woman's rights.
The book will be published in the Autumn and I am writing about it here today because today on May 11 the local history society in Aldeburgh is recording what is happening in the town and on its websites, in order to capture the day for future historians.
Posted by Perkins at May 11, 2009 7:13 PM
Comments
I'm a Trustee of the Alfred Corry Museum in Southwold, researching Victorian pilots who plied from Aldeburgh. I believe there is a sailing ship model of an Aldeburgh pilot cutter with "A 1" on its sail that was in existence c. 2006. Can you put me in touch with anyone who may know more? Diana Hughes at the Moot Hall has no knowledge of it. Many thanks!
Posted by: Peter Hancock at November 3, 2009 10:50 AM