Somersby brings together the birthplace of poet Alfred Lord Tennyson and several distinctive historic buildings. St Margaret, Somersby House and Somersby Grange represent different aspects of the village: a parish church with a bust of Tennyson, a house associated with the poet and a manor house with distinctive architectural details. There is also a circular walking route that passes through Somersby. When planning your visit, it is worth treating these cultural connections and the walk as separate points of interest. This will help you shape your trip around whether literary history, architectural styles or time outdoors should take centre stage.
Tennyson and St Margaret’s Church
St Margaret is a 15th-century parish church, restored in 1865. Its architectural style is described as Early Perpendicular, and the church is a Grade II listed building. St Margaret also houses a bust of Alfred Lord Tennyson created by Thomas Woolner. Alongside the connection to Somersby House, this offers another trace of Tennyson: here, a portrait in a church; there, the poet’s birthplace.
The church’s furnishings also offer specific details. It contains a plain octagonal font made of dressed stone, as well as a brass memorial to George Littlebury dating from 1612. Octagonal describes a shape with eight sides, while dressed stone refers to stone that has been worked. Together with its architectural style, St Margaret can be appreciated through its history, form and individual memorial objects. The restored parish church and its furnishings thus offer a distinct perspective on Somersby’s history, alongside the biographical connections to Tennyson.
Somersby House and Somersby Grange
Somersby House was Tennyson’s birthplace and was originally a mid-18th-century rectory. Today, the building is a private residence and is listed Grade II*. Its significance as the poet’s birthplace and its current use as a home belong to different periods. This distinction is important for understanding the site: Tennyson’s connection to Somersby House is historical, while its use as a private residence describes the house’s current status.
Somersby Grange was built for Robert Burton in 1722 and is listed Grade I. Four corner towers are connected by a parapet decorated with crenellations and machicolations. These striking architectural features create a different impression from the Early Perpendicular style of St Margaret: here, the towers and the ornate parapet take centre stage, while the church’s building history is the focus there. Comparing the two offers different ways to appreciate Somersby’s historic buildings.
The dates also provide a useful timeline: St Margaret dates from the 15th century, Somersby Grange was built in 1722, and Somersby House dates to the mid-18th century. The church’s restoration in 1865 was a later chapter in its building history. Taken together, these dates do not represent a single building period, but a span from the medieval parish church to the houses of the 18th century.
The circular walk through Somersby
The two-mile circular route, “Bag Enderby In The Footsteps Of Tennyson Short Walk,” passes through Somersby. It follows paths through fields and crosses several stiles. Its length, field paths and stiles are useful details when fitting the walk into your day’s plans. No duration or difficulty rating is given among these route details, so plan according to the conditions that matter for your group and your day.
The walk and the historic buildings appeal to different interests, even though both can feature in a trip to Somersby: the route is a way to spend time outdoors, while the church and houses are connected to Tennyson’s life story and to architecture. If you are choosing a holiday rental for a stay focused on Somersby, these points of interest can help you decide what you want from your trip. Whether literary history, historic architecture or the circular walk is the deciding factor depends on what you want to experience while you are there.
Discover more destinations: Metheringham, Timberland, Alford, Waddington, Bradley, Greatford, Spalding, Kirton In Lindsey
For the regional travel overview: Lincolnshire.
