Before Christmas I finally got round to watching the film Bright Star, Jane Campion’s film about the quiet love affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne. I thought I might find it a bit sickly, but on the contrary I loved it and it will stay with me for a long time. Most striking was the portrayal of Fanny who I found simpy divine! Maybe it was over-emphasised, but her fiery temperament and fascination with fashionable style, creating her own outfits from material scraps and ribbons, really brought the film to life.
They met in Hampstead in 1818; Fanny and her mother and younger brother and sister rented one half of a property belonging to Charles and Maria Dilke whilst John Keats moved in with his friend Charles Brown who owned the other half. By the end of the year it was clear that the two were in love, but John mourning the loss of his younger brother Tom, was also beginning to fail in health. His friends encouraged him to take a holiday to help him recover his spirits.
The house where Keats stayed in Eastgate Square Chichester
He travelled to Chichester, probably arriving on St Agnes’ Day, 20th January 1819 to stay with the parents of his new friend Charles Dilke. A blue plaque commemorates the house on Eastgate Square where he stayed – well it’s not a real ‘blue plaque’ more like a large grey slate one!. The property was built in 1780 by Thomas Andrews, a local builder associated with the New Assembly Rooms and the Theatre.
While staying in Chichester, Keats began to write ‘The Eve of St Agnes’, a poem which tells the story of young lovers driven apart by feuding families. True to the legend Madeline, Keats’ young innocent heroine goes to bed on the Eve of St Agnes silent and supperless, keeping her eyes upon Heaven, hoping to dream of her future husband. It seems likely that the medieval architecture of Chichester inspired Keats to write of a great hall and house where Madeline lived! In a letter Keats wrote to his brother George, he describes invitations to card parties with ‘old dowagers’ in the City. One of these parties was probably thrown by a Mrs Mary Lacy who lived in an ancient building that was once the City Guildhall dating as far back as the 12th Century. In 1394 Richard II had granted it to Bishop Mitford for use as the Vicars Hall for dining and recreation. We know that Mrs Lacy’s rooms overlooking South Street at the east end of the Vicars Hall, were directly above the huge vaulted cellar, now known as the Crypt. Since 1661 the landlord of the The White Horse Inn opposite, on the east side of South Street had leased the vaults to store his wine and there were reports that in 1686 one of the vicars complained that pigs were being kept there too!
The Crypt, South Street Chichester
As can be seen in the photo the ribs of the Crypt form magnificent pointed arches supported on stout round columns. The setting is perfect for Keats’ imagination! Porphyra, Madeline’s courtly lover stands in the great hall ‘hid from the torch’s flame, Behind a broad hall-pillar’ …..’ He follow’d through a lowly arched way, Brushing the cobwebs with his lofty plume,’ …
Keats would have seen the ancient Vicar’s Hall , possibly met a porter guarding the gateway leading to the ecclesiastical quarter of the city and and watched the heavy doors being shut and bolted with chains and bolts at curfew every evening. He visited Chichester at the end of January when, just like today as I write this piece, the mist and greyness of the day fails to shake off the shadows of the night. All summed up in the second to last stanza of the poem where the lovers escape …..!
‘They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall;
Like phantoms, to the iron porch, they glide;
Where lay the Porter, in uneasy sprawl,
With a huge empty flaggon by his side:
The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook his hide,
But his sagacious eye an inmate owns:
By one, and one, the bolts full easy slide:
The chains lie silent on the footworn stones;
The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groans.’
Some months ago I designed and presented a wax maquette of the poet John Keats to city councilors in the Assembly Rooms on North Street, Chichester. The maquette, being the concept model for a life size bronze sculpture to be sited at Eastgate Square Chichester was very well received and given a unanimous thumbs up. It was suggested at the presentation I should in the first instance seek planning permission, which I did, and I am pleased to say in recent weeks have been granted permission to place a life size bronze sculpture of Keats in Eastgate Square adjacent to where he lived, and where he started to write the ‘Eve of St Agnes’. I explained at the meeting that I hope the work be part financed by possible grants that I am looking in to and in part by public donation. It is important the public, in particular Cicestrians support the idea, as without their support the sculpture is unlikely to be realized.
http://www.vincentgray.co.uk
September 2014
Listed below are the benefits of such a work
JOHN KEATS SCULPTURE PROPOSAL – EASTGATE SQUARE CHICHESTER
1. Tourist attraction and photo opportunity (local history/national figure)
2. Contribute to the regeneration of the immediate context of Eastgate Square and complement the work already undertaken to revitalise these areas
3. Raise cultural awareness on an inter and cross community level and provide access to the arts for all
4. Build upon the tourism offering of the area and celebrate and interact with Chichester’s rich heritage
5. Produce a positive image of Chichester at local, national and international level
Hello Vincent – how nice to hear from you! I was well aware of your proposal and am sure it will add vitality to the Eastgate end of town. The more people are made aware of the fascinating cultural links in Chichester, the more engaged they will feel.
I do hope the sculpture gets the go-ahead and will certainly mention it on my tours from now on.
Next year, now that the Festival Theatre is in full swing again, I will be introducing a Sculpture and Art Tour of Chichester and it will be wonderful to be able to point out John Keats!
Please come along to Arts and Craft in Action. http://www.arts-and-craft-in-action.org.uk
Sunday 19th October – Westgate Leisure Centre
Is this statue project still in being? I have several reasons for wishing to support it.(Just found it!) Is it already installed? If so, where can I find a picture? Or does it still need contributions? Any information welcome. Philip V.
Hello Philip
Thanks for getting in touch.
Yes it is very much on the cards still and I’m sure Vincent will be pleased to hear from you.
Please see his contact details below
http://www.vincentgray.co.uk/
PROPOSAL – EASTGATE SQUARE CHICHESTER
1. Tourist attraction and photo opportunity (local history/national figure)
2. Contribute to the regeneration of the immediate context of Eastgate Square and complement the work already undertaken to revitalise these areas
3. Raise cultural awareness on an inter and cross community level and provide access to the arts for all
4. Build upon the tourism offering of the area and celebrate and interact with Chichester’s rich heritage
5. Produce a positive image of Chichester at local, national and international level
good luck with your sculpture project!
And very lovely the sculpture is too
Please visit and support
http://www.shareagift.com/Pages/14594
The recently installed sculpture of John Keats is a splendid addition to East Square. I live in the old Shippam building and made a small subscription to the sculpture fund, so I feel a personal connection to this sensitive and skilful depiction of the romantic poet.
I have been intrigued by the reaction of little children who suppose it to be a street performer and expect it to move, and teenagers who have asked me who he is and is he still alive!
A photograph of the statue will soon be installed in the atrium of Shippam House so all the tenants can be reminded of this genius who spent a little of his very short life in our wonderful city.
Hello Trisha
Yes it is a really inspiring work of art! How lovely that I am able to put your comments on this website. Everyone I speak to seems to be so impressed with it. Plus, as you say, so inspiring for children and teenagers too! Vincent must be thrilled with the reaction! I’m just about to add a photo of it!
Hello all,
I am a recent MA graduate from Chichester who wrote my masters dissertation on Keats and Leigh Hunt. It only recently occurred to me that this coming January will mark the 200th anniversary if Keats’ visit to Chichester. I am hoping to organise a small reading of The Eve of St Agnes and possibly ask a couple of local historians to give quick talks on Keats and Chichester in 1819. Would any of you like to get involved or know of anyone else who might also like to help organise a small event? Please feel free to email me at georgeneame1@gmail.com if you are interested.
Best wishes,
George