Voice from the Wall: Morden Tower and Newcastle’s Poetry Revival

4th May 2024 - 7th July 2024

Special Collections and Archives exhibition area, Level 2, Philip Robinson Library, 1 Jesmond Read West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HQ

Since 1964, the Morden Tower has been a major centre for poetry readings in the North East. Established by Tom and Connie Pickard, it developed a national and international reputation for attracting significant British and American literary figures. It was instrumental in bringing about Newcastle’s Poetry Revival.

This exhibition celebrates 60 years since its very first reading on 16th June 1964, and forms part of the programme for this year’s Newcastle Poetry Festival. It features material from our holdings including our Bloodaxe Books Archive and Morden Tower Prints. A selection of oral histories including memories of reading at Morden Tower are also available to listen to in the exhibition space, or you can find them on our Collected Voices site.

The exhibition has been curated by Newcastle University students Maisie Drummond, William Kerr and Steve Kendall, and will be available on level 2 of the Philip Robinson Library until 7th July 2024.