Here at Daisyroots we love looking through old books that focus on our local area. One that has recently come is ‘Fenty’s Album' by Irvine Hunt. It's a gorgeous illustrated account of old Bowness and Windermere in the late Victorian and Edwardian times. In addition to recording the architecture and how people explored the Lake District it also includes a series of ‘Portraits’ of notable people at the time. One such person is ‘Poet Close’, “probably the most outrageous and intriguing character Bowness has seen”
“Every summer he set up his book stall near the steamer pier, warmly praising those people who stopped and bought his works , and richly abusing those unwitting enough to pass him by. He was an extraordinary publicist and sent unsolicited copies of his books (frequently followed by bills) to clergymen, bishops, doctors, dukes and even Queen Victoria.”
“The eventually ran into trouble; The Daily Telegraph reported in August, 1879, that “an unsympathising local authority” had moved his stall and set it away from the waterfront in a yard". Much ridicule was poured on the old poet, and one irate person even tried to tip his stall into Windermere. But Poet Close had spirit, and for a time, at least, was a truly famous man”.
