Plan submitted to turn poet's home into museum

Norman Nicholson lived in Millom most of his life

Raymond Troll A black and white photograph of Norman Nicholson. His grey hair is wept back and reaches his shoulders. He is wearing a suit and tie looking at the camera with a closed-lip smile. — Norman Nicholson lived in Millom most of his life

Plans to turn a poet's home into a museum have been submitted after years of campaigning.

The proposals would see Norman Nicholson's home in Millom, Cumbria, house a museum, cafe and outreach centre.

Charlie Lambert, from Norman Nicholson CIC which submitted the plans, said people would feel "justice was done" if the poet had a memorial in his hometown.

It is hoped the site could open in 18 months if the plans are approved.

Charlie Lambert said transforming the home into museum was a dream

Dorothy Lambert Charlie Lambert celebrating outside Norman Nicholson's house after the property was bought in February. Mr Lambert is smiling and his hands are up in the air. he is wearing a navy blue sweatshirt and has glasses. The house has large front windows with white panes. — Charlie Lambert said transforming the home into museum was a dream

The Norman Nicholson Society has been working on plans to turn 14 St George's Terrace into a museum since 2016.

Mr Lambert said the approval of the plans would be the "realisation of a dream and ambition" for him.

He added many people felt the poet was "overlooked".

"He didn't come from London, he didn't go to Oxford or Cambridge. He wasn't one of the so-called elite," Mr Lambert said.

"So I think a lot of people will feel that justice will be done if he can have a proper memorial in his hometown."

The interior of the home would look similar to how it did when the poet lived there

Charlie Lambert 14 St George's Terrace. It is a three-storey beige house with large front windows and an attic room window. — The interior of the home would look similar to how it did when the poet lived there

Norman Nicholson was born in Millom in 1914 and wrote from1930 until his death in 1987.

He lived at the house for nearly his entire life.

The Norman Nicholson CIC bought the house in February and funds have also been raised to repair its exterior.

'Great boost'

According to planning documents, the ground floor would be used as a cafe which would bring in the "main revenue" for the project.

The first and second floors would be used as exhibition space and the interior would be designed to depict how it would have looked when Mr Nicholson lived there, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The exhibition space would also contain artefacts and memorabilia.

An extension to the property, which will provide space for a lift, is also part of the proposals.

Mr Lambert said the museum would be a "great boost" to Millom and would attract more tourists to the town.

"There are other initiatives in Millom at the moment and the place is on the up and we are determined to be a part of that," he said.

"It's very important to Millom that the town shows that it appreciates what this great writer achieved."

A public consultation is ongoing.

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