Morden Tower

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Morden Tower

The Morden Tower, in Back Stowell Street on the West Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, was built about 1290. From the 16th century it had housed the Company of Plumbers, Plasterers and Glaziers, but it was basically derelict when Connie Pickard took out the lease for it on 30th March 1964 and, together with Tom Pickard, initiated the series of poetry readings which has continued to this day.

For over forty years the Morden Tower has been a major centre for poetry readings in the North East. It has developed a national and international reputation for attracting some of the most outstanding UK and American literary figures working during this period. It has been particularly noted for its association with many Beat and Black Mountain poets.

‘Tom and Connie Pickard were instrumental in bringing about the Newcastle’s Poetry Revival’^[1] During this time they amassed a collection of books and pamphlets not obtainable in bookshops at the time. Using the Morden Tower as a venue for poetry readings and a book room thy ensured Tower audiences were kept in touch with writing from Edinburgh, Paris, San-Francisco, Greenwich Village, Liverpool and Ladbroke Grove.

During the 60s and 70s the Tower was an inspiration and catalyst for other counter culture ventures, in particular an out post for Alexander Trocchi project among other things.

Basil Bunting gave the first reading of Briggflatts in the Morden Tower, on 22nd December 1965^[2]. More than any of the host of celebrated poets to have read there, Bunting perhaps embodies the fusion of international modernism with local oral tradition for which Morden Tower readings are noted: the intimate, simple space of the Tower's upper room has been recognised by poets and audience alike as an ideal location for voiced poetry.

‘Morden Tower – simply the most congenial place in the world in which to perform poetry’ Bob Cobbing

Poets who have read there include, Basil Bunting, Allan Ginsberg, Ted Hughes, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gregory Corso, Seamus Heaney, Tom Raworth and many others.

Despite a lack of funding Morden Tower is still a popular venue for poets and experimental musicians, such as John Hegley and A Hawk and a Hacksaw.

1 Significant Literary Events
2 Morden Tower Publications
3 Music at Morden Tower
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Significant Literary Events

Pete Brown gave the first reading on the 16th June 1964 "Bloomsday"
Basil Bunting gave his first public reading of Briggflatts1965
Allen Ginsberg gave his first European reading of Kaddish
Ed Dorn gave his first European Reading of Gunslinger

[edit] Morden Tower Publications

King Ida’s Watch Chain - 1965: A collection of Poems by Basil Bunting. A new format magazine designed by Richard Hamilton
The Spoils – Basil Bunting 1965: Cover design and photographs by Richard Hamilton, distributed by Migrant Press

[edit] Music at Morden Tower

Morden Tower also has a history of promoting new and experimetal music. Musicians that have played at the Tower include Alan Hull of Linsifarne, Grayson Capps, Les Cox (sportif), Twentymen, Paul Smith of Maximo Park, Teitur, John Power and a Hawk and a Hacksaw. Jumpin Hot Club promote some of the music gigs at Morden Tower.

Whitehouse performed here in 1983, supported by Ramleh and The New Blockaders. Whitehouse's set has become notorious for an incident in which the entire audience walked out, after William Bennett had slapped a female audience member in the face.

[edit] References

^ Richard Caddel & Anthony Flowers "Basil Bunting a Northern Life
^ Basil Bunting Poetry Centre (2001-10-19). Basic Bunting - A Basic Chronology. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.