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The Guardian: ‘England hath need of thee’: appeal to save Milton’s Paradise Lost cottage

The Mail Online: ‘Paradise could soon be lost: £3.5m drive to save the 16th century cottage where Milton hid from the plague to write his literary masterpiece

The Times: ‘Owners launch appeal to save John Milton’s cottage

Forthcoming Friends Events

Join us for the Annual Milton Lecture & an evening of music and poetry

We’re delighted to announce two forthcoming events by the Friends of Milton’s Cottage this March:

13th Annual Milton Lecture – Tuesday 5th March, from 6pm

Professor Blair Worden, Emeritus Fellow of St Edmund’s Hall, Oxford, is this year’s guest lecturer.  He will explore Milton’s relationship with the English Civil Wars, charting the course of the revolution through Milton’s eyes and relating his writings to the ferment of ideas that accompanied these extraordinary events.

His talk will be delivered as a hybrid lecture to a live audience at the atmospheric Mercers’ Hall – home to the City of London’s oldest livery company – where the ticket price includes drinks and canapes after the lecture.  For those unable to be with us in person, we hope you might be able to join us virtually via Zoom.

Tickets cost £25 in-person and £10 via Zoom, with all proceeds supporting Milton’s Cottage – Milton’s only surviving residence.  Please note that booking is essential, via the link below, and for those who wish to attend in person you must book by Tuesday27th February at the latest: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/13th-annual-milton-lecture-milton-and-the-civil-wars-tickets-771196077227?aff=oddtdtcreator

OXM312488 Henry Lawes (oil on panel) by Dyck, Sir Anthony van (1599-1641) (follower of); 29.5×24.5 cm; Faculty of Music Collection, Oxford University; (add.info.: Henry Lawes (1596-1662), English musician and composer;); Flemish, out of copyright

Milton & Lawes: a celebration in words and music – Friday 8th March, from 7.30pm

Milton expressed his admiration of the great composer in a sonnet addressed to Mr. H. Lawes, on his Aires, and had the opportunity to collaborate with him on two masques: Arcades, performed at nearby Harefield House, and Comus, performed at Ludlow Castle in 1634.

The Friends of Milton’s Cottage invite you to celebrate their creative friendship with readings from Milton’s poetry alongside examples of Lawes’ music, including the five extant songs from Comus and his popular Ariadne’s Lament, performed by Betty Makharinsky (soprano), Kristiina Watt (lute) and Kate Conway (bass viol).

Tickets cost £25 and include drinks and canapés. All proceeds will support Milton’s Cottage and tickets can be booked at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/friendsofmiltonscottage/1106458

For more further information please contact Kelly O’Reilly, Director of Milton’s Cottage, on 01494 872313 or read our latest newsletter: Milton Messenger_December 2023