Situated along the London Road in the small town of Kegworth is the former home of the 19th century poet, songwriter and friend of Lord Byron – Thomas Moore.
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore moved to The Cedars, built in the late 18th century, in 1812. He lived in the house with his wife Bessie and it was the location for the birth of his daughter, Anastasia. Moore published his first poem at the age of 14 in 1793. He achieved great success as a poet and songwriter amongst the aristocracy and became a close friend of Lord Byron.
The Cedars
While living at The Cedars, Moore wrote one of his most famous songs Irish Melodies and it is also believed he completed Those Evening Bells, inspired by the church bells of nearby Sutton Bonington. However, Thomas and Bessie Moore only lived in the house a short time as by 1813 they had moved to Ashbourne.
The Cedars
By the early Victorian period, The Cedars had become the home of framework knitters. Framework knitting was a large industry across the region during this time and the census records reveal almost every second house was occupied by framework knitters.
By the late 1870s the house had become the home of Reverend Thomas William Wasdale-Watson, the curate of Kegworth. The 1881 census records the Reverend in the house with one domestic servant, as well as 20 year old boarder, John Mayers from Suffolk, recorded as a ‘lunatic’. It has proven difficult to discover more of John Mayers, so his story remains a mystery.
1881 census showing John Mayers – lunatic (The National Archives)
For more on the history of The Cedars you can read my blog for Country Life or go to The history of The Cedars – Kegworth
For more details about the property, on the market with Chesterton Humberts, go to - The Cedars
