Norman Nicholson
Norman Nicholson was an English poet born in 1914 in Millom, Cumberland, a small industrial town near the Lake District. He spent nearly his entire life in the same house in which he was born, giving him a deep connection to his local environment and community. Nicholson's poetry, which he began crafting in the early 1940s, often revolved around the themes of his native town, its people, and the challenges they faced, particularly in relation to the mining, quarrying, and ironwork industries that defined Millom's economy. His work is noted for its use of local vernacular and direct quotations from everyday life, reflecting the struggles and resilience of the working-class population.
Nicholson frequently explored themes of religion and faith, often infusing his poetry with the harsh realities of life, including personal tragedies such as the death of his uncle in a mining accident. Despite his unique voice and perspective, his work remained somewhat outside the mainstream poetic trends of the twentieth century, leading to limited critical recognition during his lifetime. However, his contributions to poetry earned him significant accolades, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1977 and being named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1981. Some of his notable works include "Rock Face" and "Sea to the West." After his death in 1987, his legacy was honored with a stained glass window commissioned by the town of Millom, illustrating the lasting impact he had on his community.
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Subject Terms
Norman Nicholson
Poet
- Born: January 8, 1914
- Birthplace: Millom, Cumberland, England
- Died: May 30, 1987
Biography
Norman Nicholson was born in 1914 in the small industrial town of Millom, located in Cumberland, near the Lake District of England. With one exception, Nicholson never left the town of his birth, and he lived most of his life in the same house in which he was born. Nicholson was considered somewhat eccentric because he wore unusually large and distinctive side whiskers. After his death in 1987, the town of Millom commissioned a stained glass window in his honor, which is displayed in one of the local churches.
Nicholson began writing in the early 1940’s, and he continued to write until his death. The subject matter for his poetry was his native town, its inhabitants, and the local mining, quarrying, and ironwork industries. His poetry is characterized by his use of the local vernacular and by direct quotations from everyday work life which are woven into his poems. Religion and faith are also frequent subjects in his work. He wrote about the difficult life of the working people who were subjected to grime, hard physical labor, and recurring tragedies, such as the death of his own uncle in a mining accident. During his lifetime, Nicholson watched and chronicled the decline of the local industries, and he wrote about the desperation that the people of Millom felt when the largest employer in town closed its doors.
Nicholson’s poetry was outside the mainstream of most twentieth century poetic trends. As such, his work often received little critical analysis, and much of his work is out of print. However, his obituary in the London Times called Nicholson one of the most gifted Christian poets of the twentieth century.
Nicholson was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 1977. In 1981, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE). His best works include his poem Rock Face which was published in 1948, and Sea to the West, published in 1981.