The unpretending structure of which we this week present a view of to our friends, is rendered sacred by being the depository of the remains of that transcendant genius and poet—Byron. From Moore’s “Life of Byron,” we find that, “It was on Friday, the 16th of July, 1824, that in the small village church of Hucknall, the last duties were paid to the remains of Byron, by depositing them close to those of his mother in the family vault. Exactly on the same day of the same month in the preceding year, Byron said despondingly, to Count Gamba, ‘Where shall we be in another year?’ The gentleman to whom this foreboding speech was addressed, paid a visit some months after the interment to Hucknall, and was struck on approaching the village, by the strong likeness it seemed to bear to his lost friend’s melancholy death place, Missolonghi.”
In the church is kept a book to register the name and residence of visitors. It contains the signatures of distinguished men and women from all parts of the civilized world. The village of Hucknall is about seven or eight miles from Nottingham, and about three from Newstead Abbey. The surrounding country is rich in natural beauty, and full of poetical associations.
All that is raised to the memory of Byron, is a plain tablet of marble in the chancel of the church, a correct representation of which we give below.
The Illustrated London News, London, England, Week Ending September 10, 1842
