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Letters from Walter De la Mare to Mary Somervell

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2944

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of seven thirteen letters and a postcard sent by Walter de la Mare to Mary Somervell, dated 1922-1948. Ten autograph letters signed, three typed letters signed, and one small postcard in an envelope. Also includes the letters' envelopes.

Mary Somervell (née Beresford) was a deeply religious woman who suffered from poor mental health throughout her life. She was also an aspiring poet, and had befriended Walter de la Mare. In their correspondence, de la Mare offers writing advice (for example about the writer's block), but also discusses family matters (including Somervell's children, of whom he seemed fond) and declining health.

  1. Autograph letter signed, 24 September 1922, sent from 14 Thornsett Road, Anerley.
  2. Autograph letter signed, 29 June 1922, sent from 14 Thornsett Road, Anerley.
  3. Autograph letter signed, 10 January 1928, sent from Hill House, Taplow, Buckinghamshire.
  4. Typed letter signed, 1 June 1933, sent from Hill House, Taplow, Buckinghamshire.
  5. Typed letter signed, 3 October 1933, sent from Hill House, Taplow, Buckinghamshire.
  6. Autograph letter signed, 28 August 1941, sent from The Old Park, Penn.
  7. Autograph letter signed, 12 May 1942, sent from The Old Park, Penn (2 folios).
  8. Typed letter signed, 1 June 1943, sent from The Old Park, Penn,
  9. Autograph letter signed, 18 September 1943, sent from The Old Park, Penn.
  10. Autograph letter signed, 4 December 1943, sent from The Old Park, Penn (2 folios).
  11. Autograph letter signed, 8 May 1944, sent from The Old Park, Penn.
  12. Autograph letter signed, 17 June 1944, sent from The Old Park, Penn.
  13. Autograph letter signed, 11 May 1948, sent from The Old Park, Penn.
  14. Small postcard (no illustration) in an envelope, wishing a merry Christmas to Somervell's children.

Dates

  • Creation: 1922-1948

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Readers will be required be sign a Data Protection form to consult this material. Please contact the repository in advance.

Full Extent

1 folder : 13 letters, 1 postcard

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in May 2026. Accession no. SC-Acc-2026-0078.

Separated Materials

Acquired as the same time as seven inscribed printed books, soon to be catalogued on DiscoverEd.

  • de la Mare, Walter, Songs of Childhood (Longmans, Green, 1916)
  • Armstrong Gibbs, C., Before Dawn, words by Walter de la Mare, Boosey's Modern Festival Series, no. 419 (Boosey & CO., 1922).
  • de la Mare, Walter, The Riddle and Other Stories (Selwyn & Blount, 1923)
  • de la Mare, Walter, The Fleeting and Other Poems (Constable and Co., 1933)
  • de la Mare, Walter, The Lord Fish (Faber & Faber, 1933)
  • de la Mare, Walter, Collected Poems (Henry Holt and Co., 1941)
  • de la Mare, Walter, Bells & Grass. a book of rhymes (Faber & Faber, 1941)

Processing Information

Catalogued by Aline Brodin in July 2026, using information provided by the seller.

Related Names

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Letters from Walter De la Mare to Mary Somervell, 1922-1948
Author
Aline Brodin
Date
July 2026
Description rules
Isad(g)2
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379