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In the second half of the 19th century, the Isle of Wight was home to a poet who was the closest thing the Victorians came to a 'celebrity'.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, one of the most influential poets ever to have written in the English language, moved to west Wight in 1853

Tennyson, and his wife Emily, lived at Farringford, a neglected, isolated Georgian house with a fine view over Freshwater Bay.

The spectacular coastal scenery inspired some of Tennyson's best poetry - including Maud, The Charge of the Light Brigade and Crossing the Bar.

Although he initially rented Farringford, he was able to purchase it with the profits he made from his poem, Maud.ÌýÌý

Tennyson held court in Farringford, attracting the great and the good of Victorian society - including Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Bram Stoker, Charles Darwin and Prince Albert - to the Isle of Wight to hear his poems and discuss the issues of the day.

Tennyson died in 1892 and was buried in Westminster Abbey and Emily's tomb is in All Saints Church at Freshwater.Ìý Farringford is now a hotel but recognisable as the Tennysons' house.

Walking the Tennyson Trail

Tennyson Down

The National Trust now owns much of the coastal countryside, now known as Tennyson Down.Ìý The challenging downland between Freshwater and the Needles with spectacular views over to the Solent and mainland attract thousands of walkers each year.

The 12-mile Tennyson Trail passes Farringford as well as the Tennyson Monument.

Within the 33 acres surrounding the house is a bridge that Tennyson built so he could get access to the countryside avoid the 'cockneys' (his name for tourists),Ìýavoiding his legions of fans.

Tennyson's bridge

Events

2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Tennyson's birth and there are special bicentennial events organised by the hotel, including the opportunity to explore Tennyson's poetry with the former Poet Laureate, Sir Andrew Motion.

Sir Andrew has written a poem inspired by Tennyson and Farringford - entitled This Next Life - which he will read at the house on 1 July.

There will also be guided tours of the house every Tuesday morning at 10am.

On the 6 August Tennyson's restored Library will be officially opened with a 'Tennyson at Farringford' exhibition running until August 27th.

Meanwhile on the cliffs overlooking Freshwater Bay, a new toposcope – a polished slate panel showing the direction and distance to visible landmarks – will be unveiled next to the Tennyson Memorial.

It will be edged with words from another of Tennyson's most famous poems, Crossing the Bar.