A THREE-month residency at the former home of Launceston poet Charles Causley has helped a modern day poet to better understand his writing — and she is using the experience to compile her first full collection of work.
Isabel Galleymore, the latest poet-in-resident at Cyprus Well, moved from London into Causley’s former home in January.
Ms Galleymore has recently finished studying for a PhD at the University of Exeter, looking at ecopoetry — the relationship between the environment and poetry.
She has had a pamphlet published, and is working towards a full collection of poems. Now coming to the end of her stay in Launceston, she took some time out to tell the Post of her experience.
She said her time spent at the University of Exeter — where Causley’s archive is held — brought her into thinking more about Causley: “Really important writers are archived in Exeter and it gave me an introduction to Causley’s work,” she said.
Originally from Portsmouth, and spending time between there and London growing up, Ms Galleymore said she has found much to write about in the South West, using the environments in her work.
“Living by the sea as a child, I didn’t really appreciate it. Now I have a different, far richer engagement with coastal environments.
“What is interesting is Causley’s connection with Devonport and the Navy, and there are a lot of references to Nelson on the walls in Causley’s home. It’s interesting to think about Causley writing on the sea and me writing on the shoreline and our very different reasons for writing in these places.”
It took some time to adjust to her new surroundings, but she said a change of scenery is ‘refreshing’ for a poet.
Describing the atmosphere of Cyprus Well, she said: “There was an intensity I couldn’t have expected. In the first week I accidentally slammed a door and immediately apologised as if there was someone in the house I had offended.”
She added of the house: “I’m still noticing details. There’s so much here and it’s interesting to think about how the objects and paintings he surrounded himself with might relate to some of the themes in his poetry.
“The atmosphere is something I can’t imagine any other resident not remarking upon.”
On writing in the house, she added: “The advice I was given from fellow writers was just to write as much as possible, and it’s such a perfect house for that.
“The study doesn’t have a window onto the road — it’s the perfect writing hide-away, no-one knows you’re in!”
She has enjoyed getting to know the town Causley lived in and wrote about: “[Launceston] is a massive feature in Causley’s writing and seeing the places he’s talked about has made a difference to my understanding of his writing.
“I feel much more in dialogue with his work being here. So much of his work feels like a map of the town.”
There is one part of Launceston she has not yet had chance to experience — the Castle, but was planning to do so during her last week’s stay.
“Causley’s poem about the castle focuses on the view from the top — I haven’t had that view yet,” she added.
And she has enjoyed hearing people’s recollections of Causley: “Speaking to people and hearing they have known him in different capacities, hearing people’s parents have been taught by him, and the neighbours talking about having him over for lunch! His presence is still very much here, not only in the house but also in the town.”
Starting in February, Ms Galleymore has held workshops for universities and colleges, and given readings of her work.
Ms Galleymore said she has amassed ‘quite a good body of work’ from the residency, and her next steps will be to revise and re-draft her work.
Hoping to stay in the South West long-term, Ms Galleymore is looking forward to carrying out a workshop at the Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival, and said she would love to return to Launceston for the Charles Causley Festival, which takes place from Friday, June 3 to Sunday, June 5.
She also hopes to work with Lanhydrock-based Guillemot Press to produce a pamphlet in the next year, perhaps drawing upon the work she has carried out at Cyprus Well during her residency. Guillemot Press has just published poet Jack Clemo’s The Clay-Dump — Clemo a friend of Causley.
She will round-off her residency with a reading of the work she has written during her stay at Cyprus Well, which she said will be a ‘celebration’ of her time in Launceston. This event also hopes to see the presentation to the winner of the 2015 Charles Causley Poetry Prize — Claire Dyer.
Interviews are due to be held shortly for the next Causley writer-in-residence.