Without Pomp or Nonsense

Sunday 31st August 11am
Procession from Weekday Cross to High Street, Nottingham City Centre

"When Byron’s eyes were closed in death
We bowed our heads and held our breath;
He taught us little, but our soul
Had felt him like the thunder’s roll"
Matthew Arnold

Lord Byron died in Greece in 1824, and his body was transported back to his family seat in Nottingham. Byron had hoped to be buried in the prestigious Poet’s Corner, but thanks to a life of debauchery and scandal, he was denied this final honour. On learning this, Byron gave instructions to his doctor… “Lay me in the first corner, without pomp or nonsense." Byron’s body was taken on a procession through Nottingham, which according to the press of the day attracted literally thousands of followers, weeping silently. The procession went through Hockley and the Lace Market, and the poet was laid out on display in The Blackamoor’s Head pub on the corner of Pelham Street and High Street.

In response to Nottingham Contemporary’s off-site exhibition entitled 'That Beautiful Pale Face Is My Fate (For Lord Byron)', and to mark publication of the Coelacanth Journal’s edition on Hysteria, Hinterland undertook a re-enactment of this momentous occasion in memorial of its most infamous son. On a Sunday morning, Hinterland invited the public to join a silent 15-minute procession to mark the spectacle, which took place on Nottingham’s streets when Lord Byron returned home to his final resting place. Those who wished to wear full Byronic mourning garb were encouraged to dress in their black velvet and lace finery. The afternoon was a discussion of new artists writing on the theme of Hysteria with Aaron Juneau and Wayne Burrows hosted in collaboration with The Coelacanth Press at Waterstone’s book shop.