Newhaven Court: Love, Tragedy, Heroism and Intrigue – Helen Murray

Newhaven Court: Love, Tragedy, Heroism & Intrigue’ is a talk by Norwich historian and author, Helen Murray. Learn about the colourful Locker-Lampson family and the entertaining and illuminating history of the Newhaven Court, built in 1884 by the charismatic American baronet Sir Curtis Lampson and his daughter, Janie. The elegant Victorian mansion stood under the wide-open Norfolk skies for almost eighty years before its dramatic destruction by fire in 1963.

Newhaven Court was a home where poets rubbed shoulders with politicians and aristocracy with artists and authors. Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson, heroic chain-smoking explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, troubled Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Princess Ileana of Romania, eminent Professor Albert Einstein and French brandy drinking tennis superstar, Suzanne Lenglen were just some of the fascinating guests who stayed at Newhaven Court.

Helen is a history graduate with over two decades of experience working for the Norfolk Museums Service. Helen researched and wrote Newhaven Court during the COVID lockdowns of 2020-21 and the project combined her lifelong passions for writing, local history and family history.

Non-members are welcome – tickets are £5.00 and are available from the Maltings Box Office.