Places of Poetry

Places of Poetry is inspired by Michael Drayton’s Poly-Olbion (1612-22) which described England and Wales. The 15,000-line poem was published with unique maps by the engraver William Hole.

An interactive map based on those 17th-century maps has been created, using Ordnance Survey data to allow you to zoom to a high-level of modern detail and choose where to pin your poem, whether on a town, local landmark or street-corner.

The project is led by the poet Paul Farley and Professor Andrew McRae from the University of Exeter.

Professor McRae, said: “We hope the map will inspire people to write, whatever their age or experience, and fill the map with thousands of new poems about places that mean something to them."

“The aim is to encourage people to think about heritage from different angles, such as environmental, industrial, religious, cultural or sporting. We want to celebrate the diversity, history, and character of the places around us.”

Pin a poem

Inspired by where you live, the places you have visited or the heritage you love?

**Visit the Places of Poetry website to pin your poem to the map. The map will be open for new poems until 4 October. **

Join an event

Heritage sites across England and Wales are holding events throughout the summer, each with a poet-in-residence.

• Stonehenge and Avebury, 11-13 June
• Ely Cathedral, 20-22 June
• Caernarfon Castle, 26-28 June
• Roman Baths, 10-12 July
• Severn Rivers Trust, 17-21 July
• Big Pit National Coal Museum, 22-24 July
• Dove Cottage, Wordsworth Trust, 29 July to 3 August
• Byker, Newcastle, 5-9 August
• Peak District National Park, 12-16 August
• Hadrian’s Wall, 19-23 August
• Sherwood Forest, 26-29 August
• The Kia Oval, 9-14 September

Take a look at the Places of Poetry event page for more information.