24 November 2022

Redwings opens 'Black Beauty' house to the public

We're happy to announce the opening of Anna Sewell House in Great Yarmouth to the public from Friday 25^th November.

The house will now be open between 10am-2pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.

#RedwingsAngels will know that we have taken over guardianship of the birthplace of the Black Beauty author, located on Church Plain in the town. We'll be opening the property twice a week initially. Redwings will be using the property to showcase the legacy of Anna Sewell and her famous novel, which has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, as well as the ongoing work of Redwings to help horses in need today.

An official opening by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth took place on the anniversary of the publication of Black Beauty today (Thursday 24^th November). The original novel was produced by Norfolk publishing house Jarrold in 1877.

Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Graham Plant, said: “Anna Sewell House is an iconic building in our town with a rich history and important heritage. We are absolutely delighted that Redwings is the new guardian of the building. With Redwings’ vital role in animal welfare, we are sure this move will help ensure the building continues to be a key asset for both residents and visitors to Great Yarmouth.”

Gemma Walpole, Executive Director for Income and Engagement at Redwings, said: “We are so excited to be able to open this important building to the public.

“Since we announced the news of our residency at Anna Sewell House, our supporters have been in touch in their droves to share their special memories of the novel, and how it has impacted them, and it’s been wonderful to hear their stories.

“Black Beauty is one of the most successful novels of all time and was one of the first to use an animal as a narrator. Although it has become famous primarily as a children’s novel, Anna didn’t write it for children. She said that her purpose was to ‘induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses’ in readers of all ages, and especially in horse owners.

“It’s so important to the owner of Anna Sewell House that the property be used in a way that’s a fitting legacy to Anna and her work to improve horse welfare, so it makes perfect sense for it to be a showcase for the work Redwings does today.”

Anna Sewell House dates back to the 16th or 17th Century and was the birthplace of Anna in 1820.