British horse sanctuary Redwings has taken over the Grade II listed house in Great Yarmouth where Black Beauty author Anna Sewell was born in 1820, and the building is now open to the public.
Great Yarmouth Mayor Graham Plant officially opened the building on the anniversary date of the publication of Black Beauty, November 24. The original novel was produced by Norfolk publishing house Jarrold in 1877. He was joined by Redwings Caldecott equine residents Dhansak and Moses.
Also present at the opening was Pamela Jordan, whose collection of more than 400 Black Beauty books is now on display at Anna Sewell House, a place of pilgrimage for Black Beauty fans.
“Anna Sewell House is an iconic building in our town with a rich history and important heritage,” Plant said.
“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.”
Redwings will open the property twice a week initially, and will use it 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.
Gemma Walpole, Executive Director for Income and Engagement at Redwings, said supporters had been in touch in their droves to share their special memories of the novel, and how it has impacted them.
“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,” Walpole said.
“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.”
