In the media

William Blake, Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity, from the Book of Job (detail). Source: William Blake Archive →

Reporting, interviews, published appeals and personal reflections on Blake Cottage and The Blake Cottage Trust. The archive below is grouped by year, newest first, with brief descriptions and links to the original publications. Opinion pieces and project partner reports are labelled separately from news reporting.

Some publishers require a subscription. Earlier coverage records the project as it stood then; it is not current visiting or fundraising information.

Featured film: Saving Blake’s Cottage

Doug Nicholls explains the campaign to save Blake Cottage and open it to visitors, in this film by Thames Media.

Published on YouTube · 4 June 2026
Film: Thames Media

Coverage by year

Most recent first, grouped by publication year. Dates and descriptions reflect the coverage at the time; older reports may contain plans, funding figures or views that have since changed.

2026

1 September · Amy E. Weldon · personal essay
Blake Cottage Trust Ambassador! →
An ambassador reflects on her first cottage visit.

25 August · The Guardian · letters
There’s no place like a revered writer’s home →
Richard Clemmow’s appeal.

11 June · Sussex Express · news
Exceptional collection of books by and about William Blake donated to Felpham trust →
Dr Keri Davies’s library gift and the future reading and research collection.

6 March · Sussex Express · planning news
Plans to take poet’s historic Felpham cottage back to how it was in 1800 approved →
Permission for conservation work informed by the cottage’s building history.

19 January · Sussex Express · planning news
Trust wants to take poet’s historic Felpham cottage back to how it was in 1800 →
The proposals submitted before the later planning decision.

2025

18 December · MICA Architects · project partner report
Blake Cottage Thatch Restoration Completed →
The conservation architects report on the renewed thatched roof.

15 December · BBC News · news
Rock star’s delight at William Blake cottage revamp →
Bruce Dickinson’s roof-restoration visit.

18 April · BBC News · news
New funding to ‘save’ William Blake’s cottage →
Conservation grant coverage.

2024

3 December · BBC News · news
Billy Bragg’s guitar auction raises £2,566 →
The fundraising auction result.

27 November · BBC News · news
Billy Bragg to auction guitar for Blake’s cottage →
A musical contribution to conservation.

27 November · Morning Star · news
Billy Bragg to auction guitar to raise funds for restoration of William Blake’s cottage →
Further coverage of the musician’s fundraising support.

14 October · Big Issue · John Higgs · opinion
William Blake gave voice to the nation. The least we can do is save his cottage →
John Higgs on the public campaign and volunteers protecting the cottage.

14 September · The Guardian · news
Trust hopes to turn William Blake’s cottage into a museum →
The conservation campaign.

26 August · Smithsonian Magazine · news
William Blake’s Cottage Will Be Saved—and Transformed Into a New Museum →
International coverage of emergency repairs and the ambition for public access.

10 August · International Times · published appeal
Urgent appeal to save William Blake’s cottage →
The emergency campaign shared with arts and literary readers.

1 August · Andrew Graham-Dixon · YouTube · film · approximately 15 minutes
Andrew Graham-Dixon at Blake Cottage →
The art historian explores the cottage with Doug Nicholls before the roof restoration.

2021

8 November · The Guardian · editorial
The Guardian view on William Blake’s cottage: don’t let it crumble →
Preservation appeal.

7 November · The Guardian · letters
How to ensure the survival of precious heritage sites →
Community involvement in heritage.

4 November · The Guardian · news
William Blake cottage at risk of being lost, says Historic England →
At-risk listing.

4 November · BBC News · news
Jerusalem cottage among buildings on ‘at risk’ register →
The cottage’s deteriorating condition.

4 November · MICA Architects · project partner report
Conservation of Blake Cottage in progress with recent success in AHF funding and HAR listing →
Early conservation planning and Architectural Heritage Fund support.

2019

25 August · The Guardian · commentary
The future looks bleak for the restoration of William Blake’s cottage →
Historical commentary.

2015

23 September · The Guardian · news
Campaigners buy William Blake’s cottage – and his vegetable patch →
The acquisition campaign succeeds.

2014

24 September · Morning Star · commentary · early acquisition campaign
A steaming pile, a Blakean vision and free spirits nationwide →
A column supporting the campaign to buy the cottage.

18 July · The Independent · early acquisition campaign
William Blake’s cottage for sale →
Before the Trust’s purchase.Back to News & community →