The Empty Chair Trail

For the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death in 2020, Medway-based literary organisation Wordsmithery commissioned 10 poets with links to Medway to write new poems inspired by Charles Dickens’ life and works.

The Empty Chair Poetry Trail

For the 150^th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death in 2020, Medway-based literary organisation Wordsmithery commissioned 10 poets with links to Medway to write new poems inspired by Charles Dickens’ life and works. The poems were printed on boards which form a trail, then placed in locations around Medway and nearby with links to Charles Dickens’ life.

The trail is accompanied by a beautifully-illustrated map of the locations, by Heather Haythornthwaite, which is available from the Visitor Information Centre.

The trail will be in place till the end of February 2022.

Lighting up the poems!

Several of the poetry boards are in Rochester, so whilst you are visiting to see the spectacular light displays, why don’t you check them out?

You can find lead post Barry Fentiman Hall’s poem ‘Almost Empty’ at the Swiss Chalet, Eastgate House (On railings at entrance to gardens)
The Guildhall Museum (Wall facing bridge end of High Street) hosts SM Jenkins’ poem ‘From a Knave to a Knight’
On the railing around the Catalpa Tree, Rochester Cathedral (facing the grave of Fanny Dorrett), is award winning poet Maggie Harris’ poem ‘Dear Mr Dickens’
Philip Kane’s untitled poem is found in The Vines (Outer wall Oriel House)

Download the full Medway Light Nights brochure and map (PDF)

Medway Light Nights is produced by Emergency Exit Arts in partnership with Medway Council. This event has been sponsored by Arts Council England, The Welcome Back Fund, Leigh Academy Trust, and Kent University.