The William Cobbett Society was founded in 1976 to bring together those who have an interest in the life and writings of William Cobbett. A passionate defender of the freedom of the press Cobbett was prepared to defend it at the cost of imprisonment and exile.

'He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language. He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English'. Hazlitt's Essay on Cobbett, published in 1821.

Among the Society's activities are;

1 Annual Memorial Lecture .

2 The publication of a journal, Cobbett's New Register, containing articles on Cobbett's life and times and the text of the Annual Memorial Lecture.

3. An expedition by coach , retracing with readings, routes taken by Cobbett on his Rural Rides.

4 An annual Cobbett walk, visiting the places in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire where Cobbett lived.

In association with the Society, the Museum of Farnham holds in its Reading Room an almost complete set of the bound volumes of Cobbett's Political Register and a large collection of Cobbett's works and books about Cobbett; and various Cobbett artefacts are on display.

The Society has for sale:

William Cobbett by G.K.Chesterton, price £8.50 plus p&p £1.

This Happy Land: William Cobbett on America 1794-1835 by Molly Townsend £15 p&p £2.50.
Account of the Family by Anne Cobbett price £4.50 plus p&p £1
Facsimile of Cobbett's Weekly Political Register for March 25 1820, [the Coventry Election] price £2 including p&p
The Jolly Farmer? William Cobbett in Hampshire 1804-1820, by Barbara Biddell,price £3 plus p&p £1

Membership

President: Sir Richard Body

                                                       

Chairman and Secretary:

Barbara Biddell, 3 Park Terrace, Tillington, Petworth West Sussex GU28 9AE  01798 342008

Treasurer:

Simon Bellord, Flat1, Tetten hall, Woking, Surrey, GU22 7UG 01483 767865

Membership Secretary:

David Chun, Boynell House, Outlands Lane, Curdridge, Southampton SO30 2HD

tel 01489 789893

Committee member

Charles Stuart, 6, Lynch Road, Farnham,Surry GU9 8BZ

01252 722947

           

William Cobbett, drawn and engraved by Bartalozzi in 1801

 

                     Membership of the Society is £8 per annum.