Writing on the Wall

Jacob Polley lives and works in Carlisle, and grew up in Bowness-on-Solway and Burgh-By-Sands, both of which are on the line of Hadrian’s Wall. In 2002 he received the BBC Radio 4 ‘First Verse’ award and a prestigious Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors. His debut collection of poems, The Brink, which was inspired by a rural upbringing and the flat desolation of the Solway Firth through which Hadrian’s wall runs, was published in 2003 by Picador and was short-listed for the TS Eliot prize.

Jacob led a Creative Writing workshop based at Tullie House, Carlisle. The group used the Roman collection to develop new poems and prose. This project was also supported by Carlisle City Council. He has also produced a suite of poems with historical, contemporary and personal imagery and references to the Wall.

Photo Credit: Ian Fenton

Dead Leaves and Yellow Light