Lord Byron first saw his poetry in print standing in Newark Market Place. You'll find a plaque on the outside of G.H. Porters on the corner of Market Place and Ridge Street that marks the spot where S. and J. Ridge of Newark (Ridge's) printed the first volumes of Lord Byron's poetry.

Here were published Lord Byron's first poems "Fugitive Pieces" in November 1806 and "House of Idleness" in July 1807. 

You can see the printing press that produced Bryon's first volume on exhibition at Newark's Millgate Museum. And to read more about Newark's rick printing history, T. M. Blagg's "Newark as a Publishing Town" will give you a great insight.

Lord Bryon in Newark

When Bryon visited Newark and the printing press, Ridge's, he would typically frequent The Clinton Arms. Formerly known as The Kingston Arms, today you can see a plaque on the outside with the words: "Lord Byron stayed in this building during 1806 and 1807 when two volumes of his poems were being printed in Newark".

Back when it was The Kingston Arms. in 1771, the Newark Book Society was founded in the public house. There, a group of well-to-do diners would discuss and exchange books, and continued for nearly 100 years, meeting at the pub for a "book club" style social.

Read more about Newark's Literary Connection on the Nottingham City of Literature website.