Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell's Birthplace in Gt Yarmouth

Anna Sewell was the author of Black Beauty.  She was born on 30th March 1820 in Great Yarmouth.  She was born into a Quaker family and had one brother called Phillip.  At the age of 12 the family moved to Stoke Newington in London.  This was where she started going to school for the first time.  At the age of 14 she had an accident, falling over injuring both her ankles.  This left her unable to stand or walk for any length of time.  She was mainly confined to the house, and managed to get around on horse and cart.  This, at least, gave her a little bit of freedom.  This was no doubt where she got her love of horses from.

Black Beauty was written in Old Catton, near Norwich, Norfolk.  It was published in 1877.  Unfortunately, Anna died just 5 months after its publication on 25th April 1878.  So unfortunately she never got to see its real success.  The cause of her death was hepatitis.  She is buried in Lammas, which is near Buxton in Norfolk.   She was buried on 30th April 1878.

There is a memorial fountain to her in Norwich.  This was erected in 1917 by her cousin, Ada Sewell.