A NEW poetry exhibition coming to Wordsworth Grasmere will display the previously undiscovered manuscripts of British chemist, Sir Humphry Davy, until March 23.

Davy, who is well known in scientific circles for his ground-breaking experiments, discoveries and revelations in the fields of electricity and chemistry, is found to have also been quite the poet.

Now, for the first time, his works will be on display alongside those of Cumbria’s favourite poet, William Wordsworth.

Davy rose to prominence through his impressive achievements including discovering elements of the periodic table and inventing the ‘Davy Lamp’ a safety lamp which saved the lives of countless miners.

The notebooks and poems, which date back 200 years, show fascinating and intriguing connections between his science and love of poetry and how his thought processes led him to his unique discoveries.

Over 3,500 volunteers, on a project led by Lancaster University, transcribed 11,000 pages which showed that in some notebooks, lines of poetry intertwined with accounts of chemical discoveries. Some pages were found to be torn, scorched or covered in stains, suggesting that Davy was writing poetry in his laboratory.

The notebooks, from the Royal Institution, reveal Davy’s creative process, as he starts to understand what he has achieved. Visitors may also be surprised to learn that Davy was the first person to inhale nitrous oxide.

The notebooks reveal the extent of Davy’s own recreational use of the gas, and belief in it as a cure-all wonder drug. They also show his efforts to record accurately the drug’s influence upon him.

Annual tickets are available to purchase online and include year-round entry into the museum, Dove Cottage and the Garden-Orchard. The museum tells the story of Wordsworth’s life through manuscripts, letters, journals and personal items. Interactive displays keep younger visitors entertained.

Dove Cottage and the Garden have been restored to show how Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy lived and worked. The onsite café and gift shop offer lovely views of Grasmere. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm. 

More information about attractions in Cumbria can be found at www.visitlakedistrict.com/lets-go-culture. Wordsworth Museum Grasmere is being highlighted by the Let’s Go Culture project, which has received £175,908 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, being supported by Westmorland & Furness Council.