The Charles Causley Trust exists to keep alive the memory of the late Charles Causley, to raise the profile and appreciation of his work, and to promote writing (and the other arts) throughout the community and region in which he lived.
Charles Causley is acknowledged as one of the very finest of all twentieth-century poets writing in English. His poetic reputation was worldwide and brought him many awards, among them The Queen’s Gold Medal and The Ingersoll/TS Eliot Award. He received an Hon DLitt from the University of Exeter, where his archive is now held. He was made a CBE in 1986, and a Royal Society of Literature Companion of Literature in 2000. He died in 2003.
The Charles Causley Trust was founded shortly after his death by a small group of Causley’s friends and supporters, and has evolved, grown and expanded it activities considerably over the years since then. It is a registered charity, and a limited company. Its work now happens on a scale that ranges from the very local, through the regional, right up to the national — and indeed the international — level.
In 2007, the Trust acquired Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s house in Launceston, Cornwall. As a central focus of its work, the continued preservation, development and interpretation of the house for future generations is a major priority. Cyprus Well is a centre for celebrating his life and writing, and for promoting new literature and arts activity, especially in the community and region in which he lived.
The Trust’s project work and residency programmes at Cyprus Well are run by the Trust with the very welcome and generous support of Arts Council England, Cornwall Council and Launceston Town Council.