As you drive through Felthorpe in Norfolk you can not fail to notice this sign showing two fine ladies in a chaise, pulled by a magnificent black horse. It’s a beauty! Yes, it is the horse from the children’s tale of Black Beauty. Therefore, the two Ladies in their Quaker Bonnets have to be the author of the tale, Anne Sewell and her mother Mary.

Follow the direction of the horse and chaise and you will reach the church of St Margaret shown in the sign, nearby is Felthorpe Farm. It was here that Mary spent the early years of her life as Mary Wright daughter of John and Ann. The family were strict Quakers and attended the Meeting house at nearby Lammas.

In 1809 when Mary was twelve John Wright decided to abandon farming, he took up with a Yarmouth business man to run a steam packet between Yarmouth Quay and Norwich. The farm and stock were sold and the family moved to South Town, Yarmouth, Norfolk.

They now attended the Meeting House in Yarmouth where one of the principle Quakers was William Sewell who owned a grocer shop on Market Place. As Mary grew older William’s second son Isaac began to show interest in her, but Mary did not respond.

Six years after the move to Yarmouth their fortunes suffered a severe setback. The steam packet that Mary’s father owned attempted to out run a rival packet to gain publicity. In doing so the boilers were overloaded to create more steam power, causing them to explode, killing 33 people on board. Sadly the insurance would not pay out, so all compensation had to be paid by John Wright and his partner, resulting in their bankruptcy.

Mary’s brother John was now the owner of Dudwick House in Buxton, Norfolk and took his parents and sister Mary in, letting them a cottage in the grounds. Mary was then found a teaching position to help the family finances. She was also a good distance from her suitor Isaac Sewell. Absence makes the heart grow fonder it would seem because Mary eventually accepted Issac’s proposal and in 1820 they were married at Lammas, then set up home at Church Plain in Yarmouth.

It was here that Anne Sewell was born later in the same year. Isaac continued to work for his father until trade weakened and the shop’s profits fell. Isaac being a second son was the one to be ousted from the business. Life’s fortunes were to plummet again for Mary. Isaac took up with a partner and set up a shop in London that was to prove a failure and bankruptcy loomed again. Isaac then took up a post as trainee Bank manager, the family fortunes improved and they moved to Dalston. The only good thing to happen in London was the birth of Anne’s brother Philip.

It was in Dalston that Anne and Philip spent their early childhood. Then the family moved to Stoke Newington, a larger house with land where animals could be kept. Mary was happy again in the environment of her childhood. It was while living here that Anne fell one day and damaged her ankle. The start of an injury that was to eventually cripple her.

The family fortunes continued to improve and Issac’s work took him to Brighton, Sussex. The resort town of Brighton was a cultural shock for these devout Quakers. With the new fashion of sea bathing, the wealthy families from London made Brighton the place to be seen in. All this must have had a profound effect on Mary because she resigned from the Quaker Meeting House, although Isaac and Anne continued to attend.

The years that followed continued their turbulent path. For some unaccountable reason Isaac resigned his post as bank manager and went into brewing. Although he was never known to drink his produce, Anne must have been made aware of the effects that drinking could have on people. This may have influenced her writing the story of Black Beauty in later life.

This phase of the Sewell life did not last long. The business faltered and Isaac returned to banking. His work took them to several other towns, eventually to Bath. After a few years as manager of the bank in Bath, Isaac retired from work. The Sewell family now made their last move, going to Old Catton in Norwich to live in retirement. This move was made to be near their son Philip who lived in Norwich, although he was now the owner of Dudwick House in Buxton.

Anne’s health was rapidly deteriorating, her only way of mobility was her horse and chaise which she drove with great expertise. Often driving to Buxton to see her uncle who was taking care of the property for Philip. It is quite probable that these drives included Felthorpe a few miles away. On these trips Mary would have shown Anne the farm where she lived as a child.

Becoming more and more housebound Anne turned to writing. Encouraged by her mother, who was a poet and writer herself having had several pieces printed, a story was written. When Anne became too weak to write she would recite the story to her mother who would write it down. The completed story was published in 1877 under the title of Black Beauty.

In April the following year Anne succumbed to her illness. Her cortege carried her to Lammas, some twelve miles away where she was buried in the Quaker burial ground. Mary Sewell was widowed soon after and lived until 1878. Although she resigned from the Quakers she is buried with Isaac in a grave near Anne at Lammas. Memorial stones to Anne Sewell, Isaac and Mary Sewell and John and Ann Wright can be seen near the old Quaker Meeting House as you pass through Lammas.