EST 1976

Welcome to the William Cobbett Society Website.

The William Cobbett Society was founded in 1976 to bring together those who have an interest in the life and writings of William Cobbett. A passionate defender of the freedom of the press Cobbett was prepared to defend it at the cost of imprisonment and exile.

Get Quick Link

Book Access

(not active yet)

Cobbett Trail

(not active yet)

Tbc

(not active yet)

Events & Programs

10MaySaturday
Meeting

2025 Annual General Meeting

Time: Saturday, 10th May 202511:00 am - 1:00 pm / Farnham Maltings and ZOOM
2025 Annual General Meeting  Sat 10th May 2025 at 11am at Farnham Maltings and on ZOOM The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held at 11:00am Sat 10th May 2025 at Farnham Maltings and on ZOOM.  After the formal AGM  there will be a presentation by one of our Joint Chairman Stewart Edge, […]
DetailsSmall Fee
04JulyFriday

2025 Rural Ride Friday 4th July 2025

Time: Friday, 4th July 202510:00 am - 6:00 pm / Farnham to Alresford and Kingston Lacy
The traditional ‘Rural Ride’ – a coach trip enlivened by Cobbett readings relevant to the journey – will this year be to the historic National Trust house and estate at Kingston Lacy near Wimborne in Dorset (featured in BBC I Player’s ‘Hidden Treasures’). We will stop for coffee on the way in Alresford. A coach […]
09JanuaryFriday
Lecture

2025 Annual Lecture will be on Friday JANUARY 9th 2026

Time: Friday, 9th January 20268:00 pm - 9:30 pm / Farnham, Maltings
The next Annual Lecture is provisionally booked for 8pm on Friday January 9th 2026 at Farnham Maltings. When we know the name of the speaker we will confirm here on the web site the date of the event.  Bookings will be through Farnham Maltings.

Society News

COBBETT’S ATTITUDE TO RACE AND SLAVERY

With Colston’s statue thrown into the river and questions being asked about the attitudes to slavery of other historical figures, we thought the Society should make some comments about what Cobbett had to say about slavery.
Read More
CITIZENS PROJECT – COBBETT AND FARNHAM MUSEUM

CITIZENS PROJECT – COBBETT AND FARNHAM MUSEUM

Farnham Museum and the William Cobbett Society are working with Royal Holloway College, University of London as part of the ‘Citizens Project’ – which charts the history of liberty, protest and reform from the Magna Carta onwards -  to produce new video material featuring Cobbett’s role in these themes.  The material will form part of the future permanent exhibition at Farnham Museum.
Read More
Mark Steel’s review of reporters’ journeys round Britain

Mark Steel’s review of reporters’ journeys round Britain

First broadcast:Saturday 12 January 2013 Mark Steel’s review of reporters’ journeys round Britain, starting with William Cobbett, the great English journalist and radical campaigner who was born 250 years ago. Mark talks to veteran horseman Dylan Winter and analyses a classic radio and TV genre that owes more than it realises to Cobbett – the tradition of going out and taking a look at Britain.
Read More

STAY IN TOUCH

Join our email list and be the first to know about special events and more!