Dorothy L Sayers Centre

The Centre houses a collection of over 400 volumes of her novels, essays, plays, poetry and religious writing together with biographies, critical and other allied works and publications of the Dorothy L Sayers Society, including the volumes of her Letters and the Lord Peter Wimsey Companion. The works of biography and criticism represented include several titles published outside the UK and not easily available in this country. The Centre maintains contact with the Marion E Wade Centre at Wheaton College, Illinois where mush of Sayers' original manuscript material is held. The Centre also has a copy of most of the material in the Archive of the Dorothy L Sayers Society. Most significant are the files relating to her plays since they contain copies of the costume designs by Norah Lambourne, photos of stage jewellery made by Dorothy L Sayers, copies of the incidental music and many reviews. This is a primary resource collection which is linked to the wider Archives and expert advice of the Dorothy L Sayers Society. The Centre is housed in a room on the upper floor of Witham Library (accessible by lift) and contains bookcases, displays and a reading area. The Centre is available for visitors to look at the collection and to carry out small scale research. Visits are by arrangement with the Library. A member if Dorothy L Sayers Society is often able to meet with visitors to discuss her life and work. Dorothy L Sayers' home, for the last 30 years of her life, located near to the library, is marked by a plaque. The house is privately owned and not open to the public. Opposite the Library is a statue of Dorothy L Sayers with her cat Blitz. The Dorothy L Sayers Society was founded in 1976 to promote the study of her life and works and has about 500 members worldwide. The bi monthly bulletin of the Society and its other publications can be seen in the Centre. The Society holds several meetings a year, an annual lecture and an annual convention.