Admiral Nelson's hidden note Found, and it's in the LAST place you'd expect

A LONG-lost letter written by Admiral Lord Nelson has been discovered - secretly glued into the back of an old book.

The rare letter found glued into the sleeve of a book and right, Admiral Lord Nelson

The find was made during a routine clean and cataloguing of the library of a National Trust country hall.

Experts have now confirmed that the letter, which was dated 29 January 1798, was written by the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar and sent to a Thomas Lloyd in London.

In the letter Lord Nelson describes a recent trip to the city of Bath and could indicate that he held a certain affection for the local women there, saying they were the "handsomest ladies". The letter was discovered by National Trust volunteer Elizabeth Dewer.

It is always exciting to find something we previously didn't know was there

Rhiannon Bramer, engagement and conservation assistant

Staff at Dudmaston Hall, Quatt, Shrops, have since attempted to get to the bottom of the riddle of how the letter ended up in the sleeve of the book about Nelson.

Rhiannon Bramer, engagement and conservation assistant at the hall, said: "The letter adds to the collection of Nelson letters we have at the hall".

"This was amassed by the Reverend Francis Laing, great-great grandfather of the last owner Lady Labouchere, while he was secretary to the governor of Malta in the late 18th century".

"It is always exciting to find something we previously didn't know was there and in such good condition too."

Though other letters in the hall's collection refer to the time that Nelson spent on HMS Victory and have primarily been written by a scribe, this recent find is a personal letter addressed from the "most affectionate Horatio Nelson".


The book containing the letter will remain in the hall's collection.