Thomas Hardy in Cornwall
Rob Barnett
We will be taking a family holiday in Cornwall in July.
One of the themes we would like to explore while in the county is the
Thomas Hardy connection.
Are there any museums or places we should visit while there.
Your advice much appreciated.
Thank you.
Rob
Mike Waterfall
In article <199805161...@zetnet.co.uk>, Rob Barnett
<bar...@zetnet.co.uk> writes
on Dorset and surrounding areas. eg Castorbridge = Dorchester etc..
--
Mike Waterfall
Rob Barnett
I am sure that the young Hardy DID come to Cornwall - he knew part of
North Cornwall very well. One of his novels (not one of the more
famous ones) was I believe, set there.
Rob
jkw...@cableinet.co.uk
Berkshire?? He probably did write a bit about Cornwall, but it's maybe
a bit like exploring James Joyce connections outside Dublin.
Q and A L Rowse are two interesting authors to be found in Cornwall. As
well as that you've got the writers who came in like Du Maurier. I
reckon they would be better to check out.
Yewberry
Thomas Hardy married Emma Gifford, whose father was a vicar down here. TH met
her when he was an architect restoring the church. Emma used to stay in a house
on the outskirts of Bodmin (Kirland Manor, on a nice footpath from Bodmin
Beacon). This is all straight off the top of my wife's head, (and she has been
at the gin this evening, she asks me to emphasise) so it might not be 100 per
cent.
Even less trustworthy, I dimly recall a puzzle/quiz/mystery tour we did with my
parents a few years ago and we visited a house on the outskirts of Boscastle
which I think had a connection to TH's wife (Emma?).
Hope this helps.
Cheers from sunny Bodmin,
Jim.
J.J.Farrell
In article <355DFE...@cableinet.co.uk>, <jkw...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote:
>Mike Waterfall wrote:
>>
>> I don't think Thom Hardy ever came to Cornwall, All his books are based
>> on Dorset and surrounding areas. eg Castorbridge = Dorchester etc..
>
>Berkshire??
That was someone else - Trollope, perhaps? Hardy concentrated on Wessex.
>He probably did write a bit about Cornwall, but it's maybe
>a bit like exploring James Joyce connections outside Dublin.
That was news to me - I hadn't realised he had Cornish connections.
--
My opinions; I do not speak for my employer.
jkw...@cableinet.co.uk
J.J.Farrell wrote:
>
> In article <355DFE...@cableinet.co.uk>, <jkw...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote:
> >Mike Waterfall wrote:
> >>
> >> I don't think Thom Hardy ever came to Cornwall, All his books are based
> >> on Dorset and surrounding areas. eg Castorbridge = Dorchester etc..
> >
> >Barset was his mythical county I believe. So it sounds like Dorset and
> >Berkshire??
>
> That was someone else - Trollope, perhaps? Hardy concentrated on Wessex.
> >He probably did write a bit about Cornwall, but it's maybe
> >a bit like exploring James Joyce connections outside Dublin.
>
> That was news to me - I hadn't realised he had Cornish connections.
Rob Barnett
On the edge of the beautiful Valency Valley which winds down to the
village of Boscastle stands the ancient church of St. Juliot, a place
that deeply influenced the life and work of one of England's greatest
writers and poets.
Thomas Hardy came to Cornwall from his native Dorset in March 1870 as a
young architect ( and struggling writer ),.commissioned to oversee the
restoration of the delightful church of St. Juliot. Invited to stay at
the rectory during his visit he met and fell in love with the Rector's
sister-in-law, Emma Gifford.
He returned to Dorset, he later wrote " with magic in my eyes". Hardy's
first published novel, " A Pair of Blue Eyes " tells of a romance
conducted in this setting, based on his own courting of Emma.
Two years later, as Hardy completed his most famous novel " Far From The
Madding Crowd ", he and Emma were married in London. They never returned
to St. Juliot together but when Emma died unexpectedly in 1912 after a
stormy marriage of some 40 years he came back alone, an old man in his
seventies, wracked with regrets.
The visit inspired his "Poems of 1912-13", some of the most beautiful
poetry ever written in the English language, and Hardy acknowledged his
debt to St. Juliot Church in " A Dream Or No ":
" Why go to St. Juliot?
What's Juliot to me?
Some strange necromancy
But charmed me to fancy,
That much of my life claims the spot as it's key"
If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Cornwall try:-
The Wellington Hotel
The Harbour, Boscastle,
Cornwall PL35 0AQ
Tel: (01840) 250202
Fax: (01840) 250621
One of their famous historical patrons was Thomas Hardy. There are the
actual lamps he donated to St. Juliot's Church on completion of his work
there and today they hang in the Long Bar for all to see.
An historic listed 16th Century coaching Inn of great character in a
particularly beautiful part of Cornwall set in glorious National Trust
countryside and close by Boscastle's picturesque Elizabethan harbour.
Comfortable en-suite rooms, colour TV, direct dial telephones and drink
makers. Superb Anglo-French restaurant specialising in regional cuisine,
seafood and fine wines. Beams, real log fires, real ales and real
hospitality.
The Wellington Hotel offers the opportunity to experience for yourself
the exceptional qualities of this area of Cornwall. Parts of the hotel
are 400 years old and we are among the oldest coaching inns in North
Cornwall.
notes:-
1874 Hardy married on September 17 to Emma Lavinia Gifford
of St. Juliot in Cornwall.
1923 Hardy wrote The Famous Tragedy of the Queen of Cornwall.
Feel free to put this on the soc.culture.cornish list
I also recommend joining the cornish roots list
although it is mainly a genealogy list all Cornish subjects are covered
it is also a very friendly list!!
address:- <cornish-...@rootsweb.com>
just put "subscribe" in the heading
cheers......
*********************************************************************
* Phil and Pip Ellery * *
* * Primrose Cottage *
* * Talskiddy *
* * St. Columb Major *
* * Cornwall, UK. *
* * TR9 6EB *
* ph...@phil-ellery.demon.co.uk * Phone: 01637 881271 *
***********************************************************
jkw...@cableinet.co.uk
Well you've educated me anyway. Perhaps there is a decent connection for
these folks to chase...