Thomas Hardy's
Cottage.
"In the introduction to the last edition of "Tess of the
D'Urbervilles" he tells us, "In response to inquiries
from readers interested in landscape, prehistoric
antiquities, and especially Old English architecture,
it may be said that the description of these backgrounds in this and its companion novels has
been drawn from the real. Many features of the
first two kinds have been given under their
existing names; for instance, the Vale of Blackmore or Blakemore, Hambledown Hill, Bulbarrow,
Nettlecomb Tout, Dogbury Hill, High Stoy, Bubb
Down Hill, The Devil's Kitchen, Cross-in-Hand,
Long-Ash Lane, Benvill Lane, Giant's Hill, Crimmercrock Lane, and Stonehenge. The rivers
Froom or Frome and Stour are, of course,
well known as such. And in planning the stories,
the idea was that large towns and points tending
to mark the outline of Wessex, such as Bath,
Plymouth, The Start, Portland Bill, Southampton,
etc., should be named outright.""
Extract from "The Wessex of Thomas Hardy" (Open Library)
Thomas Hardy's Cottage is a National Trust property with free entry for National Trust members.
|