From: wartski@wartski.com

Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 13:04:30 +0100

Subject: Was Thomas Hardy in Southwold ?

I am writing a book with Ian Collins about painting and literature in Southwold in Suffolk and I am happy to say that we have put together a very varied list of visitors to the town. It includes Turner, Rossetti, William Morris, Swinburne and even Damien Hirst.

We have discovered that Hardy went to Aldeborough and we wondered if he had got as far as Walberswick, Dunwich, Blythburgh or indeeed to Southwold itself. Can anyone help us with our enquiry? We would be so grateful.

Geoffrey Munn FSA

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From: "Patrick Roper" <patrick@prassociates.co.uk>

Subject: RE: Was Thomas Hardy in Southwold ?

Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 19:40:45 +0100

Geoffrey,

According to Robert Gittings (1978) 'The Older Hardy' (Heinemann), Thomas Hardy took his second wife to be, Florence Dugdale to stay at the Southwold house of his friend Mrs. Henniker in April 1913. Hardy himself then went off to his friend Edward Clodd at Aldeburgh to talk about his late first wife Emma.

Others will, no doubt, be able to fill in more detail, but it sounds as though Mrs. Henniker's Southwold house was a vibrant social centre and I suspect Hardy knew it quite well.

Patrick Roper

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Date: Fri, 08 Aug 2003 15:52:01 -0400

From: Rosemarie Morgan <rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu>

Subject: RE: Was Thomas Hardy in Southwold ?

See also

John Bagnell Bury (1861-1927), classical scholar and historian; D.N.B. He was currently Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge. TH had first met Bury at Clodd's Aldeburgh house; see letter of 18 Sept 09. Southwold: where Bury had a summer cottage.

Yes-- Patrick is correct: Hardy knew F Henniker intimately and stayed at her house in Southwold (notably in April 1913) and wrote several letters from that address (to Clodd, Gosse et al).

May be useful to consult the *Collected Letters.*

RM

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From: wartski@wartski.com

Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:55:26 +0100

Subject: RE: Was Thomas Hardy in Southwold ?

Dear Rosemary,

Tahnkyou and and all your colleagues for help with the Hardy in Southwold enquiry. My co-author is quite delighted and joins me in sending my best thanks to you all,

Geoffrey Munn

Geoffrey Munn

Wartski,

14 Grafton St,

London W1X 4DE

 

0207 493 11

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From: wartski@wartski.com

Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:55:26 +0100

Subject: RE: Was Thomas Hardy in Southwold ?

CC: Ian.Collins@archant.co.uk

Dear Mr.Roper,

Thankyou for the marvellous reply you gave to my enquiry about Hardy in Southwold. My co-author and I are as thrilled as can be and very grateful to you for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Geoffrey Munn

Geoffrey Munn

Wartski,

14 Grafton St,

London W1X 4DE

0207 493 1141

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From: "Patrick Roper" <patrick@prassociates.co.uk>

Subject: RE: Was Thomas Hardy in Southwold ?

Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 16:50:48 +0100

> Thankyou for the marvellous reply you gave to my enquiry about > Hardy in Southwold.

You are very welcome. I am sure we would all be interested to hear when your material is published and would like to know of anything you discover about Mrs. Henniker's Southwold household.

Best of luck with the project.

Patrick Roper

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