H05031 RUSHY POND QUERY - 4/4/05 - HARDY FORUM ARCHIVES ____________________________________________________________________________
From: ericjchristen@bluewin.ch
Subject: Rushy Pond
Date: April 4, 2005 9:30:36 AM PDT
Dear All,
Without really thinking much about it I had always assumed that _Neutral
Tones_ was located at Rushy Pond. A few weeks ago as I was there with Furse
Swann I noticed the total absence of ash trees there. Furthermore, we
happened to meet a man (a former student of Furse's, I think) who told us
that he had never seen an ash there and that ash trees cannot grow in this
soil.
I would be extremely grateful for some help.
With my best wishes.
Eric Christen
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From: kgwilson@uottawa.ca
Subject: Re: Rushy Pond
Date: April 4, 2005 10:02:56 AM PDT
Michael Millgate's Thomas Hardy: A Biography Revisited (p. 96) suggests (as does the original version of the Millgate Biography) that the pond is "quite possibly the pond surrounded by old lime kilns on the ridge overlooking Tolmare Farm, just west of Findon" (Sussex). He associates the poem with Hardy's "final interview" with Eliza Nicholls.
Keith Wilson
Keith Wilson
Professor of English/President, ACCUTE
University of Ottawa
70 Laurier Avenue East (Room 313)
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA K1N 6N5
Tel: (613) 562-5800, Ext. 1160
Fax: (613) 562-5990
e-mail: kgwilson@uottawa.ca
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From: segr@segr-music.net
Subject: RE: Rushy Pond
Date: April 4, 2005 10:07:25 AM PDT
Eric. Take a look at the setting of the poem on my website, where there
are notes that may give you some ideas about a possible alternative
location.
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From: patrick@prassociates.co.uk
Subject: RE: Rushy Pond
Date: April 5, 2005 3:09:28 AM PDT
There is an interesting web site on the Rushy Pond at Tolmare Farm with plenty of old photographs, some of which show what the place would have looked like not long after TH wrote Neutral Tones:
http://www.findonvillage.com/0679_the_tolmare_dewpond.htm
As for ash trees, I cannot see any in the pictures that I would identify with confidence, but they do tend to prefer calcareous soils (and Findon is largely on chalk), though they like to have a reasonable amount of moisture. This could have been, perhaps, provided by the ponds. Ashes were also much valued in farming communities as the wood is good for making tool handles and similar and also will burn well when freshly cut. They are generally common in suitable places along the South Downs and I have no doubt that many ash trees still grow in an around Findon.
Patrick Roper
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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: RE: Rushy Pond
Date: April 5, 2005 5:57:41 AM PDT
This is a truly wonderful site - I have just been reading about dew-ponds! Amazing...and we who walk on the moon cannot sustain for ourselves a supply of fresh, pure water without the use of chemicals!
Thank you Patrick --(I wrote to the webmeister to thank her)
Cheers,
Rosemarie
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From: pauline.guerin@ntlworld.com
Subject: RE: Rushy Pond
Date: April 5, 2005 8:15:15 AM PDT
Hi
I thought you might be interested to read this... my Father was born in Findon in 1928, which makes him 77 this year. I'm not sure if it's useful but here's what he has to say:
when I was I kid we called the area Tall Mare, however allowing for faulty memories and so om...Ive never heard of Rushy Pond, but I bet your aunt will.The significence is that there was apond in the centre of the village almost opposite the Grey Point Hotel but this was filled in some years ago and (Ithink) is now a car park, this Rushy Pond is referred to as a 'dew pond' the only dew pond I know is at the foot of Cissbury, but all the tourists have long since damaged it beyond repair.
I know the dew pond to which he refers, and it is indeed rather damaged these days. The views from the top of Cissbury Ring are stunning though if you ever get a chance to go.
Kind regards
Pauline
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From: segr@segr-music.net
Subject: RE: Rushy Pond and other sites
Date: April 5, 2005 7:49:37 AM PDT
We seem to be returning to stuff that was first discussed in Dec 2002! when you posted some remarks by Millgate on the claim on Valerie Martin's website that from Hardy saw a lot more of Eliza Nicholls than had been suspected. Perhaps you could tell the Findon lady what he said? (I didn't!)
Roy Buckle
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From: ericjchristen@bluewin.ch
Subject: Rushy Pond
Date: April 6, 2005 11:51:02 PM PDT
I am grateful to each and all of you: Keith, Roy, Patrick, Rosemarie and
Pauline. I know I should have looked into one or two books before asking for
help. I am happy I have learnt more, however, thanks to you. The site of
Tolmare Farm near Findon is superb.
Yours, Eric
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