The Thomas Hardy Society visit to Stourhead

The Thomas Hardy Society visited Stourhead on Saturday, 28th September, with a private viewing of the original letters between Hardy and Lady Alda Hoare alongside signed First Edition novels. Did you know that Wessex the Terrier was purchased from the Hoare family? All had a great day. We thank Lucy Cooper, Director of Collections at Stourhead and the National Trust.

Alda Hoare and Thomas Hardy

Chris Cluett, Stourhead Room Guide

Thomas Hardy visited Stourhead once, from 11th -13th July 1914, and Alda visited the Hardy's at Max Gate, Dorchester on numerous occasions. Mutual admiration grew and over a period of 18 years they discussed literature, current affairs and some aspects of his poetry.

Transcripts of the letters and relevant extracts from Alda's diaries are kept in the Record Office and are entitled "Dearest Alda". Here are summaries of important passages that illuminate Alda's relationship with the Hardy's and key events during this time, such as Harry's death.

The 16 volumes of Hardy's novels and short stories which were acquired on April 21st 1910, cost £1 19s 0d. From this time, Alda received a copy of all new works on publication day, and she bought second hand first editions of earlier works. Most were signed by Hardy. In many of these books are still to be found notes and letters from Hardy and his second wife Florence written over the years of their friendship. Nearly all the books are carefully annotated. Alda wrote to Hardy early in 1910, asking if he would autograph a copy of "FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD". Hardy did so and the book is in the Library with a note later written by Alda; "this was the beginning of my friendship with a great poet and novelist, which was to prove one of the most valued interest and happiness".

The only surviving letter from Emma (Hardy's first wife) was received on 24th April 1910 in which Emma dismisses praise of her husband's work and ends with an outburst against men in public positions.

Hardy thanks Alda for a birthday present (his 70th) and on 23rd July, she, Harry and Henry visited him for tea at Max Gate. They presented him with a copy of the painting "The Adieu" (St. George Hare) which is in the Saloon. It had been exhibited at the R.A. in 1909. Hardy also thanks Henry for a gift of pheasants and he continued to receive Game from Stourhead for very many years.

Letters from Alda followed, mentioning Henry's mastership of the Blackmore Vale Hounds; Alda's regular walks to Holbrook House,

Wincanton (over 10 miles away) and home of the Angerstein family who were relatives; and the purchase of a bronze by Allen - "The woman thou gavest to be with me"; and their celebration of George V’s coronation on 23rd June, which resulted in a fire at Alfred's Tower!

On July 16th 1912, Alda attended a garden party at Max Gate; and Emma died in November. Hardy wrote to thank Alda for laying a beautiful wreath at her grave.

On February 5th Alda wrote to thank Hardy for speaking out against cruelty to animals, particularly performing animals. This was a cause very dear to Alda, and she once tried to sack a farm manager, for not leaving water in his dog's bowl!

Hardy married Florence Dugdale on Feb. 10th 1914, and on the 18th Alda visited them for tea, and purchased "Wessex" for 7s 6d.

The two earliest surviving letters from Florence are to be found in the copy of "UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE". In them, Florence describes Hardy's admiration of Alda and her prose style. He is said to have exclaimed, "What a writer lady Hoare would make!" and later "she ... has spiritual insight!"

He also mentions Alfred's Tower (Stourton Tower) in his poem "Channel Firing", first published in May 1914.

In May 1914, Alda saw Hardy's birthplace at Upper Brockhampton, now like Stourhead owned by National Trust, and a photograph of the cottage is kept in her copy of "THE DYNASTS". Someone else is writing her diary entries as she is suffering from eye trouble.

The Hardy's visited Stourhead from Saturday 11th July- Mon 13th July. Alda received a signed photo of him, which was kept on the library table. The highlight of the visit seems to have been a visit to Alfred's Tower with Henry and Harry.

On 4th August 1914, Britain declared war. Harry had enlisted in the 1st Dorset Queen's Yeomanry during the previous week. On 5th August, Florence wrote to express Hardy's admiration of men like Harry and later she tells Alda that they are forever thinking of them with considerable pride. They are concerned for Henry that he must feel "a pang" at the buying of horses for the army.

Hardy wrote the poem, "SONG OF THE SOLDIERS" and Florence tells Alda, "it was such as him (Harry) that my husband had in mind when he wrote the lines, "the faith and fire within us". This letter is to be found in Alda's copy of "TIME'S LAUGHING STOCK". This poem first appeared in The Times in September 1914.

Hardy wrote to Alda about Harry, "there is no reason for despair, doubtless we shall see Harry marching about the grounds at Stourhead again".

Various letters then follow on Hardy's poetry and the performance in London of “THE DYNASTS", and a number of times, Florence expresses their love and respect for Alda: "you are the one broadminded woman he knows".

Florence had a specially written and illustrated copy of "THE SONG OF THE SOLDIERS" produced as a Christmas card for the family.

Hardy expresses his agreement with Alda that the hobnobbing of German and English troops at Christmas was wrong.

Florence's letter refers to the soldiers billeted at Stourhead and Alda's "most wonderful gift of understanding people, and making yourself one with them". Alda spent much of her time entertaining wounded soldiers in Mere Red Cross Hospital and at Stourhead. She enjoyed accompanying their singing on the piano and there is a pen and ink picture of her doing so in the House. She was delighted when she found a soldier with a good singing voice and her car was also at the disposal of the wounded men. There is a lot of correspondence at this time with Florence about various young men and their fortunes in the war.

Harry served in Gallipoli throughout 1915 and he became critically ill with typhoid and pneumonia and was sent home to England. Alda and Hardy were discussing the last 3 lines of his poem, "THE DEAD AND THE LIVING ONE". She was in favour of the thirteenth verse being included, and it was! Alda noted, "In January 1916 T.H. honoured me, by asking "should this just written poem be published, with or without the last 3 lines". I said, "Surely they should be retained?" They were and Charles Whibley to whom I afterwards referred the point, said I had been right.

On July 11th Harry rejoined his regiment, and Florence sent their best wishes for him.

A Canadian "Tommy" wrote a letter to Alda thanking her for buying him Hardy's "Selected Poems" and annotating them with information about the author.

On April 3rd 1917, the Hoare's received a telegram informing them that Harry had been wounded in 16th action, but not seriously. Florence sent her best wishes.

Alda was proud because Hardy will now only sign his books for her, as other people have been selling his signed copies for profit. The diary reads "He will sign for no-one but me in the world ... l am touched and honoured ... as he is so angry at some for whom he has signed, selling them after!"

Hardy writes to thank Alda for the birthday present of "old French silver" and also sends his sonnet “A CALL TO NATIONAL SERVICE".

On 19th December 1917, Harry died in Alexandria of the wounds he had sustained in Palestine. Hardy wrote to them on December 26th and emphasised the nobility of his sacrifice. Florence wrote a separate letter expressing her anguish.

Hardy wrote again on July 11th 1918- another thank you letter for Alda's birthday present. Now he addresses her as "my dear friend". Alda sent him a copy of Hare's portrait of Harry which hangs in the Hall. Hare stayed at Stourhead from July 11th- August 22nd 1918 and painted Harry posthumously from photo and recollection of him.

According to Alda's diary, she and Henry visited Hardy on September 1920 and visited Kingston House (Kingston Maurward) and after Stinsford Church, where Hardy's family are buried. She called it a "red letter day".

Alda and Hardy exchange views on the poetry of Siegfried Sassoon. Alda dislikes the poetry and says his work is “unmanly".

Hardy died at Max Gate on January 11th 1928. Florence sends Alda Hardy's copy of Voltaire's "Oeuvres Choisies" which contains this dedication: "To Alda Hoare, In memory of her true friend Thomas Hardy, From F.E.H. 1928". Alda was particularly fond of the works of Voltaire.

Florence continued to visit Stourhead and on September 2nd 1931, Alda attended the unveiling of Hardy's statue in Dorchester. Roger Alma writes: "it was fitting that Lady Hoare should be there, because of her love and admiration of Hardy, and typical of her, that she did not intrude on the occasion, but remained discreetly in the background. Florence later wrote "I felt you were there, and I thought I saw your face". The event marked the end of a long and warm friendship". Florence herself died on October 18th 1937.

The transcripts of these letters and diary extracts and Roger Alma's essay, "Thomas Hardy and Stourhead" can be found in the Record Office.