Person    | Male  Born 2/6/1840  Died 11/1/1928

Thomas Hardy

Novelist and poet, best known for his novels set in rural 'Wessex' such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. Born Upper Bockhampton, Dorset. Before turning to writing full-time he studied architecture in London from 1862 - 67 under Arthur Blomfield, an architect based in Covent Garden, most of the time at 8 Adelphi Terrace, from where Hardy had a good view of the Thames.

It was during this time that he became familiar with London and its society and began writing. For the next 20-odd years he lived on and off in London and the suburbs. When first married he and Emma lived for 3 years in Tooting but then moved back to Dorset. From then on they spent every “season” approximately April– July in London socialising. For this they rented a variety of houses or flats across London: Kensington, Bloomsbury, etc. In all, Hardy lived at over 30 different London addresses. The start of WW1 put an end to this pattern.

Died at home, Max Gate, Dorchester, Dorset.

Hardy wished his body to be buried with his first wife. But the nation wanted him in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner. So the compromise was to bury just his heart in Dorset. The two funerals were on the same day, starting at the same time. Other hearts buried separately from the rest of the body include: Richard I, Robert the Bruce, Eleanor of Castile, David Livingstone, Chopin and, by legend, Anne Boleyn.

Much of our information comes from Mark Ford’s “Thomas Hardy: Half a Londoner” published 2016.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Thomas Hardy

Commemorated ati

Hardy's tree

Not strictly a memorial but irresistible to include. As railway lines were c...

Read More

The Adelphi

The Adelphi This building stands on the site of Adelphi Terrace built by the...

Read More

Thomas Hardy - W2

A pleasingly unofficial blue plaque - a rather emphatic layout with the lette...

Read More

Other Subjects

William de Morgan

William de Morgan

Potter, tile designer and novelist. Born 69 Gower Street as William Frend de Morgan, to the mathematician Augustus de Morgan. Lifelong friend of William Morris, he designed tiles, stained glass an...

Person, Craft / Design, Literature

23 memorials
Frances (Fanny) Burney

Frances (Fanny) Burney

Born King's Lynn, Norfolk, father was Dr Charles Burney. Diarist, novelist: Evelina (1778), Cecelia (1782), Camilla (1796) and playwright. Her first novel, Evelina, was a big success and she ent...

Person, Literature, Theatre, Belgium, France

2 memorials
D. H. Lawrence

D. H. Lawrence

Novelist and poet (also painter). Born Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. Died Vence, France. Novels include: Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sons and Lovers, Women in Love.

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, France

2 memorials
John Middleton Murry

John Middleton Murry

Literary critic. Born Peckham. Husband of Katherine Mansfield and on her death married a woman who strongly resembled her and also died of tuberculosis. His 3rd marriage was a disaster but he ...

Person, Literature

1 memorial
Benvenuto Cellini

Benvenuto Cellini

Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry.

Person, Art, Craft / Design, Literature, Music / songs, Poetry, Sculpture, Italy

2 memorials