Cornwall

John Betjeman (1906-1984) Throughout his childhood, the family went for holidays to Trebetherick in Cornwall, where his father owned a number of properties. These seemed to have been the happiest times for JB, and are remembered in many of his poems. His father, Ernest, built the house "Undertown" nearby. Died on May 19th 1984, at his home, Treen, in Trebetherick. He was buried in the graveyard of the small church of St.Enodoc, in the parish of St. Minver. There is a simple slate memorial plaque to him in the Sanctuary. Also visitor at Prideaux Place, Padstow and the church of St Ervan, mentioned in Summoned by Bells.

Winston Graham (1910-2003) lived in Perranporth in Cornwall for thirty years. At Flat Rocks he wrote the first four Poldark books.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) as architect had strong connections with St Juliot Church, nr Boscastle Cornwall,(tour leaflet available from Hardy Society)with memorial designed by Hardy to first wife, Emma, whom he met on the doorstep of St Juliot. There is also a window designed by Simon Whistler illustrating three of Hardy's poems. The window is the South facing window immediately to the right of the porch. Hardy's novel A Pair of Blue Eyes "enshrine Hardy's associations with St Juliot church and its surroundings."

D H Lawrence (1885-1930) Padstow 15-16, Zennor, 16-17

George Macdonald (1824-1905) Bude

E.J. Oxenham (1880-1960) Cornwall holidays

J.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) Cornwall: Holidays at the "Three Cups", Broad Street, Lyme Regis 1906 Holidays at Lyme Regis, 1927, 1928, Holiday on the Lizard Peninsular 1914, Holiday at Lamorna Cove 1932

Dylan Thomas (1914-53)During their first year, 1936, while visiting friends in Cornwall that they decided to get married. They stayed in Wyn Henderson's cottage at Polgigga and in Mousehole.

Leo Walmsley (1892-1966) Pont Pill, near Polruan, Cornwall. Lived in an ex-army hut there on and off for many years (at first with 2nd wife, Margaret) from early 1930s to 1960s. Building no longer stands. Lived finally in Fowey, Cornwall, at "Bramblewick", Passage Street, with 3rd wife, Stephanie. Final home. Died there 1966.

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) Her childhood holiday home, in *Cornwall*, was very important to her imaginative life (the setting for 'To the Lighthouse' is 'really' St Ives rather than the Hebrides): Talland House, Talland Road, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2EH The house was used for the Stephens' family holidays until her mother's death in 1895. The house has been converted into holiday flats (for a tariff and brochure, contact the resident owners, Sue & Nigel Bedford, tel. 01736 796368)

 Any additions please email : Rosemary Culley, Hon. Sec of the Alliance of Literary Societies Thank you!
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