The Puddletown of Hardy's Youth
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This photograph of Puddletown was probably taken during the 1890's or very early 1900's. So, while it is not of the era of Hardy's youth, it portrays a Puddetown he would recognize. (This image courtesy of The Thomas Hardy Association) |
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Higher and Lower Bockhampton, Stinsford, and Puddletown were part of the isolated,
rural, and undeveloped countryside of Dorset during the years of Hardy's youth. At the
same time, Puddletown must have presented a strong contrast to the hamlets where he
actually lived his day-to-day existence, for Puddletown was a busy, well populated and
active village, actually a small town, and it was the village Hardy knew best as a boy.
In 1859, when Hardy was age 19, the village boasted a population of 1,334 and still was known as Piddletown, after the river Piddle upon which it is situated. The Post Office Directory of that same year provides some idea of the composition of the village and its inhabitants. For example, there were seven shopkeepers, three bakers, two butchers, two tailors, two dressmakers, a grocer, six boot and shoe makers, a surgeon, and a dentist. Eleven persons were listed as "Private Residents", meaning the upper classes and the clergy. The village was served by three blacksmiths, three stonemasons, and combined saddler and harness maker. Two school-mistresses instructed the children. Communication with the outside world was by a carrier who went to Dorchester every Wednesday and Saturday, and by a mail cart which delivered letters to the Post Office every morning at 8:00 o'clock. Two inns served travelers, and two beer houses served those in search of fellowship and adult liquid refreshment. So when Hardy was old enough to recognize such things, he was introduced to what must have seemed a teeming society, in which many of his relatives were well known characters. This busy and thriving little town was comprised largely of artisans and small craftsman who served the surrounding farming community, and his relatives were no exception. James Sparks, who married Hardy's mother's sister, was a cabinet maker. His wife Maria and eldest daughter Rebecca were dressmakers. John Antell, who married the other sister Mary, was a cobbler. Another uncle, Christopher Hand, was a stonemason. Hardy was in and out of these families' houses throughout his youth. It was here, rather than in Bockhampton, that he found his childhood companionship, playing with the many sons and daughters of both his father's and his mother's Puddletown relatives. The Sparks household was perhaps Hardy's favorite. Uncle James and aunt Maria lived in a thatched cottage at the bottom of Mill Street, facing the river Piddle, on a curve that was known locally as Sparks Corner. The daughters, Rebecca (11 years older than Hardy), Emma (9 years older), and Martha (6 years older) were lively and attractive. Hardy was especially fond of Martha, who was generally considered the handsomist. The sons, James (4 years older than Hardy) and Nathaniel (3 years younger) were special friends. In 1851 another daughter was born; Tryphena. Young Hardy knew her only as an infant and a little schoolgirl during this period, but there has been much speculation about their relationship in 1867-70 after Hardy returned to Bockhampton from his five year stint in London and found an extremely attractive sixteen year old Tryphena. But that is another story. The above statistical data are from Thomas Hardy's England, by John Fowles and Jo Draper, 1984 |
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Puddletown |