Last year, during my first pilgrimage to Hardy's Wessex, I somehow managed to visit Stinsford; the footpath from Stinsford to Lower Bockhampton; Lower and Higher Bockhampton etc. and almost completely bypass Knapwater, the setting for Hardy's first novel 'Desperate Remedies', in the process.
However, this time round, I immediately remedied last year's mistake by taking the Stinsford to Lower Bockhampton path (one of Hardy's favourite walks) and turning left into Knapwater about halfway (or two-thirds) down the path. Through doing this, I was greeted with the grandeur of Knapwater Park Old Manor House, the steward Manston's house in 'Desperate Remedies':
I soon found out that this Old Manor House had further significance:
And was quickly greeted with the enchantment of the Knapwater Lake:
Think this may be the 'waterfall' mentioned in 'Desperate Remedies', but I'm not entirely sure:
To be fair, last year, I did catch sight of Kingston Maurward House, Miss Adclyffe's Knapwater House in 'Desperate Remedies', from a distance when I slept rough not being able to put my tent up at night on a chalk field nearby, but this time round, I was blessed to see the building at much closer quarters:
Love the Gothic-type scene below:
All in all, 'Desperate Remedies' is far from being one of my favourite Thomas Hardy novels, as there is simply way too much intrigue in it. However, I still felt thrilled at uncovering much more of the Knapwater setting from this novel this year round.
Having found Hardy's Knapwater, I could happily set up my tent for the night:
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