In extremely windy conditions, I got to see St. Juliot church, near Boscastle in north Cornwall, after a scenic bus ride from Bude where I'd stayed the previous night.
The picture above shows St. Juliot church tower becoming visible after I'd walked 1-2 miles down a country lane from the main road where the bus driver had dropped me off.
In 'Discovering Hardy's Wessex' (1978/1982: 49), Anne-Marie Edwards explains:
"The little church stands today on its hilltop in as wild and remote a setting as" Hardy
"pictured it".
Moreover, on the same page, she reveals that:
"Hardy spent many hours in the church drawing plans for the restoration of the tower and the
renewal of rotting woodwork".
The church was beautiful from an age gone by:
Inside the church, I only took the one shot below (should've taken many more photos):
And signed the visitors book briefly explaining my interest in Thomas Hardy.
Of course, I couldn't keep my eyes off the tower:
Anne-Marie Edwards (1978/1982: 49) explains about Hardy's future wife, Emma Lavinia Gifford, who he met at St. Juliot rectory:
"As the rector's sister-in-law she had much to do with the restoration work, apart from her
interest in the architect! It was Emma who laid the first stone of Hardy's new tower".
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