Before becoming an author and poet Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) studied architecture under the supervision of a Mr Blomfield. During the 1860s the Midland railway was going to be built over part of St Pancras Churchyard. This meant that the bodies buried there had to be exhumed and moved. The Bishop of London employed Mr Blomfield to carry out the task, who then gave the unenviable job to Mr Hardy.
Hardy would have spent many hours in this churchyard overseeing the removal of the remains and the dismantling of the tombs. The headstones around the base of this ash tree were moved here during that time.
The roots of the tree have now grown between the headstones.
I didn't know his about Thomas Hardy. It's very fascinating... you have so much history in your posts! :-)
ReplyDeleteSo he didn't move the headstones with the remains?
ReplyDeleteWow - what an interesting tree and story to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteCo-incidently, I saw this tree somewhere else recently, but I can't remember where. It's a bit strange and I hope the headstone records were kept. Aha, I remember now. http://www.simpleglee.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/day-20-hardy-ash.html
ReplyDeleteIncredible story and I love how the tree has taken the headstones. What happened to the bodies then and where is the railway in comparison?
ReplyDeleteSo sad that the remains did not get to keep their headstones and now are lost to history as to who they were.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad job he had, must have been depressing to work on the graveyard and to see how all the graves were removed.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating to know this about Thomas Hardy...would never have thought such a thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad, but fascinating post for the day! I can easily imagine how depressing his work must have been!! I would never have thought this about Hardy either!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting how, given enough time, nature claims it's own.
ReplyDeleteHardy must have been a man of many talents.
Fascinating and frightening to think you may not 'rest in peace' after all. Dianne
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and great shots ~ thanks, carol, xxx
ReplyDeleteIn a way they look quite pretty stacked amid the roots of the ash-tree with autumn leaves sprinkled like confetti. Lovely pics.
ReplyDeleteInteresting place!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how the roots have made their way around the tombstones.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post... many thanks for sharing this story.
ReplyDeleteNeat story about Mr Hardy. The tree does not seem to mind the headstones all piles around. I am glad the tree has live on! Have a happy week ahead!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and a very interesting post. So I am wondering if the church kept a list of all the names of those bodies that were removed and are the names still visible on the head-stones?
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots and interesting information.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place. Lovely shots too.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting story indeed. I suppose even famous poets sometimes have a day job.
ReplyDeleteFascinating indeed!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures - the playing card stack of grave stones is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI used to find fossils on the Mendips - probably destroyed an important site collecting them as a kid!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Interesting. I have seen one such closely packed grave in Prague.
ReplyDeleteI love stories like this. Thanks for sharing the history and photos
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteI think that job might have encouraged him to start writing. Great post!
ReplyDeleteMove a graveyard, what a job ! It looks so strange to see the headstones all squeezed together against this tree. The place could be used for a horror film !
ReplyDeleteI find the idea of roots between the headstones romantic. Perhaps a strange response :) Very interesting post because it put Thomas Hardy's imaginings as the lives of the people buried in that graveyard became real to him. Loved your photographs as well.
ReplyDeleteNice photos! Interesting story narrated beautiful...
ReplyDeletethas an odd thing I think. Nice shots and thanks for sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteJust watched this graveyard and tree feature in BBC 'New Tricks'.
ReplyDelete