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Step into the urban world of Thomas Hardy’s novels. Find out about the strong women that shaped the young Hardy, how he went on to campaign for women’s rights, as well as his thoughts on religion.
The Salisbury Museum is housed in the building that was formerly the teacher training college where Hardy’s sisters studied to be teachers. Both of them avoided marriage, taking the advice of their mother to put their careers first.
On loan from: The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
A key theme in The Salisbury Museum’s exhibition is Hardy’s views on religion. The novel Jude the Obscure is about a stonemason who works on Hardy’s ‘Melchester’ Cathedral (Salisbury). It was Hardy’s last completed novel.
The museum is located under the shadow of the cathedral’s famous spire, and the manuscript will sit alongside stonemasonry tools used by a Salisbury stonemason.
Our star loans were made possible by support from the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.
Meet the man behind the writer, through objects as personal as Hardy’s granny’s kettle, in which she boiled tea while telling Hardy the stories that would shape his imagination.
Look at his beautifully-drawn church designs, giving a glimpse of the ambitious young architect who dreamt of becoming a writer.
For details of opening times, admission prices, facilities, directions, etc, please visit The Salisbury Museum’s website.
We are hugely grateful to Battens Solicitors for sponsoring this exhibition.
Our star loans were made possible by support from the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!