Some Pictures Around Shaftesbury and Other Hardy Country.

Gold Hill in Shaftesbury.  Remember the Hovis advert?  I remembered watching the Grumble-weeds in Scarborough many moons ago doing Joe Gladwin impressions.  

Here's the Two Ronnies with their Hovis sketch:

 Tess Cottage.  We talked to the owners of this cottage.  Apparently Thomas Hardy walked up the lane and said that this will be the house where Tess (Tess Of The Durbervilles) lived.   It's your quintessential English chocolate box cottage.  The garden is a cottage garden with a mixed tapestry of perennials and shrubs... They struggle with heavy clay but its a credit to their labours.

Saw this wonderful sign and decided to take it for the blog. 

 Ox House or the Schoolmasters House in Jude The Obscure.  Probably the greatest book I have ever read.

The Dew Drop Inn.  Tess fans will know this place. 

Another Thomas Hardy Residence:  Riverside Villa - Sturminster Newton. 

Ancient flour mill - Sturminster Newton.