History

St Juliot Rectory is not only an interesting house situated in an entrancing part of Cornwall, it is also the setting for one of the most important romances in literary history. It was here that in March 1870 Thomas Hardy, later to become one of England's greatest poets and novelists, met Emma Lavinia Gifford, the Rector's sister - in - law, and there began his `Cornish Romance'.

An architect at the time Hardy had come to St Juliot to make plans for the restoration of St Juliot Church. Emma and he fell in love almost as soon as they met, Hardy made several more visits to St Juliot, and they were married in 1874. Hardy was never to forget the girl and the Rectory which brought `magic' to his eyes, and he immortalised them in his novel; 'A Pair of Blue Eyes' .

On the death of Emma in 1912 he returned to St Juliot and wrote some of his greatest poetry, deeply moving in its memories of the past, of the Rectory, and of the `wandering western sea' Many of the places Hardy mentions can still be recognised 130 years later.

The house is Grade II listed being built of local stone in 1847. It was the home to 10 Rectors before being sold by the Church Commissioners in 1956

Sally or Chris Searle

Tel: 01840 250 225

E-mail:-   sally@stjuliot.com

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