Walled gardens are magical in themselves, creating mystery from both sides. It must have felt like their own special world for the Goudge children, playing in that peaceful space and knowing they were invisible to passers by. Then, looking up they could see the soaring magnificence of the cathedral tower. I can see why it made an impact on her and influenced her writing.
Such a wonderful post, Julie! I'm reading The Joy of the Snow at the moment, so it's such a thrill to be able to put the geographical pieces together in my mind with the help of your research! I see I am going to have to get myself a copy of Beyond the Snow next.
Thank you for sharing those photos. It's easy to see how Wells made such an impression on her. There's something evocative about that green door in the wall...
I'm confused about the chronology though. How could she have used Tower House as a basis for her story if they moved out of it when she was two years old? She couldn't have had any memories of it surely?
So glad this post was helpful! It was a fun one to put together and I have already begun the post for the Principal's House and turned up some fabulous photos. Since Goudge moved across the street to the PH I think it's likely that she knew the new inhabitants of the Tower House, since they were her neighbors. She likely played in both gardens & houses over the years.
I spent my early years in the Cathedral city of Truro, with a view of the cathedral and the pleasure of listening to the ringing of it's bells. We lived on a dead end road with bramble bushes separating us from a convent. It is so Goudgian, and when I began reading Elizabeth in my childhood I was able to relate so completely with her stories. So when I see her house, and the view she had, I feel I know a little of what she experienced. It has all been very formational for me, and I read her books over and over, learning something new every time. Gwedhen Nicholas.
I think that view from the Tower House garden, with the cathedral rising up in the back ground is the most magical to me and I expect it filled her memory and imagination her whole life through, perhaps even in ways that she wasn't entirely award of. This posting of yours, Julie, is EXACTLY what I was longing for and incredibly helpful for visualizing the connections between the places in the book. I am a map lover and you have provided it all. Thank you so much.
Walled gardens are magical in themselves, creating mystery from both sides. It must have felt like their own special world for the Goudge children, playing in that peaceful space and knowing they were invisible to passers by. Then, looking up they could see the soaring magnificence of the cathedral tower. I can see why it made an impact on her and influenced her writing.
Yes, quite the amazing home!
Such a wonderful post, Julie! I'm reading The Joy of the Snow at the moment, so it's such a thrill to be able to put the geographical pieces together in my mind with the help of your research! I see I am going to have to get myself a copy of Beyond the Snow next.
Beyond the Snow is an amazing biography. Definitely recommended :)
Thank you for sharing those photos. It's easy to see how Wells made such an impression on her. There's something evocative about that green door in the wall...
I'm confused about the chronology though. How could she have used Tower House as a basis for her story if they moved out of it when she was two years old? She couldn't have had any memories of it surely?
So glad this post was helpful! It was a fun one to put together and I have already begun the post for the Principal's House and turned up some fabulous photos. Since Goudge moved across the street to the PH I think it's likely that she knew the new inhabitants of the Tower House, since they were her neighbors. She likely played in both gardens & houses over the years.
I spent my early years in the Cathedral city of Truro, with a view of the cathedral and the pleasure of listening to the ringing of it's bells. We lived on a dead end road with bramble bushes separating us from a convent. It is so Goudgian, and when I began reading Elizabeth in my childhood I was able to relate so completely with her stories. So when I see her house, and the view she had, I feel I know a little of what she experienced. It has all been very formational for me, and I read her books over and over, learning something new every time. Gwedhen Nicholas.
So glad it’s helpful! What a beautiful childhood you must have had in your Cathedral city as well! Thanks for sharing about it 🥰🍂📚🙏
I think that view from the Tower House garden, with the cathedral rising up in the back ground is the most magical to me and I expect it filled her memory and imagination her whole life through, perhaps even in ways that she wasn't entirely award of. This posting of yours, Julie, is EXACTLY what I was longing for and incredibly helpful for visualizing the connections between the places in the book. I am a map lover and you have provided it all. Thank you so much.
So glad it’s helpful! It was really nice to take the time to see that she was really drawing from life. What an amazing place!!