Our connection to Thomas Hardy runs deep at Plankbridge. It’s woven into our story and reflected in every hut we build. Open a copy of Far from the Madding Crowd and you’ll find Gabriel Oak sheltering from the elements in his humble shepherd’s hut, a curl of smoke rising from the chimney – a scene our customers still recreate today as they share photos of their huts looking cosy on a frosty morning.
What you might not know is that our co-founders, Richard and Jane, live right in the heart of Hardy’s world, surrounded by his most iconic literary settings. Just next door is Druce Farm, where Farmer Boldwood throws a grand Christmas party in a desperate attempt to win Bathsheba’s affections, transforming his normally austere home with evergreen garlands, flickering candlelight and all the trimmings of a Victorian Christmas. On the other side lies Waterston Manor, the prosperous farm Bathsheba inherits from her uncle, where she asserts her independence and strength as a landowner.
Close by, in a secluded patch of woodland, a cluster of old thatched cottages once stood, one of which is often considered the possible inspiration for Gabriel Oak’s home. Not far from there are the remnants of Victorian watercress beds, where Richard and Jane live. According to local records, Hardy’s sister, a teacher at Piddlehinton School close to our workshop, would walk from her home in Puddletown to buy Dorset Brown’uns, an unusual bronze-tinged variety of watercress, from this very spot.
Our connection to Hardy’s world doesn’t stop there. In the 2015 film adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd, starring Carey Mulligan, the eagle-eyed will be able to spot Richard making an appearance in a few scenes, including the Corn Exchange alongside Michael Sheen, and again in the church when Fanny Robin mistakenly bursts into the wrong wedding. Plankbridge even played a role behind the scenes, helping with production by building the structure of a shepherd’s hut specially adapted by the talented set builders with removable panels so that cameras could capture interior shots. Delivered to filming locations, including the opening scene on the cliffs near Bridport, the little blue hut became part of the film’s story, although we couldn’t tell anyone at the time– not even the team.
As Christmas draws nearer, the connection between Plankbridge, Thomas Hardy and the surrounding landscape feels more meaningful than ever. Just like the festive scene at Farmer Boldwood’s house, aglow with candlelight and adorned with festive greenery, we’re inspired by the same traditions of warmth, home and nature.
From all of us at Plankbridge, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
