Other

(lost) Hardy's tree

Inscription

none

Not strictly a memorial but irresistible to include.

As railway lines were constructed through densely built-up parts of London, they often crossed old churchyards. The son-of-a-bishop architect Arthur Blomfield was commissioned by the Bishop of London to supervise the proper exhumation of human remains and dismantling of tombs. For the Midland Railway's route across the original St. Pancras Churchyard. In about 1865 he passed this unenviable task onto his trainee, Thomas Hardy. The work was done behind hoardings and Hardy would visit to ensure the work was being done correctly.

His poem "The levelled churchyard" was surely inspired by this experience:
We late-lamented, resting here,
Are mixed to human jam,
And each to each exclaims in fear,
'I know not which I am!'

Everyone "knows" that Hardy's solution to what to do with all the headstones was to place them around this tree. However, there is a 1926 photo of these stones with no tree. The most likely explanation is that the stones were only gathered here c.1877 when the old burial ground was converted into a public garden, and that the tree self-seeded at some time after that. We thank the London Dead blog for debunking the myth.

Site: Hardy's tree (1 memorial)

NW1, Pancras Road, St Pancras Gardens

This Ash is one of the Great Trees of London.

August 2019: A parasitic fungus that has appeared on the tree means that it has been pruned and cordoned off. The CNJ reports "grave concern".

June 2022: The CNJ reported "Historic Hardy Tree WILL fall" after being weakened by storms.

December 2022: Londonist reported that the tree has fallen.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Hardy's tree

Subjects commemorated i

Thomas Hardy

Novelist and poet, best known for his novels set in rural 'Wessex' such as Te...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Cannon

Cannon

EC4, Gunpowder Square

{On plaque attached to one side of cannon:} Opened on 29th November 1989 by Sir Hugh Bidwell, GBE, Lord Mayor of London.{Around the base...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Pamela Colman Smith

Pamela Colman Smith

WC1, Store Street, 33, Treadwell’s Books

We learnt about this basement fireplace at Atlas Obscura. On our first visit we were told the space was not currently accessible to the ...

1 subject commemorated
2012 Olympics Bell

2012 Olympics Bell

E15, Olympic Park

The quotation, from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', was spoken by Kenneth Branagh at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Norwood Grove bird bath - plaque

Norwood Grove bird bath - plaque

SW16, Norwood Grove, garden

In our photo the Nettlefold plaque can be seen to the left of the house, sometimes called The White House. The bird bath is the largest ...

1 subject commemorated
Euston Arch - temporary stones

Euston Arch - temporary stones

NW1, Euston Square

We've marked the stones as relocated, assuming that they are being kept somewhere safe in the hope that the arch will eventually be re-er...

1 subject commemorated