Thomas Hardy’s interest in the Cerne Giant (Cerne Abbas appears as ‘Abbots Cernel’ in Hardy’s Wessex novels) was revealed by Leslie Grinsell, archaeologist and Keeper of Archaeology at Bristol City Museums, in the following ‘Note’ first published in SDNQ, Vol.31 (March 1980), p.38:
I have recently come across two references to Thomas Hardy’s interest in the upkeep of the Cerne Giant.
The first is in an anonymous article on ‘The Giant of Cerne Abbas’ in Country Life, 18 October 1924, p.612: ‘Thomas Hardy suggested to the writer that a layer of small chalk should be spread on the surface after the removal of the weeds. This would enable the figure to be seen in clearer and more definite outline and could not possibly do any harm’.
The second reference is an autograph note by Hardy from Max Gate, Dorchester, to Lady Alda Hoare (wife of Sir Henry Hoare), dated Monday, 21 September 1925: ‘The Cerne Giant’s figure was never all over white, like King George’s near Weymouth, but only the trenches forming the outline. These are fairly deep, and all that can be done to make his shape clear is to keep the trenches cleaned out and spread white chalk over the bottom of them. This will remain white many years if raked over and weeded now and then. The interior of the Giant’s figure was always green. T.H.’ (Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, ref. 383/954)
The maintenance of the Giant had been endowed through the National Trust by Sir Henry Hoare of Stourhead in 1924, and this provides the context for the second reference.
L.V. GRINSELL
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