The Books

Mary and Kate Hardy, Salisbury, Wessex and Beyond

Mary and Kate Hardy, sisters of the famous Thomas Hardy, novelist and poet, have featured little in books about their brother.

The story of their lives is worth telling, because of the influence it had on their brother’s writing. Their experiences at College in Salisbury, and in their teaching years in Wessex and beyond, provided him with rich material for his work.

Mary and Kate’s austere and rigorous years at Salisbury Diocesan Training College were followed by the hardship of teaching in impoverished country schools. The book explores the different personalities of the sisters and their journeys through life at a time when women were often treated unfairly and with injustice.

The book is fully illustrated, with the pictures setting the scene as much as the words.

The book will be priced at £14.99 including P&P

We Will Teach!

‘Come back and tell us the stories of individual students.’ This was the response to one of our first talks about Inspired to Teach. At that time, the second book was only a glimmer in our minds, but that comment helped to focus our thoughts and fire our enthusiasm!

The result is We will Teach!, which explores the link between the College and the Channel Islands. What was it that drew hundreds of young women to cross the sea and train as teachers in Salisbury? Extensive research has helped us to find the answers.

From the first student, who arrived by packet steamer from Guernsey in 1843, to the last ones in the 1970s, we tell some of their stories, including the dark days when the islands were occupied during the Second World War. Fully illustrated, these accounts are set in the islands and in Salisbury. They are a fascinating insight into how life changed as communications improved and education advanced.

Once hooked, you will want to read to the end!