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| Richard Jefferies, 16 June 1879 |
The Richard Jefferies Society was
established in 1950 and has members in all parts of the world. It is a
registered charity (no. 1042838) managed by an Executive Council of
volunteers.
The Objects of the Society are:
o To promote
interest in, and respect for the life and works of Richard Jefferies.
o To hold
meetings of its members and others, at which lectures may be given bearing on
the life, work and times of Richard Jefferies.
o To maintain
a collection of and help make available to members copies of the works of
Richard Jefferies and associated literature.
o To monitor
and protect as far as possible the buildings and countryside associated with
Richard Jefferies.
o To provide members
with news and information about Richard Jefferies by means of a newsletter and
journal.
Newsletters,
with information about the writer, events, publications and
services are circulated to members twice a year along with an annual
report. In addition they receive a copy of the Society's Journal containing
hitherto unpublished writing by Jefferies, new articles, research and book
reviews. The Society has a special concern for such places as the writer's
birthplace at Coate, Coate Water, Liddington Hill, and
the memorial stone on Burderop Down, all in Wiltshire. Other places of
pilgrimage are at Surbiton,
Sydenham and Eltham near
London, and at Brighton, Crowborough and at his final home at Goring by
Sea, Sussex where he died at the age of
38. Richard Jefferies' grave is in
Broadwater cemetery at Worthing.
A Bursary is
available for projects that promote a new understanding of the writings of
Jefferies.
The Society awards a yearly literary prize for excellence in nature writing in association with the White
Horse Bookshop in Marlborough.
The Society holds extensive archives at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre,
Chippenham. Download a draft catalogue of our archives held there.
The Society has issued a PrivacyStatement with regard to the use of 'cookies' on this website.
For further information contact
the Richard Jefferies Society
by email: richardjefferiessociety@btinternet.com
or write to: c/o The Old Mill, Mill Drive, Foulsham, Norfolk NR20 5RB.
or write to: c/o The Old Mill, Mill Drive, Foulsham, Norfolk NR20 5RB.
LIDDINGTON HILL -- a favourite haunt of Richard Jefferies
“There is a hill to which I
used to resort ...
The labour of walking three
miles to it, all the while gradually ascending,
seemed to clear my blood of the
heaviness accumulated at home.
On a warm summer day the slow
continued rise required continual effort,
which carried away the sense of
oppression.
The familiar everyday scene was
soon out of sight; I came to other trees,
meadows, and fields; I began to
breathe a new air and to have a fresher aspiration...
Moving up the sweet short turf,
at every step my heart seemed to obtain a wider
horizon of feeling; with every inhalation of rich pure air, a deeper desire.
The very light of the sun was whiter and more brilliant here.
By the time I had reached the summit I had entirely forgotten the petty circumstances
and the annoyances of existence. I felt myself, myself.”
The Story of My Heart, by Richard Jefferies, 1883.
horizon of feeling; with every inhalation of rich pure air, a deeper desire.
The very light of the sun was whiter and more brilliant here.
By the time I had reached the summit I had entirely forgotten the petty circumstances
and the annoyances of existence. I felt myself, myself.”
The Story of My Heart, by Richard Jefferies, 1883.
