D. H. Lawrence in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire

The D. H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

' BIRTHPLACE OF
D. H. LAWRENCE

BORN SEPT. 11TH. 1885

DIED MARCH 2ND. 1930'

This is at 8a Victoria Street, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, opposite The White Peacock café, of course named after Lawrence's first novel, published in 1911.

The pantry or larder is the first room on the visit.

The parlour, or front room, would be used infrequently, but especially for guests and special occasions.

On the wall is a photo of Lawrence's mother Lydia.

Lydia used to add a little to the family's income by selling from the window lace products she made.

Two views of the kitchen.

At the rear, an exterior view of the washroom.

The washroom itself.

The front bedroom on the floor above.

The back bedroom.

The attic room.

A note on this exhibit states that the Victorian mahogany pedestal desk was used by D. H. Lawrence during his short employment as a clerk at J. H. Haywood, surgical appliance manufacturer on Castle Gate, Nottingham, in about 1901.
 

An advert for J. H. Haywood's products from The Chemists' and Druggists' Diary, 1904.

Exhibited in the Lawrence Birthplace Museum are several paintings by the writer, of which I give two examples made while he was teaching at the Davidson Road School in Croydon in 1912, staying with the Jones family: 'Landscape with Haymaking', and...

'Landscape with windmill'.

This trunk was used by Lawrence and Frieda on their numerous travels. 'D. H. L.' is inscribed on the side. Lawrence's sister Ada Clarke gave it to a local scout group in 1948, and they passed it on to the museum. The museum describes it as 'visual evidence of Lawrence's "absolute necessity to move"'.

The tombstone or headstone, a representation of Lawrence's phoenix, from his grave in Vence, France.

The head of the phoenix in more detail.

'Whoever reads me will be in the thick of the scrimmage, and if he doesn't like it – if he wants a safe seat in hte audience – let him read somebody else.' This quotation appealed to me.

Beyond the museum, the former Beauvale Board School on the corner of Mill Road and Dovecote Road.

'D. H. Lawrence was a pupil here 1893-1898'.

The Lawrence family grave is clearly marked in the cemetery off Church Street, Eastwood.

Lawrence's mother Lydia, father Arthur, and brother William are buried there.

'HERE RESTS

"UNTIL HE COME"

OUR DEAREST SON

WILLIAM ERNEST LAWRENCE

BORN JULY 22ND. 1878,

DIED OCTOBER 11TH. 1901.

HE ASKED LIFE OF THEE AND THOU GAVE IT HIM

EVEN LENGTH OF DAYS, FOR EVER AND EVER.'

'ALSO LYDIA, WIFE OF

ARTHUR LAWRENCE

BORN JULY 19TH. 1852,

DIED DEC. 9TH. 1910.

"IT IS FINISHED."

ALSO ARTHUR,

HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE

WHO DIED SEP 10TH. 1924,

AGED 77 YEARS.

REST AFTER WEARINESS.'

And although Lawrence of course isn't buried here:

'ALSO DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE,

BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE,

NOVELIST, POET & PAINTER,

BORN SEP. 11TH. 1885,

DIED AT VENCE, MAR. 2ND. 1930.
UNCONQUERED.'

ADDENDUM: I've now made a long post on the D. H. Lawrence Heritage Trail here.