Elizabeth Goudge

The best way of finding out about the places which inspired Elizabeth Goudge is to find a copy of Sylvia Gower’s excellent book “The World of Elizabeth Goudge”. Sadly however, the book is currently out of print. So unless you are lucky enough to find a second hand copy; I hope that these site links will give you information and the ambiance of the different parts of Britain where Elizabeth lived and worked.

This site is all about the cathedral at Wells that features so prominently in her stories based in that tiny, enchanting city and the surrounding countryside.

This site is run by a local photographer, whose lovely pictures show aspects of the city of Wells and the surrounding countryside.

This site contains stunning photographs and information on the Island of Guernsey, the Channel Island home of Elizabeth’s Mother’s family. She visited the island may times in childhood to stay with her grandparents and aunts. Her first novel Island Magic is in essence, the tales and fairy stories that Elizabeth’s mother told her as a child. Other stories set here include; Green Dolphin Country and Make-Believe.

Tells us about the site of the middle years of the writers life, when she would have to oscillate between her Father in Oxford, and her Mother in Hampshire.

A wealth of information on the university and town where Canon Goudge was the Regius Professor of Divinity.

A short concise history of the small Devonshire village, where Elizabeth and her mother lived in Providence Cottage .It is packed with local views and information. Many of Elizabeth’s best loved novels were either written or set in and about the valley of Westerland in Devon.

This is a site dedicated to the Common lands which make up a large part of the Chilterns. Elizabeth Goudge and Jessie Munroe lived in Rose Cottage Peppard Common from 1952 until Elizabeth’s death in 1984.

This site contains a wealth of photos and information on the area of her last home at Rose Cottage. It also includes an article about The Last Chiltern Chair Bodger!

This is the setting for Elizabeth's last novel about the tragic Lucy Walters the secret first wife of Charles II and the mother of his son the Duke of Monmouth. It is also where Jessie Munroe's family lived and she took Elizabeth on holiday to this lovely part of Wales, between the mountains and the sea.

A guide to the village church where Elizabeth Goudge worshipped for thirty years and where her Memorial Service was held in April 1984.

Elizabeth Goudge’s Moonarce Manor. The National Trust page showing opening times and giving general information about the building.