Dylan Thomas Boathouse facts for kids
The Boathouse, Laugharne
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic house museum |
| Owner | Carmarthenshire County Council |
The Boathouse is a special house in Laugharne, Wales. It was the home of the famous writer Dylan Thomas and his family from 1949 to 1953. The house sits on a cliff with amazing views of the Tâf estuary. Dylan Thomas wrote many important works here. Some people thought he wrote all of Under Milk Wood at the Boathouse. However, new studies show that only a small part of that play was written there.
Contents
The Boathouse: A Writer's Home
The Boathouse itself was first recorded in 1834. It was rented out by the local government. The road where it stands was once called Cliff Road. Now, it is known as Dylan's Walk.
Dylan Thomas first visited Laugharne in 1934 with his friend, the poet Glyn Jones. He really liked the village. Four years later, he moved there with his wife, Caitlin. A friend, Margaret Taylor, later bought the Boathouse for them. Dylan and Caitlin raised their three children there: Aeronwy, Llewellyn, and Colm. Dylan also rented "Pelican House" in Laugharne for his parents. They lived there from 1949 until his father passed away in 1953. After Dylan's own death in 1953, Caitlin Thomas decided to leave Laugharne. The memories there were too sad for her.
Dylan Thomas's Writing Shed
Dylan Thomas used a small shed as his quiet place to write. This shed was a little further along Cliff Road from the Boathouse. He did most of his writing there. His poem, "Over Sir John's Hill," celebrates the beautiful view from the shed. From there, he could see Sir John's Hill across the bay.
The idea of Dylan Thomas's writing shed even inspired another famous writer, Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl created his own writing hut at his home, Gipsy House, in Buckinghamshire.
The Boathouse Today: A Museum
Today, the Carmarthenshire County Council owns the Boathouse. It is now a museum that is open to the public for most of the year. Inside, you can see items that belonged to Dylan Thomas. Some of the original furniture is still there, including his father's desk. About 15,000 people visit the house each year.
The inside of the Boathouse looks just like it did in the 1950s. You can even hear a recording of Dylan Thomas's voice playing in the background. Near the main house is the clifftop "writing shed." This is where Thomas spent a lot of his time. The shed's inside has been set up to look like he was just working there. There's a writing table covered with papers, as if he was still writing a book.
Special Items on Display
The museum has many interesting exhibits. These include a statue of Dylan Thomas that once belonged to actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. There is also a letter from former US President Jimmy Carter. A photograph of Thomas from 1936 is also on display. This photo is special because it traveled into space on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1998.
