A small table which Thomas Hardy had at Max Gate has returned home after more than 80 years away.

The table was sold in a house auction after Hardy and his second wife Florence died. Almost the entire contents of Hardy’s home were put to auction in the 1938 ‘Max Gate sale’ which means very little of Hardy’s own furnishings remain in the house.

Elizabeth Grant, The National Trust’s House Steward at Max Gate said: “We are very excited to add this new acquisition to our collection, particularly as so little of Hardy’s original furniture remains.”

Since the 1938 sale, the table has had an interesting ownership over the years. It was first bought by an Ernest Roscoe and on his death in 1966 was acquired by his friend Michael Ramsbotham.

Michael was a Bletchley code breaker during World War II and also a novelist, and so he was very interested in the literary connection of the table.

The table was looked after by Michael and his partner Barry Gray at their home in Sussex. Both Michael and Barry wanted the table to eventually return to Max Gate, and both put this request into their wills. Following their wishes the table was bequeathed to the National Trust in 2018 and returned to Max Gate in 2019.

On arrival at Max Gate, a handwritten note was discovered in one of the drawers which states: “Mrs Hardy, 1 Arundel Terrace, Upper Tooting, to pay 1/6. Wootton”. This would seem to suggest that Hardy and his wife had the table brought to Upper Tooting, where they lived before Max Gate was built. Although as the paper is not dated the National Trust team are unable to confirm anything for certain.

More information about Thomas Hardy and Max Gate, the house he built, can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/max-gate