Flora Thompson – her life and Times

1876    December 5th: Flora Jane Timms born in Juniper Hill, Oxfordshire.

            Juniper Hill, a small agricultural hamlet was to become the fictionalised setting for Lark Rise.

1879    Flora’s brother Edwin Timms born in Juniper Hill.

1880    Flora begins school at Cottisford, Oxfordshire, the village that becomes Fordlow or ‘the mother village’ in her books.

            After decades of struggle, William Gladstone defeats Disreali at the polls to form a Liberal Government.

1891    The 14 year-old Flora begins work at Fringford post-office, a few miles from her childhood home. The picturesque village with its large triangular green set around a pond, was to become the fictionalised Candleford Green.

            One of the greatest agricultural depressions begins, brought on by falling revenues and rising production costs, and aggravated by cheaper imports. It was to last until 1899, and its effects indefinitely.

1897    Flora leaves Fringford to take up temporary work elsewhere.

1899    The Boer War begins and Edwin enlists.

1901    Queen Victoria dies

1903    Flora marries John Thompson, a local Post Office clerk at St Mary’s, Twickenham. They make a new home near Bournemouth.

1907    Edwin returns from service in India to work on local farm in Oxfordshire

1913    Flora’s literary career begins to take off, with a piece called ‘The Leper’ sold to The Literary Monthly.

1916    Edwin killed in action in Belgium during the First World War

1921    Flora has her first book of poems published – Bog-myrtle and Peat

 1937   Two pieces that are to become the germination of Lark Rise are published:

‘Old Queenie’ published in ‘The Lady’ and ‘An Oxfordshire Hamlet in the Eighties’ published in ‘The National Review’

1939    ‘Lark Rise’ published

Flora starts writing ‘Over to Candleford’

1941    Flora’s son, Peter, lost at sea when his merchant ship is torpedoed. 

1943    ‘Candleford Green’ published

1945    ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’ appears as a trilogy for the first time.

1947    Flora Thomson dies, aged 70.