Lawrence of Arabia

We visited Clouds Hill near Bovington Camp while we were staying nearby in Corfe Castle and I think it made the biggest impression on me of anywhere we went to see. A small neat cottage tucked away in the woods the humble home of TE Lawrence really moved me almost to tears. He had just 4 rooms inside, a 'book' room with a central leather bed - not for sleeping - but for laying on whilst reading, the walls were clad in book cases filled to bursting with his books and then mounted on the outer edges were his photographs, many of his time in Mesopotamia and including King Faisal. A 'bath' room - in the literal sense - no toilet in here - just a big bath - which he proclaimed his one luxury (to be able to take a bath) although the plumbing system only allowed something like a pint of water in five minute. A 'bunk' room for guests to stay over at Clouds Hill (Lawrence himself slept in the nearby barracks at Bovington camp) which is 'wallpapered' with foil in order to keep it cool, he kept small snacks under cloches for his guests, some cheese and a little butter. A 'music' room with a wind up gramophone, velvet sofa and a beautiful fireplace. This was where he entertained his guests and where in the evenings they could sit and discuss their writing (one of whom was E.M.Forster). I'm fascinated by Lawrence and his complex personality and I found this visit made me want to learn and read even more about him. Part of my interest in him is of his great love of motorcycles, the Brough superior was his machine of choice and he sadly died on an SS 100 not far from the house - the last of my photographs shows the memorial that has been erected at the site of the crash. I found it terribly sad and terribly tragic that this man who had done so much and travelled so extensively died on a clear day, on an open road so close to home just after he had retired from service and was beginning to enjoy his peace at the incredibly peaceful Clouds Hill.