Turn left towards the railway bridge onto Nightingale Lane. Cross the end of Bolkingbroke Grove and, two roads up on the left, is Rusham Rd. Walk up and on the right-hand side and at the corner with Sudbrooke Rd is 13 (now 12) Rusham Rd or Rusham gate.
Three steps lead up to a fine garden embracing three sides of this impressive house and to the front door in the gable end. Thomas's parents moved here in 1902, after Edward, with Helen, had left home, and it was a source of pride to his father as an outward sign of his self-betterment and improving status. Edward Thomas, when staying here from Steep, was visited by family and friends, Robert Frost amongst them. He enjoined friends to write to him at this address and he put it at the head of many of his own letters.
From this house he set off for his Quantock-bound cycle ride. While billeted here in 1915, some of his early poems were written. His War Diary poignantly records on 11 January 1917, Said goodbye to Helen, Mervyn and Baba. Bronwen to Rusham Road . . . . Supper at Rusham Road with all my brothers."
After this his father, who had a problematic relationship with his eldest son, accompanied him to the station for his last journey which took him back to the army and to France, saying, "I wish you had more belief in your cause to support you."
And when Edward died, and perhaps writing with pride in his sadness at his son's death, from here he wrote to The Times to reveal, against Edward's wishes, that the poet Edward Eastaway was indeed Edward Thomas. Helen stayed here for a time after Edward's death and it was here that Philip Henry Thomas died in 1920.
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