"When I think of that concentrated muttering and mumbling and intoning, the realms of discarded lists of rhyming words, the innumerable repetitions and revisions and how at the end of an intensive five-hour stretch prompt as clockwork, Dylan would come out very pleased with himself saying, he had done a good day's work, and present me proudly with one or two or three perhaps fiercely belaboured lines." -- Caitlin Thomas on her husband Dylan's antics in his writing shed
In May 1949, the Welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas moved to a scenic boathouse overlooking the Taf Estuary in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales. As with many other writers, he spent less and less time in his home, choosing instead to while away the hours in a wooden hut.
His hut was a previous owner's garage and bicycle shed, up a path above the main house. He painted it blue, and it became a refuge for the last four years of his life. At midday every day, Thomas would take a trip to the local pub to catch up on gossip, then from two til seven he would retire to the shed to write, think or sleep off the beer.
He made himself very at home, littering the walls with photographs and paintings of other writers, monkeys and naked women. And words, lots of them, whether magazine cuttings or lists of alliterations and rhymes. And more words - the table was usually littered with countless drafts of poems as well as many, many letters. Some of his most famous works were written here, overlooking the estuary - including Under Milk Wood and the famous poem "Do not go gentle into that good night", which he wrote for his dying father.
Photos: courtesy Carmarthenshire County Council-Cyngor SirGar
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