L. P. Hartley was one of the most significant English novelists of the 20th century, best known for his subtle explorations of memory, childhood and moral awakening.
Born in 1895 in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, Leslie Poles Hartley spent much of his early life in Peterborough, growing up at Fletton Towers. These formative years, shaped by landscape, class and social change, left a deep imprint on his writing and sense of place. Hartley was educated at Harrow School and later at Balliol College, Oxford, where his literary ambitions took root.
He achieved international recognition with The Go-Between (1953), famous for its opening line, “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” The novel, later adapted into an acclaimed film, exemplifies Hartley’s enduring themes: innocence and experience, secrecy, and the emotional complexities of growing up. His wider body of work includes the celebrated Eustace and Hilda trilogy, numerous novels, short stories and essays, all marked by psychological insight and elegant prose.
Although much of his adult life was spent in London and abroad, Hartley’s connection to Peterborough remained central to his identity. Today, he is remembered not only as a major literary figure, but as a writer whose early life in the city helped shape a voice that continues to resonate with readers around the world.d Scarlett, whose real name was Robert Scarlett, was born around 1496 and served as sexton and gravedigger at Peterborough Cathedral for decades. Living to the remarkable age of 98, he is said to have buried two queens – Katherine of Aragon in 1536 and Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587 – along with thousands of other townsfolk during his long service. His duties would have placed him at the heart of many key events in the Cathedral’s history, from the dissolution of the abbey to the turbulence of the Tudor court.
Scarlett’s portrait still hangs above the Cathedral’s west door, painted after his death in 1594. It shows him as a robust, bearded figure with spade and pickaxe in hand, accompanied by a rhyming verse honouring his extraordinary age and dedication. Over the centuries, Old Scarlett has become part of Peterborough’s folklore – remembered not just for his longevity, but as a humble witness to some of the most momentous moments in the city’s past.