Ted Hughes Fact Cards - Teaching Ideas › sites › default › files › tedhughesfac… · Throughout his career, Hughes received many awards and prizes, including the OBE in 1977,

Ted Hughes was born on the 17th of August 1930 in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire, England.

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Hughes was married twice. His first wife was the American poet Sylvia Plath. The marriage ended in 1962 and Hughes married Carol Orchard in 1970.

Hughes' first book of poems, The Hawk in the Rain, was published in 1957. It won first prize in a poetry competition.


After his death, Hughes' ashes were scattered on Dartmoor, where he loved to walk. A granite memorial stone marks the spot.

There is a memorial stone to Hughes in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey. It is made from green slate and has lines from his poem ‘That Morning’ engraved on it.


Ted Hughes died on the 28th of October 1998 in hospital in London and was later cremated in Exeter, Devon. He was 68 years old.

In 1961 Hughes and Plath moved to Devon. Hughes made his home there for the rest of his life, and for a number of years worked on his wife's father's farm.


In 1984 Ted Hughes became the British Poet Laureate, a role which he held until his death.

As well as writing poetry and children's books, Hughes translated Roman poetry and classical plays.


Hughes first studied English and later Anthropology at Pembroke College, Cambridge University from 1951 to 1954.

Ted Hughes' father William fought at Ypres during the First World War. When Hughes was born he was working as a joiner.


Hughes had two siblings. His brother Gerald was 10 years older and sister Olwyn was two years older. Olwyn became his literary agent, helping him to publish his poems.

When Hughes was seven, his family moved to Mexborough, Yorkshire to run a newsagent's shop.


From his childhood Hughes was fascinated by animals and they are the subject of many of his poems.

Hughes' first published poem appeared in a school magazine in 1946. The publication also featured one of his short stories.


From 1949 to 1951, Hughes did National Service in the RAF as a wireless mechanic. He was not very busy at work so he spent most of his time reading Shakespeare.

After graduating from Cambridge, Hughes worked as a zoo attendant and a night watchman, among other jobs.


Hughes' most famous children's book The Iron Man was published in 1968. He wrote it for his own children, Frieda and Nicholas.

Throughout his career, Hughes received many awards and prizes, including the OBE in 1977, and the Order of Merit in 1998. The Poetry Society now runs an annual Ted Hughes award for new poetry.


The Ted Hughes Poetry Trail at Stover Country Park in Devon has sixteen wooden poetry posts, each displaying a poem by Hughes on the theme of animals and nature. It opened in 2006.


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Ted Hughes Fact Cards - Teaching Ideas › sites › default › files › tedhughesfac… · Throughout his career, Hughes received many awards and prizes, including the OBE in 1977,