19. Larkin's Cottingham
When Larkin arrived to take up his new post in 1955, he moved into one of the University's halls of residence, Holtby House. Taking an instant dislike to it, he moved on to lodgings at 11 Outlands Road, where he stayed for just three months, (although he managed to complete 'Mr Bleaney here).

Two more brief lodgings followed - at numbers 192a and 200 Hallgate – until he eventually left Cottingham to settle into the attic flat in Pearson Park.

He returned to the village regularly, often enjoying lunch at the West Bulls on Hull Road, or in the Duke of Cumberland in the village centre. In later life he found the Memorial Club off South Street particularly congenial.

The King George V Playing Fields on Northgate were Larkin's inspiration for his moving poem, 'Afternoons'. Philip Larkin's funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Hallgate, and he is buried in the Municipal Cemetery on Eppleworth Road. Close by are the graves of Monica Jones and Maeve Brennan. His white headstone simply says: 'Philip Larkin 1922 -1985, Writer.'

Postcode: HU16 5QG

Geocodes:

GPS (WGS84) Co-ordinates
Latitude: 53° 46.8860
Longitude: 0° 24.8359

OS Co-ordinates
Easting: 504607
Northing: 432843
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