Touring Thomas Hardy's Dorset
Here is the shorter of our two suggested circular tours of Thomas
Hardy's Dorset. You may want to open the map of
Thomas Hardy's Dorset in a separate browser window to help you
follow along the suggested itineraries. The names in parentheses
are the fictional names given these places in Hardy's novels.
The Inner Tour should make for a nice day's drive - or an afternoon
if you really hurry. The Outer
Tour deserves more of your time - perhaps two or three days.
Of course, these tours can easily be combined to suit your preferences
and interests.
Inner Tour
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Dorchester Museum |
Dorchester (Casterbridge)
At the edge of Dorchester is Max Gate, designed by Hardy in 1885, and his home
for the rest of his life. Max Gate is now in the care of the National Trust.
The Dorset County Museum has a fine collection of Hardy memorabilia,
and numerous buildings in the town feature in Hardy novels.
Stinsford (Mellstock)
Thomas Hardy was christened at the church here, and his first wife Emma is buried
in the churchyard. Hardy himself wanted to be buried with her, but only his
heart is interred in Emma's grave.
Higher Bockhampton (Upper
Mellstock)
The lovely thatched Hardy's Cottage is the author's birthplace - now run by the
National Trust.
West Stafford
The church in West Stafford is the likely marriage place of Tess and Angel Clare
in Tess of the d'Urberville's.
Woodsford
Hardy's father was engaged to repair the thatched Woodsford Castle in 1856. Hardy
helped prepare the plans for the remodelling, and on the basis of this work
he was offered an apprenticeship to the architect John Hicks, owner of Woodsford
Castle.
Moreton
In the cemetary here is the grave of Hardy's friend TE Lawrence; Lawrence of
Arabia.
Bere Regis (Kingsbere)
The town features in Tess and Far From the Madding Crowd. Tess
set up her family's bed under the Turberville window in the south wall of the
church, and inside the church are the tombs of the Turbervilles.
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Athelhampton |
Athelhampton (Athelhull)
Hardy's father worked on the restoration of the superb medieval hall at Athelhampton,
and Hardy himself painted a watercolour of the house.
Puddletown (Weatherbury)
Hardy's grandfather and great-grandfather were Puddletown natives, and the church
gallery was celebrated by Hardy in Under the Greenwood Tree. In Far
From the Madding Crowd, Troy spent the night in the church porch.
Cerne Abbas (Abbot's Cernel)
The village, more famous for the ancient figure of a giant carved into the hillside,
featured in The Woodlanders and Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The tithe
barn in Cerne Abbas may also be the model for the great barn in Far From
the Madding Crowd.
For a longer tour of Thomas Hardy Country, click
here.
Thomas Hardy Biography
Related articles:
A Three Day Slice of English
Country Life
Chedington village
Lyme Regis
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