Dorchester
Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. To anyone who has read and enjoyed the novels of Thomas Hardy it is synonymous with the Wessex novels. Hardy was born in the nearby village of Higher Brockhampton. He went to school in the town and was later employed by a firm of architects there. Hardy spent much of his life in the town and there is a statue of him at the top of the town.
With it’s elegant 18th century houses, broad Walks and bustling shopping streets, Dorchester has many modern attractions, among which are the Borough Gardens which offer tennis, bowling and a children’s playground. There is a market each Wednesday and lots of shops to attract the visitor. There are a number of museums and galleries within the town, including a Dinosaur Museum and a Military Museum. The town has plenty of restaurants and shops plus several entertainment venues. Not far away is Cerne Abbas, a small village with a ruined abbey more famous for its huge chalk giant carved into the hillside. Hardy’s cottage in Higher Brockhampton is owned by the National Trust and open by appointment. His home in the town, Max Gate, which Hardy designed himself, is also owned by the Trust and open to the public.
