Dorset: Thomas Hardy’s Home County

Dorset is a county in the southwestern part of England, UK. It is bordered by the English Channel to the south, Hampshire to the east, Devon to the west, and Somerset and Wiltshire to the north. Dorchester, located on the banks of the River Frome, is the county town of Dorset. Its history dates back to prehistoric times and it was founded by the Romans. Maiden Castle, situated about 2 miles from Dorchester, is one of the largest and best-preserved Iron Age hill forts in the UK. Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, is the largest town in the county. It is home to Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth University, and Arts University Bournemouth.

The Jurassic Coast: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Dorset is famous for the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Located on the English Channel, it reveals 185 million years of geological history through rock formations from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

Thomas Hardy and Dorset

Novelist Thomas Hardy was born in Stinsford, Dorset, and died in Dorchester. A statue of Hardy, designed by Eric Kennington, stands in Dorchester on the Grove (latitude 50.7151057, longitude -2.4416653). It is a Grade II listed monument, unveiled on 2 September 1931.

Museums and Cultural Attractions in Dorset

Dorset offers numerous museums, theaters, parks, historical landmarks, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, religious sites, and listed buildings.

• Dorset Museum & Art Gallery: Located on High West Street, Dorchester (50.7154604, -2.4374988), the museum was founded in 1846. It features a large collection, including local fossils and Thomas Hardy manuscripts.
• Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts: Located at 21 Kingland Road, Poole (50.718609, -1.9775999), founded in 1978, the center includes a theatre, studio, cinema, gallery, restaurant, and concert hall, which hosts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
• Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre: Situated at Westover Road, Bournemouth (50.7178714, -1.8749409), this Grade II listed venue opened in 1929 and hosts comedians, concerts, and various events.
• Bournemouth Beach: Located at 50.7159718, -1.875884, the beach is a popular tourist destination. Attractions include an observation wheel, the UK’s first public beach hut, a pier, an adventure sports center, cafes, restaurants, and gift shops.
• The Tank Museum: Founded in 1947 in Bovington (50.6949944, -2.2431977), it features a large collection of tanks, including the Mark I, the world’s first tank to see combat, as well as the oldest surviving tank.
• Dorset Teddy Bear Museum: Located at Salisbury Street, Dorchester (50.7155468, -2.4328751), it opened in 1990 and is the UK’s oldest teddy bear museum, ideal for families with children.
• The Keep Military Museum: Housed in a castle on Bridport Road, Dorchester (50.7147154, -2.4437078), a Grade II listed building, the museum features old prison cells, weapons, and military uniforms.
• St Peter’s Church, Dorchester: Located near the Dorset Museum, this 15th-century Anglican church is a Grade I listed building.