Dorchester, Thomas Hardy and Casterbridge

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset, around 10 miles North of Weymouth. Thomas Hardy's 'Mayor of Casterbridge' was based in Casterbridge (Dorchester) and many buildings in the town survive from this era. Max Gate - the home designed by Thomas Hardy is here and it was here that he composed two of his most famous novels, The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Thomas Hardy lived at Max Gate until his death. Max Gate is now under the care of the National Trust and open to the public where you can enjoy the very same rooms that Thomas Hardy relaxed in and wrote his novels. The 15th century St Peters Church on High West Street also has a link to Thomas Hardy, although built centuries before Dorset's famous writer, Thomas Hardy worked on the restoration of the church during his days as an architectural student. His plans for the church are displayed in the church. Clearly by the time Thomas Hardy had Max Gate built, he was a successful writer and able to afford a grand house, however he was born in a much smaller but equally delightful cottage in Higher Bockhampton. The beautiful Chocolate box thatched 'Hardy's Cottage' with beautiful gardens can be found secluded in Higher Bockhampton and is also under the care of the National Trust.

Dorchester and the Romans

Dorchester is home to the only visible Roman house left in England. The Romans considered Dorchester to be a key strategic town and this is shown by the many Roman links in the town. The Roman house is open to the public and is a reminder of the Roman invasion and settlement at Dorchester. The Roman House at Dorchester can be found in Colliton Park and is a free attraction to visit. Maiden Castle is another reminder of Dorchester's Roman links. This hill fort dates back to Neolithic times, and its the largest Neolithic hill fort in Britain. Maiden Castle was used to defend Dorchester however, the Roman's took it over initially before later abandoning it when they built Durnover (Dorchester). Maiden Castle hill fort offers spectacular views across Dorchester and the surrounding countryside and is under the care of English Heritage. It is one of the free Dorchester attractions and is off Maiden Castle Road. Maumbury Rings in the centre of Dorchester was a neolithic fort before the Romans converted it into a Roman Amphitheatre. Although much smaller than its Neolithic neighbour Maiden Castle, Maumbury Rings has a rich history of its own, a fortress, an amphitheatre and later a place of execution. It was here that provided the execution site of the many men sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered by the infamous Judge Jeffreys at the bloody assizes following the failed Monmouth rebellion in the 17th century. 80 such rebels were sentenced to be executed here. Maumbury Rings was also the execution site of Mary Channing, convicted of murdering her husband, she was sentenced to death by strangulation before being burnt at the stake. The macabre execution was carried out at Maumbury rings shortly after the birth of her child when she was just 19, a plaque marks the spot of this macabre event.

The Monmouth Rebellion and Judge Jefferies Bloody Assizes in Dorchester

Judge Jeffreys infamous association with Dorchester comes from the series of trials that followed the Duke of Monmouth's failed attempt to prevent the accession of James II. Monmouth was defeated at the battle of Sedgemoor in Somerset in 1685, - the defeat ended the uprising known as the Monmouth rebellion. The trials that followed became known as the bloody assizes. Judge Jeffreys presided over the bloody assizes in Dorchester in 1685 where he sentenced some 80 men to brutal execution by being hanged, drawn and quartered at Maumbury rings in the centre of the town. Many more men were sentenced to almost certain death by transportation to the West Indies, here they would have been used for hard labour before succumbing to tropical diseases to which the transported prisoners would have had no immunity. Judge Jeffreys held bloody assizes throughout the West country, many of those tried were sentenced to death. Two buildings used during the trials still stand in Dorchester today, these are Judge Jeffreys lodgings on High West Street, Dorchester, now a restaurant and the Oak room where Judge Jeffreys held his bloody assizes, now a tea rooms on Antelope Walk Dorchester. There is a underground walkway between the lodgings and the Oak room which Judge Jeffreys would have used during the trials.

Museums in Dorchester

Thomas Hardy had a close affinity to Dorchester, his birthplace at Higher Bockhampton and his later home Max Gate are both National Trust properties. The Keep Military Museum is a mock Norman castle, originally the gateway into the Dorchester barracks, it's now the Keep Military museum which houses 300 years of Dorset and Devonshire regimental history including the Boer wars and World War I and II. The Dorset County Museum Dorchester contains displays and galleries detailing Dorset life through the ages including during Roman times, the Victorians, Thomas Hardy, the Jurassic coast and much more. The Dinosaur Museum Dorchester is dedicated entirely to Dinosaurs.

Dorchester Parks and the River Frome

The River Frome meanders through Dorchester and is a lovely place to take a walk. Much of the River Frome is un-navigable meaning that wildlife can live peacefully on the river with little Human interference. The Borough gardens can be found just a few minutes walk from the town and feature a children's play area, flower displays, a water fountain and the clock tower.