Dorset Attractions
Dorset is one of the most beautiful counties in England and has been the inspiration for generations of writers, poets and artists with its rolling hills and spectacular Jurassic coastline.
Dorset
Dorset is one of the most beautiful counties in England and has been the inspiration for generations of writers, poets and artists with its rolling hills and spectacular Jurassic coastline.
Some of the great local attractions are St Catherine’s Chapel Abbotsbury, West Bay Bridport, Sandsfoot Bay Weymouth looking towards Portland, Weymouth beach and harbour and Portland’s Victorian coastal quarries.
All are within a 40 minute drive from Dorchester and this is just a selection of popular locations on the coast! Add to that inland attractions such as the Cerne Abbas Giant and Maiden Castle just outside Dorchester and there are plenty of places for walks and days out.
Don’t forget Dorchester itself, famous for its Wednesday market and long history. Dorchester is one of the few towns to still have its own Town Crier – hear him by the Town Pump (Corn Exchange end of South Street) most mornings. Visit Thomas St. CatherinesHardy’s birthplace and town house both just outside Dorchester and see a recreation of his study in the town museum. Visit locations mentioned in TH novels including The Mayor of Caster bridge’s house (Barclay’s Bank!) and Maumbury Rings.
You can also see the courtroom where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried, the infamous Judge Jeffreys quarters and The Roman Town House as well as the Tutankhamun, Dinosaurs and Terracotta Warriors Museums and The Keep Military Museum all in the middle of town. For more information on any of these please phone Dorchester Tourist Information Centre on 01305 267992 or call in at Antelope Walk.
If you need a break from sightseeing, pop into our Walnut Grove Coffee Shop and Restaurant in Durngate Street (just off the Town Pump end of the pedestrianised part of South Street) where as a guest of Bay Tree House you will enjoy a 15% discount on all food and drinks.
Hardy's Birthplace
Hardy’s Birthplace a Hardy’s Birth Placend Max Gate – the perfect day out for lovers of literature Hardy Country in Dorset is home to Thomas Hardy’s Birthplace and his later home, Max Gate. Few authors have such strong associations with the natural and cultural heritage of their local area as Thomas Hardy. His semi-fictional Wessex – inspired by the landscape surrounding Dorchester – was the setting for many of his novels, short stories and poetry. You can visit the small cob and thatch cottage where Hardy was born and wrote his early novels. He later designed Max Gate, where he lived from 1885 until his death in 1928. For the first time these two houses, along with Clouds Hill – home to Lawrence of Arabia, a close friend of Hardy – are open to visitors five days a week, until October 30.
Dorset County Museum
Dorset County Museum is an independent museum owned and managed by the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society with financial support from Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council.
Open to anyone with an interest in Dorset’s past to join, the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society is an educational charity with over 1800 members. The history of the Society and its Museum can be traced back to theDorset County Museum mid 19th century, and its mission today is:
- The advancement of education for the general benefit of the public in the areas of archaeology, the natural sciences, natural history, literature, music, the fine and decorative arts, antiquities and local history relating to the County of Dorset.
- The acquisition, preservation, conservation, exhibition and development (as far as possible) of collections relating to archaeology, the natural sciences, natural history, literature, music, the fine and decorative arts, antiquities and local history relating to the County of Dorset.
To help us achieve this mission the Society has a number of special interest groups, ranging from field surveys of flora and invertebrates to local history and inter-disciplinary research into the Dorset county boundary, and works with a variety of affiliated societies in subjects of common interest.
By becoming a member of the Society, you can help ensure the Museum’s collections are accessible to everyone for generations to come. We also have a varied selection of fascinating volunteering opportunities which enable a wide range of people to become involved in the work of the Museum through research, collections care and conservation work or by helping in our shop and tea room. With so much going on, every member recieves a regular newsletter twice a year to keep them informed about activities in the Society and the Museum.
In addition, as an independent educational charity we rely on our members, visitors and local businesses to support our work financially. You too can help, through individual donations, through the sponsorship of our exhibitions and events, and by remembering the Museum when the time comes to decide upon making a legacy or bequest.
http://www.dorsetcountymuseum.org/
Tolpuddle Martyrs
In the 1830s life in villages like Tolpuddle was hard and getting worse. Farm workers could not bear yet more cuts to their pay. Some fought back by smashing the new threshing machines but this brought harsh punishments.
In 1834, farm workers in west Dorset formed a trade union. Unions were lawful and growing fast but six leaders of the union were arrested and sentenced to seven years’ transportation for taking an oath of secrecy. A massive protest swept across the country. Thousands of people marched through London and many more organised petitions and protest meetings to demand their freedom.