Walks & Tours - Hardy Festival 2024

The Thomas Hardy Society once again invites you to visit the home town of our beloved author to celebrate his life and work through lectures, walks, entertainment and spending time with your fellow Hardyans. We are looking forward to welcoming our international friends who have been unable to travel to England during the years of the pandemic.

Upcoming Events

Sat, 07 Dec
Thomas Hardy London Lecture 2024
London
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07 Dec 2024, 15:00
London, University College London Gower St London WC1E 6BT United Kingdom
London Lecture: ‘Friends Beyond : Barnes, Moule, Hardy and Fordington Vicarage’
Sat, 21 Dec
Visit Athelhampton at Christmas
Puddletown
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21 Dec 2024, 12:00 – 16:00
Puddletown, Athelhampton Rd, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
Come and have a guided tour of all of the Hardy connections with this Tudor building. There will be a tour and walk followed by an afternoon tea. Meet at Athelhampton at 12 noon on Saturday 21 December. (Limited to 15)
Sat, 11 Jan
Remembrance Service - Thomas Hardy's Passing
London
RSVP
11 Jan 2025, 12:00 – 14:00
London, Deans Yard, 20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA, UK
To mark the passing of Hardy’s death we will congregate at Westminster Abbey at 1 pm on Saturday 11 January 2025 for the service.
Sat, 22 Feb
Hardy and Architecture Study Day
Dorchester
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22 Feb 2025, 11:00 – 23 Feb 2025, 08:00
Dorchester, 30 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HF, UK
Hardy had come to believe that architecture should be celebrated precisely for the inconsistencies and imperfections
Sat, 05 Apr
Jude the Obscure Study Day
Dorchester
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05 Apr 2025, 11:00 – 20:30
Dorchester, 30 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HF, UK
Jude the Obscure is a novel by Thomas Hardy, which began as a magazine serial in December 1894 and was first published in book form in 1895
Sat, 31 May
Thomas Hardy Birthday Weekend
Dorchester
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31 May 2025, 12:00 – 01 Jun 2025, 11:00
Dorchester, 1-7, Cornhill, Dorchester DT1 1BA, UK
The Saturday will start at 12 Midday, meet at Town Pump in Dorchester, with a walk by Mark Damon Chutter.
Sat, 05 Jul
Walk Around Upwey and AGM
Weymouth
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05 Jul 2025, 11:00 – 16:00
Weymouth, 436 Dorchester Rd, Weymouth DT3 5AN, UK
Step back in time and explore the picturesque village that inspired one of England's greatest novelists.
Sun, 17 Nov
Visit Lulworth Castle and St Andrew’s Church Postponed
East Lulworth
Details
17 Nov 2024, 14:00 – 16:00
East Lulworth, East Lulworth, Wareham BH20 5QS, UK
Postponed - visit to Lulworth Castle has been postponed due to low numbers
Sat, 16 Nov
'Book Launch‘ Thomas Hardy and the Death of Emma
Dorchester
Details
16 Nov 2024, 18:00 – 22:00
Dorchester, 45, 47 South St, Dorchester DT1 1DQ, UK
‘Thomas Hardy and the death of Emma - What the writings reveal‘ by Andrew Norman - Free
Sat, 26 Oct
William Barnes and Thomas Hardy: Study Day
Dorford Centre (Coffee Lounge)
Details
26 Oct 2024, 10:30 – 19:00
Dorford Centre (Coffee Lounge), 2 Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1RR, UK
The Barnes Society and the `Thomas Hardy Society are pleased to present a joint study day on Saturday 26th October at the Dorford Centre (Coffee Lounge), Dorchester.
Sat, 28 Sept
Visit to Stourhead House
Stourton
Details
28 Sept 2024, 12:00
Stourton, Stourhead House The National Trust, High St, Stourton, Warminster BA12 6QE, UK
Proposed Visit to Stourhead House and Gardens. Are you interested in a trip to Stourhead?
Fri, 02 Aug
Friday 2nd August Wareham (Anglebury)
Dorchester South Station
Details
02 Aug 2024, 13:30 – 17:30
Dorchester South Station, Dorchester DT1 1QX
Wareham (Anglebury) (Desperate Remedies & The Hand of Ethelberta) – Lucy Boyle Brown. Depart from Dorchester South by 13.33 train.
Fri, 02 Aug
Friday 2nd August Shaftesbury (Shaston)
Top o' Town Coach & Car Park
Details
02 Aug 2024, 13:30 – 17:30
Top o' Town Coach & Car Park, Poundbury Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT
Shaftesbury (Shaston) (Jude the Obscure) – Rod Drew. Coach departs Top O’ Town Car Park at 13.30.
Thu, 01 Aug
Thursday 1st August East of Egdon
Top O’ Town Car Park
Details
01 Aug 2024, 13:30 – 17:30
Top O’ Town Car Park, Poundbury Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT
East of Egdon (The Return of the Native): visiting Alderworth and Throop with a musical accompaniment provided by Ruth & Colin Thompson (plus dancing) – Tony Fincham
Wed, 31 Jul
Wednesday 31st July Bincombe & Chalbury Hillfort
Brewery Square
Details
31 Jul 2024, 13:30 – 17:00
Brewery Square, 3 Copper St, Dorchester DT1, UK
Bincombe & Chalbury Hillfort (‘The Melancholy Hussar’) – Byron Silver.
Tue, 30 Jul
Tuesday 30th July Weymouth & Nothe Fort
Dorchester South train station
Details
30 Jul 2024, 13:30 – 17:00
Dorchester South train station, Dorchester DT1 1QX
Weymouth & Nothe Fort – Byron Silver & Kate Hebditch.
Mon, 29 Jul
Monday 29th July Outer Casterbridge / Ancient Earthworks
Top O’ Town Car Park
Details
29 Jul 2024, 13:30 – 17:00
Top O’ Town Car Park, Poundbury Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT
Outer Casterbridge / Ancient Earthworks – Poundbury Camp, Maiden Castle, Max Gate & Maumbury Rings - Tony Fincham
Sun, 28 Jul
Sunday 28th July Hardy’s Dorchester and Fordington
The Town Pump
Details
28 Jul 2024, 13:30 – 17:00
The Town Pump, 1-7, Cornhill, Dorchester DT1 1BA
Hardy’s Dorchester and Fordington – a walk in Thomas Hardy’s Footsteps – Mark Chutter.

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Walks & Tours - Hardy Festival 2024

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