Dorchester

A historic market town in Dorset, England. It is located on the River Frome at the junction of the A35 and A37 roads, 20 miles west of Poole and 8 miles north of Weymouth. Dorchester has been the county town of Dorset since 1305.

The Old Shire Hall, along High West Street contains the Old Crown Court, the scene of a notorious Dorchester trial in 1834. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were six men who formed an association in an attempt to secure better wages for farm workers, a challenge to the vested interests of oppressive landowners. They were found guilty of conspiracy, and sentenced to seven years hard labour in Australia. Two years later, after prolonged public outcry and fierce parliamentary debate, they were pardoned. To commemorate the affair, which was regarded as a milestone in British Trade Union history, the courtroom has been turned into the Tolpuddle Memorial.

The celebrated literary author and poet Thomas Hardy spent many years of his life in Dorchester with his legacy still very much remaining in the area today. The Dorset County Museum has the largest Hardy collection in the world, much of which was bequeathed by his second wife Florence Hardy. The most fascinating material from this collection, including manuscripts, books, diaries, photographs, notebooks and paintings, is on display including the original writer's manuscript of The Mayor of Casterbridge, which the author presented to the museum in 1911. At the centre of the Gallery is the reconstruction of Hardy's study at Max Gate, his Dorchester home from 1885, with all his books and furniture, including his desk and pens. The Thomas Hardy Statue is situated on the corner of High West Street, Dorchester's commemoration to a local literary hero.

The Borough Gardens in Dorchester is a short walk from the town centre. It has two tennis courts, a bowling green, a large children's play area and a refreshment kiosk, the Oasis. There are many features including a bandstand and clock tower which are surrounded by magnificent flower beds. The bandstand is the focal point during the spring and summer months when a number of live bands play there. With a project part-funded by a £950,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Borough Gardens have recently been restored to a state close to their original design with new features for the recreational and cultural life of the town in the 21st century.

The town has two railway stations. Dorchester South railway station on the South Western Main Line to London, Bournemouth & Southampton, and Dorchester West railway station, serving Westbury, Bath and Bristol via the Heart of Wessex Line. 'Green' lobbyists have hailed the bypass built in 1988 as a triumph for the environment. It provides welcome relief to the huge burden of through traffic that choked Dorchester's narrow streets for many years. Meticulous attention has been paid to its route, design and construction to ensure that it impinges as little as possible on the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.