Going The Rounds 2025 - Parish Performance

PLEASE NOTE: This event will start from outside the National Trust Visitor Centre at Thorncombe Woods - DT2 8QH NOT at Stinsford Church.

THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT

The 2025 Going The Rounds will consist of two performances on two consecutive weekday evenings - Thursday, 11th December and Friday, 12th December.

Thursday's performance will take place solely in St Michael's Church for those who do not wish to walk.
Friday's performance will include a walk around the Parish.

Both events will contain the full content of the performance.

"One Christmas--years agone now, years--I went the rounds wi' the Weatherbury quire. 'Twas a hard frosty night, and the keys of all the clar'nets froze"

Join the Thomas Hardy Society with Alastair Braidwood leading Musicians, Singers and Players to recreate The Mellstock Quire Going the Rounds as portrayed in Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy.

We will park at Thorncombe Woods and meet at the Visitor Centre, the walk together to Hardy’s Cottage. On our return to the Visitor Centre, we will pick up cars and drive to Kingston Maurward to park for a walk to Lower Bockhampton and then on to end at Stinsford Church. There will be stops at The Old Manor, the Old School House and Bridge Cottage along the way, in the footsteps of the Deweys and the folk of Mellstock!

Meet outside the Under the Greenwood Tree Cafe and Visitor Centre.
'Going the Rounds' involves approximately two hours of walking/standing and some paths can be uneven in places. Please ensure that you wear appropriate flat comfortable footwear and wrap up warm to coincide with the weather conditions of the evening and carry a torch.

“Now mind, neighbours,” he said, as they all went out one by one at the door, he himself holding it ajar and regarding them with a critical face as they passed, like a shepherd counting out his sheep. “You two counter-boys, keep your ears open to Michael’s fingering, and don’t ye go straying into the treble part along o’ Dick and his set, as ye did last year; and mind this especially when we be in ‘Arise, and hail.’ Billy Chimlen, don’t you sing quite so raving mad as you fain would; and, all o’ ye, whatever ye do, keep from making a great scuffle on the ground when we go in at people’s gates; but go quietly, so as to strike up all of a sudden, like spirits.”

*Ticket price to include Mulled Wine & Mince Pie.

Please note: Wrap up warm, wear stout footwear and carry a torch as paths are uneven in places.