THS Conference: Monday 27th July 2026

Monday 27th July 2026
Starts 09:00 until 21:30
The Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RR

The 27th International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival

Monday, 27th July 2026

Scroll down to view and book events taking place on the 3rd day of the THS Conference

The Purbeck Way to Lulworth Cove

A Walk from Coombe Keynes to Lulworth

Walk guide, Lucy Boyle Brown

Date: Monday, 27th July 2026

Cost: £10 (not including bus/train fares)

Meet: Dorchester West Railway Station at 1.30pm OR

Coombe Keynes at 2.30pm (Times to be confirmed)

Priority booking for Full Conference Ticket Holders

This stretch of the Purbeck Way has beautiful views, historic buildings such as round towers and a majestic castle. The walk passes through fields of wildflowers, woodlands and farmland to finally reach the world famous Jurassic coastline and the picturesque Lulworth Cove with its Heritage Centre, open daily with free admission.

Thomas Hardy described the location in his writing as a "miniature Mediterranean" and in his 1874 novel "Far From the Madding Crowd", Lulworth Cove is renamed "Lulwind Cove". It is a key setting where the character Sergeant Troy swims out of the cove into the open sea, leading to his presumed drowning.

The walk will include Hardy readings along the way.

Participants could either park at Coombe Keynes or take the train from Dorchester to Wool with Lucy and a bus to Coombe Keynes.

The walk is 4 miles from Coombe Keynes to Lulworth Cove.

Participants could then take a bus back to either Wool or Coombe Keynes or walk back to Coombe Keynes with Lucy making 8 miles in total.

Refreshments and public toilets are available at Lulworth Cove.

Please wear sturdy footwear and waterproofs and/or sunhat depending on what the weather dictates!

BOOK ONLINE

Booking Open for Conference ticket holders

On sale to others from 2nd June 2026 (Subject to availability)

The Trumpet Major Tour

Visit scenes from Hardy's historical novel

Tour guide, Alban O'Brien

Date: Monday, 27th July 2026

Time: The coach leaves Top o' Town car park at 1.30pm, returning around 5.30pm.

Cost: £20 Conference ticket holders

£22 THS members

£25 Non members

Meet: Top o Town Car Park, Dorchester

Led by Alban O’Brien, this afternoon coach tour with stops for readings and photo-opportunities will be a series of visits associated with Hardy’s one historical novel.

We will visit Hardy’s monument on Back Down hill for a view over Portland and the Dorset coast with readings exploring the connection between Nelson’s flag captain at Trafalgar and our own Thomas Hardy, stop for a photo-opportunity in Portesham where Bob Loveday walked to enlist in Nelson’s navy, then onto Weymouth (Hardy’s Budmouth) for readings associated with George III and finally on to Sutton Poyntz (Hardy’s Overcombe) which was the home of Anne Garland, the miller and his two sons.

On our return to Dorchester, we will stop briefly at Poxwell Manor (Oxwell), the home of Squire Derriman and his obnoxious nephew Festus for a photo-opportunity. This will be an on-off tour with short walks and plenty of opportunity for chat about The Trumpet Major and Hardy’s lifelong obsession with the Napoleonic Wars.

BOOK ONLINE

Booking Open for Conference ticket holders

Booking open to others from 2nd June 2026 (subject to availability)

Please Note: Those that have booked for both The Trumpet Major Tour and the evening performance at Poxwell Manor, will have the option of having dinner at The Smuggler's Inn at Osmington Mills (payable separately). However, please note that the coach is unable to fully access the lane leading to The Smuggler's Inn so there will be a 10-minute road walk before and after dinner to/from the drop-off point. Reservations can be made via the above Booking link.

The Smuggler's Inn

The Hardy Archive

Explore the largest collection of Hardy resources in the world

Time: 3.00pm

Cost: FREE

Venue: Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester

For Conference ticket holders only

Dorchester is home to the world’s largest archive relating to Thomas Hardy. The archive includes written or pictorial material created by Hardy and those he interacted with from childhood through to the final few weeks of his life. It is the richest collection of primary sources for anyone seeking to study or understand Hardy and his contemporaries.

The archive is inscribed by UNESCO in its Memory of the World as a collection of international significance. The archive which is now held in optimum environmental conditions at Dorset History Centre (DHC), is made up of the archives of Dorset Museum and DHC respectively as well as other private collections. Collectively, this represents the key archival source for the understanding and appreciation of one of Britain’s literary greats.

This workshop session presents a great opportunity to

Meet the Archivists
Discover the Collection
Learn how to Access Resources
How to use the Archive for Research and Study
We will also be able to view some of the original documents that make up this incredible collection.

Places are limited, RESERVE YOUR PLACE

BOOK ONLINE

Conference Ticket Holders Only

The Trumpet Major at Poxwell Manor

Production by Tim Laycock and Friends

Date: Monday, 27th July 2026

Time: 7pm (The coach will leave Top o' Town car park promptly at 6.30pm)

Cost: £20* (THS Conference ticket holders)

£25* (THS Members)

£30* (Non-Members)

Meet: Top o' Town Car Park, Dorchester at 6.30pm

*Cost includes return coach fare

Tim Laycock will be directing a musical performance of The Trumpet Major in the gardens of Poxwell Manor, Hardy's Oxwell Hall, where part of the novel is set. The performance will include music, singing and dancing and will focus on the parts of the novel in which the house is mentioned.

Tim is a familiar face to many of our members and has been part of the "Hardean community" for many years, and is an accomplished folk musician, actor, storyteller, playwright, and author.