THS Conference Wednesday 29th July 2026

Wednesday 29th July 2026
All day event
The Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RR

The 27th International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival

Wednesday, 29th July 2026

Scroll down to view and book events taking place on the 5th day of the THS Conference

Wolfeton House Walk

Exploring Wessex Valleys and Ancient Settlements

Time: 1.30pm

Cost: £10* - Historic Houses members

£15* - Historic Houses Non-members

*Includes entrance to house

Meet: Hardy's Statue, Top o' Town

Join THS Chair, Mark Damon Chutter, for a walk exporing Wessex valleys and ancient settlements, stopping off for a visit to Wolfeton House.

Hardy used Wolfeton House in his writing, drawing on its history, particularly the stories surrounding the Trenchard family who formerly owned it and often walked through the surrounding water meadows, which are now considered a crucial part of the protected rural setting for the house. Wolfeton House features in his short story "The Lady Penelope" from A Group of Noble Dames, published in 1891, describing the building as "An ivied manor-house, flanked by battlemented towers". Hardy is known to have visited the house, including a documented visit for tea in 1900.

The walk is approximately 4 miles and includes paved and rough terrain. Weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear essential.

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Situated in the watermeadows north-west of Dorchester, stands Wolfeton House, a fine Grade 1 listed mediaeval and Elizabethan house, with a small chapel, which can be lit only by candlelight.

The original courtyard dates back to around 1480, when John Trenchard inherited Wolveton a substantial medieval manor at that time, through his mother, Christian Mohun. It became the country seat of the Trenchards, one of the most prominent families in Dorset throughout the 16th century. Sir Walter Raleigh was a frequent visitor from his country home at Sherborne Castle.

Wolfeton’s gatehouse is two storeys high with an attic and two round towers with gun-loops covering the entrance and large dovecots in the upper sections. There are also older towers on the entrance archway depicting a satyr and a woodmouse each holding staves around the door.

Inside the house is magnificent carved oak panelling, including Roman Soldiers and a Briton brandishing a club. The main staircase of stone is believed to be unique, built in 1580 with carved figures in the balustrade. The Great Chamber's floor is original and dates to the 16th century, whilst the fireplace is carved with figures including a Native American

The interior has splendid plaster ceilings, grand fireplaces and fine pictures and furniture from the 17th-century.

BOOK ONLINE

Priority booking for Full Conference Ticket Holders (Limited places)

Booking Open to others from 2nd June 2026 (Subject to availability)

Historic Houses membership will provide a year of free entry to hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain.

If you're not a member of Historic Houses and would like to join, CLICK HERE and Enter Discount Code DHM114 at checkout to get a £5 discount

The Fiddler of the Reels

A Musical Walk, led by Dr Tony Fincham

Accompanied by Ruth Thompson & Cath McMillan

Time: 1.30pm - The coach leaves Top o' Town car park at 1.30pm, returning around 4.30pm.

Cost: £20 - THS Conference Ticket holders

£23 - THS Members

£25 - Non-members

Meet: Top o' Town Car Park to pick up the coach at 1.30pm

Led by Dr Tony Fincham, this tour is a musical exploration of the territory where Mop Ollamoor exercised his acoustic magnetism over Car’line Aspent:

Pick up the coach from Top o' Town car park, then a two-mile walk on footpaths from Stinsford Church through Lower Mellstock and above the Frome to The Traveller’s Rest (Duck Dairy Farm), with dancing as appropriate to the fiddles of Ruth Thompson and Cath McMillan, who will recreate the tunes of this ‘village Paganini’.

Finishing at the Rusty Duck café.

"She chanced to pause on the bridge near his house to rest herself"

William Hatherell - Scribner's Magazine 13 (May, 1893): page 601

Illustration for Thomas Hardy's "The Fiddler of the Reels"

Scanned image, caption, and commentary by Philip V. Allingham

BOOK ONLINE

Priority booking for Full Conference Ticket Holders

Booking Open to others from 2nd June 2026 (Subject to availability)

Poetry Workshop with Finn Horden

Hardy's Life in his Poetry

Time: 4pm

Cost: FREE

Venue: The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms

Finn Horden

The Workshop will explore pivotal moments from Hardy's professional and personal life, and how these may have influenced the style and subject of his poetry.

Key takeaways will be learning to interpret poetry critically within its contexts, identifying and connecting literary motifs, and developing an understanding of Hardy's history.