Max Gate

Max Gate was the house which Thomas Hardy designed and his father and brother built, between 1883 and 1885. He and Emma moved in in June 1885 and it remained his home for over forty years, until his death in 1928. He bought the 1 acre site, on the high windswept ridge a mile from the centre of Dorchester, from the Duchy of Cornwall. It cost him 450, a huge sum in 1886!

When first built, Max Gate was much smaller than the present house Hardy literally built a two up, two down Victorian villa. It comprised a dining room, hall and drawing room, with a small kitchen and scullery behind the dining room; upstairs were the master bedroom above the dining room and Hardys large first study above the drawing room. There was a small bedroom/boxroom above the kitchen and a flushing WC above the scullery but no bathroom!

Sometime after the publication ofThe Woodlanders(1887), Hardy moved out of the master bedroom into the first study as his bedroom and moved his study into the poky little boxroom at the back. By the early 1890s was complaining about a severe shortage of space, but it was not until 1895, after the financial success ofTess of the dUrbervillesandJude the Obscure, that he set about seriously enlarging the house. At this point he added a large alcove to extend the dining room, a new east tower to extend the drawing room, and a huge amount at the back of the house, including a much larger, kitchen and scullery. Above the kitchen he designed a large, purpose-built study, and, at Emmas request, a suite of rooms for her, in the new attics. Later improvements included the remodelling and enlarging of the porch in 1908 and the addition of the conservatory in 1913.

Max Gate became a magnet to the great and famous of the worlds of literature, art and music, of politics and academia. Hardys guests included Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, W.B. Yeats and Henry Newbolt, Mrs Patrick Campbell, A.E. Housman, H.G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Gustav Holst, Sir James Barrie, Siegfried Sassoon, T.E. Lawrence, Robert Graves, Edmund Blunden, Marie Stopes, Ramsey Macdonald, The Prince of Wales and many others.

Sadly, Hardys marriage to Emma seriously deteriorated at Max Gate, and she retreated more and more to her attic suite, to keep out of the way of her husband and his many visitors. She died here in November 1912, at the age of 72, a lonely and resentful woman. Hardys discovery of her diaries after her death led him to write his greatest poetry, thePoems 1912-1913in her memory - poems of grief and remorse, many of which are set in the house and grounds.

In 1914 he married his secretary cum researcher, Florence Dugdale, to whom he left the house on his death in January 1928. Florence ordered the house to be sold after her death in 1938, and the proceeds to be placed in the Dugdale Trust. Hardys sister Kate bought the house to prevent it falling into the wrong hands, and it was she who left Max Gate to the National Trust in 1940.

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Poetry on the Lawn at Max Gate [Event]
Poetry, Story and Song with the New Hardy Players

The Strange House [Event]
A walk from the United Church, Dorchester, to Max Gate where John Hayes (National Trust house manager) will give a talk about the house

Thomas Hardy Walk [News]
Hardy's Cottage to Max Gate (Return)

Max Gate, Hardy's House [Event]
Max Gate, Hardy's House - Visit Thomas Hardy's House

Neolithic site found under Max Gate [News]
A Neolithic site discovered under author Thomas Hardy’s house has been protected as a scheduled monument. The circular enclosure is almost 100 metres in diameter and comprises ditches and pits.

A Walk Through Hardy's Heartland [Event]
A guided walk through Hardy's heartland led by THS expert Susan Clarke

What lies beneath Max Gate? [Event]
Wessex Museums, in partnership with National Trust and HengeFest

The Old Neighbour and the New [Event]
Tony Fincham will be joined by Thomas Hardy and William Barnes experts Alistair Chisholm and Brian Caddy for a 2.5 mile walk in Hardy's footsteps across the fields to Winterborne Came Church

Visiting Hardy's Houses [Page]
The Kersley-Allinson family visit Max Gate and Bockhampton

A Hedgehog Hospital for Dorset [News]
The raffle at the 2024 Conference Dinner was in aid of hedgehog conservation. After discussion about the possible impact the Hardys’ unruly terrier, Wessex, might have had on Hardy’s description of the Max Gate hedgehogs as being ‘furtive’, £204.32p was raised

Tea at the Athenaeum Club [Event]
Tea at the Athenaeum Club

Celebrate Hardy's Birthday at Hardy's Cottage! [Event]
Tours, Cake and Lemonade at Bockhampton.

The Destruction of My England [Page]
An original short poem by Edward Black

Thomas Hardy and T.E. Lawrence - Their Friendship and Milieu [Event]
A Joint Society Day Hosted by the Thomas Hardy Society and the T.E. Lawrence Society

Postcards [Page]
A Postcard of your visit to Hardy Country

A New Book Featuring Thomas Hardy and William Barnes [News]
A collection of short stories by Jim Potts

Thomas Hardy and Sylvia Townsend Warner: Wessex Writers [Event]
Thomas Hardy and Sylvia Townsend Warner: Wessex Writers

SYLVIA TOWNSEND WARNER STUDY WEEKEND [News]
THOMAS HARDY AND SYLVIA TOWNSEND WARNER STUDY WEEKEND IN DORCHESTER, 10-11 FEBRUARY 2024. The study weekend organised jointly by the Thomas Hardy Society and Sylvia Townsend Warner Society, led off on Saturday 10th Feb with a day-long mini-conference in the Learning Room of Dorchester Library

The Thomas Hardy Archives at the DHC [News]
The raw materials of research and discovery

Hardy & Archaeology: The Shadow on the Stone - FULLY BOOKED [Event]
Casterbridge announced old Rome in every street, alley, and precinct

The National Trust and Mr Hardy's Legacy [Event]
How the National Trust tell Hardy's stories through his properties

In Memory of Dr Faysal Mikdadi [News]
Commemorating the Loss of a Very Special Individual

Timeline [Page]
Timeline

The Coppice Gate [Page]
An original poem by Brenda Sharp

Thomas Hardy Creativity Competition [News]
A Student Competition in Conjunction with the Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair

2016 THS Conference [Page]
Celebrating 130 years since the publication of The Mayor of Casterbridge

Thomas Hardy Memorial Service 2026 [Event]
THS Remembrance Service at Westminster Abbey

THS Bloomsbury Group Literary Weekend [Event]
A THS Weekend Away in Sussex - Two Places Now Available

Thomas Hardy Confidential [Event]
A fascinating fresh appreciation of a great writer and the people and places he immortalised.

Fordington Vicarage Receives Blue Plaque [News]
Celebrating Hardy's Great Friends the Moule Family

Hardy's Wessex [Page]
Hardy's Wessex

A Successful Study Day at the King's Arms [News]
All about Hardy & Architecture

Andrew Norman Discusses Latest Book [News]
On Saturday evening, Andrew Norman presented and discussed his latest book, Thomas Hardy and the Death of Emma - What the Writings Reveal, at Waterstones. The Thomas Hardy Society and Waterstones organised this official book launch.

Fordington Vicarage [Page]
St. Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, was given Salisbury Field by his royal uncle, William the Conqueror, in the 11th century. Fordington vicarage was built in 1222 and demolished in 1971 to make way for social housing.

Inspired by Thomas Hardy - An Anthology of Students’ Works 2020 [News]
The latest anthology of work inspired by Hardy - edited by Dr Faysal Mikdadi

R.I.P. Rose Swann [News]
Beloved Wife of Furse and Dear Friend to all Hardyans

Thomas Hardy Society visit to Stourhead [News]
The Thomas Hardy Society visited Stourhead on Saturday, 28th September, with a private viewing of the original letters

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 10th â€“ 19th September 2021 â€˜Edible Englandâ€™ [News]
Thomas Hardy Society CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION!

Hardy and Architecture Study Day [Event]
Discover how Thomas Hardy was inspired by his love of Architecture

Hardy and St George's Day by Tracy Hayes [Page]
The 23rd of April is celebrated in England as St. George's Day, when Mummers perform the play of St George and the Dragon, and there is cider drinking and revelry.

Unsung Heroes of HardyLand - Andy Worth [Page]
A series celebrating the individuals who work behind the scenes to provide us with unique Hardyan experiences.

Hardy/Larkin Conference Weekend [News]
A conference held at Kingston Maurward to celebrate Philip Larkin's birthday and the 70th anniversary of his Hardy pilgrimage

New Thomas Hardy book on his 'problematic' marriage [News]
A NEW book on Thomas Hardy asks why his marriage was so 'problematical'

Thomas Hardy Society Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Westminster Abbey [News]
A Review by Mark Chutter

William Barnes and Thomas Hardy: Study Day [Event]
The Barnes Society and the Thomas Hardy Society are pleased to present a joint study day on Saturday 26th October

Thomas Hardy Poetry Group Goes Online [News]
A successful move from physical to virtual appreciation.

Westminster Abbey Anniversary Wreath-Laying 2023 [News]
A review by THS Chairman Mark Chutter

Thomas Hardy Society Conference 2010 Report by Brenda Parry [Page]
Brenda's highlights of the 2010 Conference

'Hardy the Novel Character: Recreations of the Author in Three Modern Works of Fiction' [Event]
A THS Conference/Festival Lecture by Professor Paul Niemeyer

Great Things [Page]
An original musical score by Wasyl Sydorenko, with words by Thomas Hardy

A Hardy Family History Research Trip [Page]
Val Weedon researches her family connections to Thomas Hardy

Life [Page]
Thomas Hardy

Obituary for Helga Schulz [News]
A Dedication to a Life-Long Lover of Hardy

A Thomas Hardy Christmas Quiz! [News]
Hardy 100 Years Ago - by Rod Drew

Hardy and Shakespeare by Tracy Hayes [Page]
Thomas Hardy's relationship with Shakespeare began at a relatively early age. At 13, while attending Isaac Last's school, he had already read all of Shakespeare's tragedies

Tour of WW1 Battlefields with the War Poets Association [News]
commemorate the war poets of WW1 in 2025

Hardy’s Purbeck: Eliza Nicholls & Ethelberta [Event]
The Hand of Ethelberta & A Pair of Blue Eyes

Thomas Hardy's Wessex [Event]
A Three-Night Tour of Discovery and Inspiration

A Beautiful Thread - A Review [News]
Commemorating Thomas Hardy's Birthday

Links [Page]
Links to Societies promoting Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy: A Beginner's Guide [Page]
Thomas Hardy: A Beginner's Guide

Tess of the D'Urbervilles at Maumbury Rings [Event]
A Dorchester Arts Production

Hardy and Lockdown by Tracy Hayes [Page]
Hardy and Lockdown

The 26th International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival [Event]
The 26th International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival

THS 2020 Conference Call For Papers [News]
CALL FOR PAPERS THE TWENTY-FOURTH INTERNATIONAL THOMAS HARDY CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL

A Casterbridge Chronicle [News]
Hardy and the Romans in Casterbridge

Far From the Madding Crowd at The Redgrave Theatre [Event]
A new production by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Unveiling the new Hardy Memorial Stone at Westminster Abbey [News]
On Saturday 18th May the new Hardy Memorial stone was unveiled at Westminster Abbey, with a dedication by Professor Claire Tomalin

Purchase of New Hardy Letter [News]
The Thomas Hardy Society in conjunction with the Dorset History Centre have purchased a newly discovered letter by Hardy

Save Our Dorchester, Save Your County Town! [News]
Stop the development of 4000 on the Water Meadows!

Unsung Heroes of HardyLand - Margaret Marande [Page]
A series celebrating the individuals who work behind the scenes to provide us with unique Hardyan experiences.

PETER TAIT, THOMAS HARDY'S WOMEN: IN LIFE AND LITERATURE [News]
A Thomas Hardy Society Book Review by Dr Tracy Hayes

Inspired by Thomas Hardy - Students' Poetry Workshops [News]
An article published in Dorset Year Book 2020

Jumping the turnstiles of Chance and Coincidence [News]
Laying the Wreath of Prayers at Westminster Abbeyâ€¦

Twenty-Fourth International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival - 2021 [Event]
The rescheduled conference IS STILL GOING AHEAD!

The Short Stories of Thomas Hardy Chapter 4: Death, Dying and the Macabre [Page]
By Patrick Tolfree

Going The Rounds 2025 - Parish Performance [Event]
Going the Rounds 2025 - Friday's performance includes walking the parish

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Drawing You, Heavy With Sleep

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