Festival of Archaeology: Walk
Outer Casterbridge: Hardy and History | Mark Damon Chutter
24 July 2022, 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Join Mark Chutter on a guided walk of Outer Casterbridge and the landscape so familiar and beloved by Thomas Hardy.
Explore Outer Casterbridge – Neolithic earthworks and Roman Durnovaria. The walk will climb to Pummery (Poundbury Camp), then head south beside the Roman Aqueduct to Mai-Dun (Maiden Castle), returning via The Ring (Maumbury Rings) and The Workhouse (DCH). Plentiful references to Hardy’s poetry and fiction, particularly The Mayor of Casterbridge, Far from The Madding Crowd, ‘A Changed Man’ and ‘A Tryst in an Ancient Earthwork’.
There is uneven terrain and some steep gradients. Advisable to bring snacks and refreshments as very limited facilities en route. (7+ miles)
Thomas Hardy Statue,
Top o Town, Dorchester, DT1 1TZ
Mark Damon Chutter
Mark Damon Chutter is the Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society. He has published papers in the Thomas Hardy Society Journal and for the TES. He has been teaching for 25 years and has worked in middle leadership. Mark was shortlisted for both the ‘ TES’ (Times Educational Supplement) ‘ Most Innovative Teacher of the Year ‘ and ‘ Teacher of the Year’ respectively. He is president of the National Education Union for Dorset and is a committed socialist and a member of the Socialist Worker Party and Stand Up To Racism, Dorset. Mark is also a member of the Dorchester Civic Society and STAND.
Home of Hillforts & Henges is an exciting new event from 21st to 31st July that will celebrate Dorchester’s neolithic and iron age landscape, rich in earthworks and the people that have lived here for over 6,000 years.
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Co-ordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, the Festival offers hundreds of events nationwide, organised by museums, heritage organisations, national and country parks, universities, local societies, and community archaeologists.
The Festival of Archaeology will take place between 16 – 31 July 2022.
Find out moreWhat's On
28 May – 30 October 2022
Take a fresh look at the Victorian novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy, in the stunning Wessex landscapes that shaped his view of the world. His story will be retold in exciting new ways by our museum collections, from period costumes to personal letters, art to archaeology.
Find out more20 June – 16 September 2022
Plastics are not Fantastic
In this exhibition students from Weymouth College express their thoughts about the environment through posters, pledges and artwork.
Find out more16 August 2022, 10:00am - 11:00am
Dorset Museum Highlights Tour
Explore 250 million years of Dorset’s history in this volunteer-led highlights tour of Dorset Museum. Discover Roman mosaics, fossils from the Jurassic Coast, Thomas Hardy manuscripts and the sculptures of Elisabeth Frink – and plenty more along the way.
Find out more16 August 2022, 10:00am - 12noon
Summer ArtyFacts
Inspired by Dorset Museum’s collection and Special Exhibitions, our volunteer-led craft activities are fun and creative.
Find out more18 August 2022, 10:00am - 12noon
Summer ArtyFacts
Inspired by Dorset Museum’s collection and Special Exhibitions, our volunteer-led craft activities are fun and creative.
Find out more23 August 2022, 10:00am - 11:00am
Dorset Museum Highlights Tour
Explore 250 million years of Dorset’s history in this volunteer-led highlights tour of Dorset Museum. Discover Roman mosaics, fossils from the Jurassic Coast, Thomas Hardy manuscripts and the sculptures of Elisabeth Frink – and plenty more along the way.
Find out more23 August 2022, 10:00am - 12noon
Summer ArtyFacts
Victorian cameo silhouettes and gilt frames. Create your own Victorian silhouette and Victorian-style frame, inspired by the Thomas Hardy exhibition, the Hardy gallery and portraits in the Dorset Artists gallery.
Find out more25 August 2022, 10:00am - 12noon
Summer ArtyFacts
Victorian cameo silhouettes with gilt frames. Create your own Victorian silhouette portrait and Victorian style frame inspired by the Thomas Hardy exhibition, the Hardy gallery and portraits in the Dorset Artists gallery.
Find out more25 August 2022, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
An Afternoon with Elizabeth Lowry
Spend the afternoon with Elizabeth Lowry for a book signing and reading of her highly praised novel 'The Chosen'. The novel was inspired by Thomas Hardy and his marriage to Emma Gifford.
Find out more