top of page
Hardy Image.jpeg

Events, Walks, Tours & Study Days

The Thomas Hardy Society invites you to visit the home town of our beloved author to celebrate his life and work through lectures, walks, entertainment and spending time with fellow Hardyans. Everyone is given a warm welcome at THS Events - we look forward to meeting you.

Upcoming Events

  • Harvest Home with the Distracted Preacher
    Harvest Home with the Distracted Preacher
    Sun 20 Sept
    St Michael's Church
    20 Sept 2026, 15:00 – 19:00
    St Michael's Church, Church Lane, Owermoigne, Dorchester DT2 8HS, UK
    A Harvest Festival event at St Michael's Church, Owermoign
  • Hardy, Powys: Time and Place - A Joint Study Day
    Hardy, Powys: Time and Place - A Joint Study Day
    Sat 24 Oct
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,
    24 Oct 2026, 10:00 – 17:00
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,, 49 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HU, UK
    Thomas Hardy and the Powys Family
  • Chaldon Herring - A Walk, Talk & Sunday Lunch
    Chaldon Herring - A Walk, Talk & Sunday Lunch
    Sun 25 Oct
    Sailor's Return
    25 Oct 2026, 11:00 – 15:00
    Sailor's Return, Chaldon Herring, Dorchester DT2 8DN, UK
    The Literary and Artistic Bohemia in Chaldon Herring with lunch at the Sailors Return
  • A Victorian Christmas at Poxwell Manor
    A Victorian Christmas at Poxwell Manor
    Sun 20 Dec
    Poxwell Manor
    20 Dec 2026, 14:00 – 17:00
    Poxwell Manor, Poxwell, Dorchester DT2 8ND
    Traditional Dickensian "Christmas Carol" Entertainment
  • Thomas Hardy Memorial Service 2027
    Thomas Hardy Memorial Service 2027
    Sat 09 Jan
    London
    09 Jan 2027, 13:00 – 14:00
    London, 20 Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA, UK
    THS Remembrance Service at Westminster Abbey
  • London Lecture 2027
    London Lecture 2027
    Sat 09 Jan
    University College London
    09 Jan 2027, 15:00 – 16:00
    University College London, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
    Annual Talk at University College London
  • The Hand of Ethelberta
    The Hand of Ethelberta
    Sat 01 Aug
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,
    01 Aug 2026, 13:00 – 14:00
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,, 49 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HU, UK
    The New Hardy Players perform Act 1 of Hardy's novel
  • THS Annual General Meeting 2026
    THS Annual General Meeting 2026
    Sat 01 Aug
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,
    01 Aug 2026, 11:00 – 12:00
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,, 49 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HU, UK
    The Fifty-Ninth Annual General Meeting of the Thomas Hardy Society
  • THS Annual General Meeting 2026
    THS Annual General Meeting 2026
    Sat 01 Aug
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,
    01 Aug 2026, 11:00 – 12:00
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,, 49 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HU, UK
    The Fifty-Ninth Annual General Meeting of the Thomas Hardy Society
  • The Irrepressible Mary Jeune, Victorian Influencer
    The Irrepressible Mary Jeune, Victorian Influencer
    Sat 01 Aug
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,
    01 Aug 2026, 09:30 – 10:30
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,, 49 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HU, UK
    Amelia Fletcher, Author of the biography, interviewed by Dr Tony Fincham
  • Woolfs at the Door
    Woolfs at the Door
    Fri 31 Jul
    Hardy's House Max Gate
    31 Jul 2026, 15:00 – 16:00
    Hardy's House Max Gate, Alington Ave, Dorchester DT1 2FN, UK
    Creative Writing Workshop with Lucy Boyle Brown Marking the Centenary of Virginia Woolf's visit to Max Gate
  • Max Gate: House & Gardens Tour
    Max Gate: House & Gardens Tour
    Fri 31 Jul
    Hardy's House Max Gate
    31 Jul 2026, 13:30 – 16:00
    Hardy's House Max Gate, Alington Ave, Dorchester DT1 2FN, UK
    Marking the Centenary of Virginia Woolf's visit to the Hardys
  • Sherborne Tour: Sherton Abbas
    Sherborne Tour: Sherton Abbas
    Fri 31 Jul
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park
    31 Jul 2026, 13:30 – 17:00
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park, Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT, UK
    Explore the former capital of the Kingdom of Wessex  Revisit Scenes from the Woodlanders
  • Hardy's Cottage & Thorncombe Woods
    Hardy's Cottage & Thorncombe Woods
    Thu 30 Jul
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park
    30 Jul 2026, 13:30 – 16:30
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park, Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT, UK
    Revisiting Hardy's Boyhood
  • Portland Tour: The Isle of Slingers
    Portland Tour: The Isle of Slingers
    Thu 30 Jul
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park
    30 Jul 2026, 13:30 – 17:30
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park, Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT, UK
    Explore landmarks featured in The Well Beloved
  • In Harmony with Hardy
    In Harmony with Hardy
    Wed 29 Jul
    The Corn Exchange,
    29 Jul 2026, 19:00 – 21:00
    The Corn Exchange,, High East St, Dorchester DT1 1HF, UK
    An evening of readings, songs, and piano music performed by James Graham
  • Poetry Workshop with Finn Horden
    Poetry Workshop with Finn Horden
    Wed 29 Jul
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,
    29 Jul 2026, 16:00 – 17:00
    The Casterbridge Room, The King's Arms,, 49 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1HU, UK
    Hardy's Life in his Poetry
  • The Fiddler of the Reels
    The Fiddler of the Reels
    Wed 29 Jul
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park
    29 Jul 2026, 13:30 – 16:30
    Top o' Town Coach and Car Park, Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT, UK
    A Musical Walk, led by Dr Tony Fincham Accompanied by fiddlers, Ruth Thompson & Cath McMillan

About Us

The Thomas Hardy Society is an educational charity supported solely by volunteers. The Society is based in Dorchester where the Council of Management meets six times a year.

Contact Us

Mark Chutter, Chairman and Academic Director

info@hardysociety.org

The Thomas Hardy Society

c/o Kingston Maurward College

Dorchester

Dorset DT2 8PY

© 2024 The Thomas Hardy Society all rights reserved

No part of this website may be copied or otherwise reproduced without the express permission of the copyright owner(s)

Website by Cirrus Design Studio Ltd

bottom of page