Max Gate

Dorchester's most famous son, Thomas Hardy, was born in a rural cottage a few miles out of town. He wrote his first books there and made enough money to build this splendid detached house, Max Gate, on the outskirts of Dorchester. He lived there from 1885 until he died in 1928. Here he wrote Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, and most of his poems. The lettering on the sundial says 1885 T.H. 1928 Quid De Nocte? (What of the night?)

It belongs to the National Trust, of which S and I are members, and we went along this afternoon becuase we'd never been before. There is none of Hardy's furniture or possessions there - his entire office and contents were bequeathed to the Dorset County Museum, where they are likely to remain - and the rooms that are open to visitors are largely unfurnished. But the National Trust have put up very attractive and informative display boards with lots of photographs and interesting stuff.

Here is a picture of Hardy from the 1880s by William Strang, that was on display.

We were pleased to see that most of the plants in the garden are old varieties of the sort that Hardy would have had, and they are trying to restore the garden as it was when he was there.