62
Above The impressive Maumbury Rings,
Dorchester Above centre The view down
High East Street in the centre of Dorchester
Above right The remains of the Roman Town
House, discovered 1937BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150A two-hour walking tour
From the car park, head south, then
left onto tree-lined South Walks Rd
and on to the Dorset Martyrs 1 –
three bronze figures carved in 1986
by modernist sculptor Elisabeth Frink.
Cross Icen Way, then go left on a path
across Salisbury Fields to Salisbury St.
The Teddy Bear Museum 2 is at the
end of this street, in the same building
as the Terracotta Warriors Museum
(both open daily), dedicated to the red
clay army of China’s first emperor. Exit
left into High East St, and left again
into Icen Way to find the entertaining
Dinosaur Museum 3 (open daily).
From here, turn right and follow
Durngate St and left on South St toBarclays Bank 4 , said to have been
the Mayor of Casterbridge’s house in
Thomas Hardy’s novel. Retrace your
steps up South St, which becomes
Corn Hill. On the left, the entrance to
the Antelope Walk Shopping Arcade
5 was once the Antelope Hotel,
mentioned in The Mayor of Caster-
bridge and where Judge Jeffreys held
his “Bloody Assizes” condemning 74 of
those rebelling against James II to
death in 1685.
At the top of Corn Hill, turn left into
High West St. St Peter’s Church 6 ,
on the right, is mainly 15th century
(Thomas Hardy helped to restore it
as an apprentice in the 1850s). To the
left of the church is the Dorset County
Museum 7 (closed
Sun, except Jul),
detailing the cultural
and geological history
of the region. Past the
museum is the Old
Crown Court 8 (open
Mon–Fri), where the
Tolpuddle Martyrs
were sent to Australia
for trying to form an
agricultural union in- Over the road
the Tutankhamun
Exhibition 9 (open
daily) gives an insight
into the life and burial
of this Egyptian
boy-king.
Cross back over
High West St and turn
into Glyde Path Rd,
8 Dorchester
Dorset; DT1 1BE
With Georgian architecture, tree-lined avenues and quirky museums,
Dorchester is associated with Thomas Hardy as the Casterbridge of his
novels. Look, too, for reminders of the infamous Judge Jeffreys (1645–
VISITING DORCHESTER 89), the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and the town’s early Roman inhabitants.Tourist Information
11 Antelope Walk, DT1 1BE; 01305 267
992; http://www.westdorset.com
Parking
Park in the town centre, off Acland
Road. There is an additional car park
nearby on Durngate Street.WHERE TO STAYDORCHESTER
Westwood House inexpensive
This centrally located B&B in a smart
Georgian town house offers six well-
equipped rooms. Good breakfasts are
served in an airy conservatory.
29 High West St, DT1 1UP; 01305 268
018; http://www.westwoodhouse.co.uk
The Casterbridge moderate
A range of cosy rooms are available at
this family-run hotel on the main street,
including one with a four-poster, one
with its own patio, and a family room.
49 High East St, DT1 1HU; 01305 264
043; http://www.casterbridgehotel.co.ukSHERBORNE
The Bakehouse inexpensive
Dating from the 18th century, this
friendly B&B with flagstone floors has
plenty of period character. The rooms
are comfortable and of a good size.
1 Acreman St, DT9 3NU; 01935 817
969; http://www.bakehouse.me.uk
The Eastbury Hotel moderate
Close to the Abbey, this Georgian hotel
offers luxury and old-fashioned charm.
Public rooms are welcoming, bedrooms
are spacious and the staff are friendly.
The smart restaurant is worth trying, too.
Long St, DT9 3BY; 01935 813 131; http://www.
theeastburyhotel.co.uk 0 metres0 yards250250%PSTFU
.BSUZST5FEEZ#FBS
.VTFVN%JOPTBVS
.VTFVN
#BSDMBZT
#BOL"OUFMPQF
8BML4U1FUFST
$IVSDI%PSTFU
$PVOUZ
.VTFVN
0ME$SPXO
$PVSU3PNBO
8BMM5VUBOLIBNVO
&YIJCJUJPO3PNBO
5PXO)PVTF,FFQ
.JMJUBSZ
.VTFVN.BVNCVSZ
3JOHT."(^6). # 6
(^3) :
3 %
$0 3/8"
--3%^40
6 5 )
4 53&&5
4 0 6 5 )8"-,4 30"%
(3&" 58&45&
3 /3%
$&
/ 8
":
)()&"^45 ^45
8 &:.065)
"7&
(^5) )
&
( 307
&
)()8&454^5
#3%10353%