| Where: | Dorchester, Dorset at the Hardy Statue and Stinsford Church |
| When: | Weekend near 2nd June |
| Time: | Procession & wreath laying Saturday 5 pm, church service Sunday 10 am |
Novelist and poet Thomas Hardy was born near Dorchester in Dorset, and each year he is commemorated in the town on the weekend nearest his birthday on 2nd June. There are lectures and walking tours, dinners and a church service, all organised by the Thomas Hardy Society; the Society is based in Dorchester, and was formed to promote knowledge and understanding of Hardy’s works, with members from all around the world. On the Saturday afternoon a procession of finely clad dignitaries including the Mayor assembles near the statue of the great writer, where there are readings from Hardy’s poetic and prose works and wreaths are laid at the foot of the monument. The group then proceed to the statue of Hardy’s friend and fellow poet William Barnes on the High Street, where there are further readings and wreaths laid. On the Sunday there’s a special birthday service at nearby Stinsford, where the Author’s heart is buried. Hardy is deservedly one of the nineteenth century’s best-loved authors and many of his tales are based in the district, which is now widely known as Hardy’s Wessex.
Helpful Hints
In 2026 the Birthday weekend should be on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May (times to be confirmed). It’s usually held on the weekend nearest Hardy’s birthday, so can be in late May or early June.
The Society also lays a wreath at Westminster Abbey, near to where Hardy’s ashes are buried in Poet’s Corner, at the annual memorial service near the anniversary of Hardy’s death on 11th January 1928.
Hardy’s birthplace at Higher Bockhampton and Max Gate, his home at Dorchester from 1885, are both in the care of the National Trust.
Click here for the Society: https://www.hardysociety.org
and here: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasHardySociety
Click here for the National Trust: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset
Hi, it was lovely to meet you last Friday! Thought I’d check out how this went.
Hi Claire,
Thanks for the message- I’ll reply from my personal email then you can make contact without going through the website 🙂
As you can see it was a lovely event and the sun shone for us!
Averil x