West Stafford is a small, thatched village just to the east of Dorchester.
The village has good connections with Thomas Hardy’s work, the church of St. Andrews being the apparent setting for Tess and Angel Clare’s marriage in Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Lower Lewell Farm, located outside the village is the most probable site for ‘Talbothay’s Dairy’.
It is also the setting of the story The Waiting Supper.
The village has a real community feel and stunning scenery. It has a delightful 15th century church, a lovely Village Hall and the popular Wise Man Inn.