The Town with Three Names: Dorchester, Durnovaria & Casterbridge
Dorchester? Durnovaria? Casterbridge? The town of Dorchester has had many names! Discover Dorchester’s deep, rich history as we explore our heritage…
Durnovaria
Dorchester was founded by the Romans in 60AD under the name Durnovaria and is rich in Roman history! We’ve still got tons of fabulous Roman history dotted around our town, and in our museums, for everybody to see.
Our town has more Roman mosaics than any other Roman town in Britain, with a fantastic selection on display at the Dorset Museum. The museum’s Victorian Hall is especially impressive, featuring two spectacular floor mosaics, the Durngate street and Olga Road mosaics.
Dorchester offers the only example of a fully exposed Roman Town House in the country, which is free to visit with a range of tours offered. On the other side of town, you’ll find Maumbury rings, a prehistoric henge that has seen it all. The neolithic henge was re-modelled by the Romans to build an entirely new amphitheatre when they built Durnovaria.
Durnovaria, like many Roman towns in Britain, was walled! Although Dorchester has since outgrown the original 75-acre wall size, the original line of the Roman walls can still be seen. The remaining fragment of walling has been incorporated into a garden wall and is located south of the Top ‘o Town roundabout. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the tree-lined walks that wrap around the centre of town!
There’s even the remains of a Romano-British temple at Maiden Castle. The temple complex was built as a ‘fusion of native British and classical Roman religion’, much like a shrine! Maiden Castle can be visited for free all year round. It has lots of its own history as the largest Iron Age hill fort in Britain.
Casterbridge
Dorchester has a full literary history, the most notable figure being famous writer Thomas Hardy! Hardy’s fictional version of the town known as Casterbridge brilliantly captures the essence of the area, known as Hardy’s Wessex. His writing paints a snapshot of his vision of Dorset, to be forever read. Hardy’s fondness for Dorchester is reflected in his writing. He was inspired by local places and events, which are still recognizable today.
The writer brilliantly describes the town as “clean-cut and distinct, like a chessboard on a green tablecloth” – The Mayor of Casterbridge
His novel The Mayor of Casterbridge refers to many well-known parts of the town, including Antelope Walk, a traditional cobblestone shopping arcade. Hardy’s own experiences in Dorchester shaped his writing. At only, he witnessed the execution of Martha Brown, the last woman to be publicly hanged in Dorset. This experience is thought to have influenced his novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles!
Step into Hardy’s world by visiting the places he lived and worked! His birthplace, known as Hardy’s Cottage, is now managed by the National Trust and can be viewed via booked tours. Here, you can see the beautiful cob and thatch cottage and gardens where Hardy wrote some of his most famous novels, including ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’ and ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’.
Hardy designed and built his stunning redbrick Victorian home, Max Gate, himself. In this house, he spent 40 years writing some of his most well-known works until his death in 1927. These include ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’, ‘The Woodlanders’, and countless other short stories and poems. Max Gate is also managed by the National Trust and can be viewed via booked tours.
Dorchester celebrated the life and career of Thomas Hardy in 1931 when they erected a magnificent bronze statue of him! You can find Hardy sitting pride of place at the Top O’ Town Roundabout – it’s said he’s seated because he wasn’t particularly tall!
Dorset Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Hardy’s works, including original manuscripts and even the pens he used to write famous novels. Some of Hardy’s personal belongings are also on display. You’ll see his desk calendar remains on the same date that his wife Emma passed away. Hardy was actually involved in the conservation of the Fordington mosaic, a captivating feature still in the museum!
Dorchester
Dorchester is still drenched in history to this day! In fact, it boasts the most listed buildings of any British High Street, with only 2 buildings on High East and High West Street not listed. The town has always been a lovely market town and even has a large brewing history. Our brewing industry flourished in the 18th century, with at least 36 pubs and hotels serving drinks! The Eldridge Pope Brewery brought in money to the town for over 100 years! Although the Eldridge Pope Brewery closed in 2003, Dorchester’s innovative new breweries, micro-breweries, pubs, and distillers are keeping the brewing tradition alive.
In the 19th century, six Dorset farmworkers, known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs, were sent to Australia to pay for their ‘crimes’. Their crimes? Simply forming a trade union to fight for fair wages! Today, their story is remembered at the Shire Hall Museum.
Dorchester’s First World War history is on show at The Keep Military Museum where you can learn about the Dorset Regiment during the war. To learn more about our First World War history, you can follow the Poppy Trail around town, just look for plaques with a poppy symbol.
Dorchester: Place To See
What’s here now?
On top of all of this history, we have a thriving town full of independent shops, restaurant, pubs and cafes. There are lush flowerbeds and green spaces like Borough Gardens and even a 5-star spa in Poundbury!
Poundbury itself is a personal project of the newly coronated King Charles III. The development offers wonderful architecture and a growing community of eateries and shops.
Dorchester continues to be a place of art, history, and community – with stunning views!
What you see here is just a tiny fraction of Dorchester’s history which can be seen all around Dorchester in our fabulous museums and in the town itself. We’re proud of our strong heritage links and regularly celebrate them in town with events and exhibitions!