The New Hardy Players: Poetry & Writings of Thomas Hardy at his home

Thomas Hardy unknowingly built his house, Max Gate, on the site of a Neolithic Enclosure. When digging the foundations for his house he found human burials and a Sarsen stone, which he called a ‘Druid Stone’, and wrote a poem featuring it.

Today Max Gate is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The enclosure, called ‘Flagstones’, dates back to 3200 BC and is thought to be older than Stonehenge.

Hardy was fascinated by archaeology and it features as a theme in many of his writings.

The New Hardy Players will be performing Hardy poems and novel readings in the garden from 11:30am – 3:30pm with short breaks in between.

There is no extra charge for the event but normal admission fees apply to enter Max Gate. This includes a talk from one of our volunteers.