Page 64 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

62 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

Above The impressive Maumbury Rings,
Dorchester Above centre The view down 8 Dorchester
High East Street in the centre of Dorchester Dorset; DT1 1BE
Above right The remains of the Roman Town With Georgian architecture, tree-lined avenues and quirky museums,
House, discovered 1937 Dorchester is also 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
Library, Charles Street, DT1 1EE; 01305 A two-hour walking tour Barclays Bank 4, said to have been
267 992; www.visit-dorset.com From the car park, head south, then the Mayor of Casterbridge’s house in
Parking left onto tree-lined South Walks Road Thomas Hardy’s novel. Retrace your
Park in the town centre, off Acland and on to the Dorset Martyrs 1 – steps up South Street, which becomes
Road. There is an additional car park three bronze figures carved in 1986 by Corn Hill. On the left, the entrance to
nearby on Durngate Street. modernist sculptor Elisabeth Frink. the Antelope Walk Shopping Arcade
Cross Icen Way, then go left on a path 5 was once the Antelope Hotel,
WHERE TO STAY across Salisbury Fields to Salisbury mentioned in The Mayor of
Street. The Teddy Bear Museum 2 is Casterbridge and where Judge
DORCHESTER at the end of this street, in the same Jeffreys held his “Bloody Assizes”
Westwood House inexpensive building as the Terracotta Warriors condemning 74 of those rebelling
This centrally located B&B in a smart Museum (both open daily), dedicated against James II to death in 1685.
Georgian town house offers six well- to the red clay army of China’s first At the top of Corn Hill, turn left into
equipped rooms. Lavish breakfasts are emperor. Exit left into High East Street, High West Street. St Peter’s Church 6,
served in an airy conservatory. and left again into Icen Way to find the on the right, is mainly 15th century
29 High West Street, DT1 1UP; 01305
268 018; www.westwoodhouse.co.uk Dinosaur Museum 3 (open daily). From (Thomas Hardy helped to restore it
here, turn right and follow Durngate as an apprentice in the 1850s). To the
The Casterbridge moderate Street and left on South Street to left of the church is the Dorset County
A range of six cosy rooms are available
at this family-run hotel on the main Museum 7 (closed
street, including one with a four-poster Sun, except Jul–Sep),
and one with its own patio. Roman detailing the cultural
Town House
49 High East Street, DT1 1HU; 01305 and geological history
264 043; www.casterbridgehotel.co.uk T H E G R O V E Dorset
County of the region. Past
Museum St Peter’s Teddy Bear
SHERBORNE Keep Church Museum the museum is the
Military Shire Hall HIGH EAST ST Shire Hall 8 (open
The Bakehouse inexpensive Museum Tutankhamun HIGH WEST ST
Dating from the 18th century, this Exhibition Dinosaur Mon–Fri), where the
traditional, friendly B&B with flagstone BRIDPORT RD Antelope Museum Tolpuddle Martyrs
floors has plenty of period character. Roman Walk Barclays were sent to Australia
Wall
The rooms are comfortable and of a Bank ICEN WAY for trying to form an
good size. S O U T H S T R E E T Dorset agricultural union in
1 Acreman Street, DT9 3NU; 01935 Martyrs
817 969 COR NWA LL R D S O U T H WA L K S R O A D 1834. Over the road
The Eastbury Hotel moderate G REAT WESTERN RD the Tutankhamun
Close to the Abbey, this Georgian Exhibition 9 (open
hotel has a one-acre (4,000-sq metre) daily) gives an insight
walled garden. Public rooms are W E Y M O U T H A V E into the life and burial
welcoming, bedrooms are spacious M A U M B U R Y R D of this Egyptian
and the staff are friendly and helpful. boy-king.
The award-winning restaurant is 0 metres 250
worth trying, too. Maumbury Cross back over
Long Street, DT9 3BY; 01935 813 131; Rings 0 yards 250 High West Street and
www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk turn into Glyde Path
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150
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