Max Gate

Thomas Hardy's home in Dorchester. It's by the site of a former tollbooth on a turnpike road, which was at some time manned famously by a gentleman called Mack, hence "Mack's Gate". Hardy seems to have felt "Max Gate" more rakish!

The National Trust now owns the house and it is open to the public at certain times. It is also inhabited by a tenant who very kindly showed us some of the rooms and chatted about the house and the wider world. It made for a lovely personal visit.