Max Gate
Atmospheric Victorian home designed by Thomas Hardy
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Max Gate
Facilities and access
Max Gate
Overview
Atmospheric Victorian home designed by Thomas Hardy
Max Gate, an austere but sophisticated town house a short walk from the town centre of Dorchester, was the home of Dorset's most famous author and poet Thomas Hardy. Hardy, who designed the house in 1885, wanted to show that he was part of the wealthy middle classes of the area, to reflect his position as a successful writer, and to enable him to enter polite society. The house was named after a nearby tollgate keeper called Mack.
Many of Hardy's possessions were dispersed before we acquired the house, but we've furnished the rooms for you to enjoy the spaces he created to write and live in. He wrote some of his most famous novels here, including Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, as well as much of his poetry.
You will find the garden much as it was originally planned, with high walls and large trees encircling the property to preserve Hardy's privacy. The sundial, designed by Hardy, was erected in his memory.
- Telephone
- 01305262538
- maxgate@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Further reading
- Buy the guidebook
Max Gate
How to get here
- Address
- Alington Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2FN
- By cycle
- Follow NCN Route 2 out of Dorchester, heading East. Max Gate is on the left, straight off of NCN Route 2, just after crossing the bridge over the A35.
- Cycle route information
- On foot
- From Dorchester town centre: From High East Street (where you'll find Dorset County Museum), walk down the road and turn right past the Teddy Bear Museum onto High Street Fordington. Keep following this road for about 5 minutes. At the roundabout, take the second exit onto Alington Road/St Georges Road. Continue to follow the road for about 6 minutes, crossing one roundabout. Continue onto B3144, and at the next roundabout take the first exit. Turn left into Syward Road and then immediately left into the cul-de-sac. Max Gate is on the right hand side. Alternative route (flatter but slightly longer): From the Corn Exchange cross to Cornhill and follow this to the junction with South Walks Road (Cornhill becomes South Street part way along). Cross the pedestrian crossing to Prince of Wales Road (B3144) and join the route described in the shorter walk above.
- By train
- Dorchester South 1 mile, Dorchester West 1 mile. From Dorchester South train station, turn right into Weymouth Avenue. Turn right onto Prince of Wales Road (just past The Junction pub). Continue for half a mile (past the BMW garage). At the mini roundabout, take the second exit signposted Wareham A352 (over the railway bridge). Continue straight over the next roundabout, second exit. At the next roundabout, take the first exit. Turn left into Syward Road and then take the immediate left into the cul-de-sac. Max Gate is on the right hand side. From Dorchester West train station, follow the road downhill to the crossroads. Cross to Great Western Road and follow past Junction Road pub, crossing into Prince of Wales Road. Continue for half a mile (past the BMW garage). At the mini roundabout, take the second exit signposted Wareham A352 (over the railway bridge). Continue straight over the next roundabout, second exit. At the next roundabout, take the first exit. Turn left into Syward Road and then take the immediate left into the cul-de-sac. Max Gate is on the right hand side.
- By road
- A35, from the west: From the A35, turn right onto the A352 signposted Wareham. At the roundabout, take the second exit. Turn left into Syward Road and then immediately left into the cul-de-sac. Max Gate is on the right hand side. A35, from the east: From the A35, turn left onto the A352 signposted Wareham. At the roundabout, take the second exit. Turn left into Syward Road and then immediately left into the cul-de-sac. Max Gate is on the right hand side. From Dorchester town centre: From Dorchester South train station, turn right onto Weymouth Avenue. Turn right onto Prince of Wales Road (just past The Junction pub). Continue for half a mile. At the mini roundabout, take the second exit signposted Wareham A352. Continue straight over the next roundabout, second exit. At the next roundabout, take the first exit. Turn left into Syward Road and then take the immediate left into the cul-de-sac. Max Gate is on the right hand side.
- Parking: There is no car park at Max Gate. Limited parking is available on the street. Please park considerately to avoid blocking foot and cycle paths and the turning area.
Max Gate
Prices
Whole property
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £7.70 | £7.00 |
| Child | £3.90 | £3.50 |
| Family | £19.30 | £17.50 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £5.90 |
|
Group Child
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £3.00 |
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
Please note...
Max Gate
Opening times
Please note...
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing (dusk if earlier)
Sunday 20 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Monday 21 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 22 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 23 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Thursday 24 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Friday 25 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Saturday 26 May
- House 11:00 - 17:00
- Garden 11:00 - 17:00
Max Gate
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01305262538
- maxgate@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Alington Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2FN