An archive that includes manuscripts for three of Thomas Hardy’s major novels, his notebooks, photographs and over 5,000 letters is now accessible to all.
The archive is the largest collection of Hardy material in the world. It is free to access by appointment at Dorset History Centre, Dorchester and the catalogue can be viewed online.
Contact the History Centre to book an appointment
Watch Mark Chutter talking about the collection
Funded by Dorset Council and BCP Council, the History Centre cares for and provides public access to some of Dorset’s most important historic collections.
Eleven notebooks filled with Hardy’s handwriting have been digitised and are free to view online, along with draft manuscripts of Under the Greenwood Tree, The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Woodlanders.
The archive comprises more than100 boxes and is held on deposit at the history centre for Dorset Museum and Art Gallery.
Thomas Hardy gifted his manuscript of The Mayor of Casterbridge to Dorset County Museum in 1911, marking the beginning of the archive. Personal items, correspondence and further manuscripts were bequeathed following Hardy’s death, while other material has since been acquired by the Museum and the history centre by donation, deposit or purchase.
The cataloguing project began in 2024 following a successful fundraising campaign led by Dorset Archives Trust, supported by The National Archives, The National Trust, local charities and many generous donations from the public.
“Councillor Ryan Hope, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement, said: ‘It is a privilege for the county to hold an archive of such scale and importance.
“This remarkable collection shows how deeply Dorset shaped Hardy’s imagination, and we know it will inspire new generations of readers and researchers to engage with some of the county’s most significant cultural heritage.
“A huge thank you to everyone who donated to make this project possible, the History Centre for their diligence, patience and never-ending enthusiasm and all those organisations and supporters of Hardy who continue to bring him to the attention of new generations of readers.”
Mark Chutter, Chair and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, expressed his delight: “I am thrilled that researchers and enthusiasts are now able to visit the collection and immerse themselves in Hardy’s thoughts.
“The collection is fascinating, intriguing and highly eclectic. We are enormously grateful to the people and organisations who funded the cataloguing of this project, because it would not exist without all those wonderful partnerships.
“This remarkable archive shows just how deeply Dorset shaped Hardy’s imagination. This catalogue is highly accessible, and I would really encourage you to look at the catalogue online or at the Dorset History Centre.”
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was born and died in Dorset and lived in the county for most of his life. His novels and poetry include some of the most evocative and enduring images of the county.
The archive illuminates many aspects of Hardy’s life, including his youth and his early career as an architect, as well as his career as a writer. It includes school exercise books, architectural drawings, sketches, and the Hardy family music books in addition to manuscripts for Hardy’s poetry and prose. Hardy’s correspondence offers vital insights into his social and professional networks, with letters from key writers and thinkers including Robert Louis Stevenson, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Siegfried Sassoon and Virginia Woolf.
