Our first workshop at Max Gate, ‘A Sense Of Place’ (held on the evening of 1 October), was a great success. Fortified by the best efforts of the Whale Caller vintners and the Kettle Chips makers, we gathered round Hardy’s dining-room table and spent a couple of hours examining why place is so important in writing, and how best to go about incorporating it into one’s own work. Read more…
All posts tagged Max Gate
Writing Places Open Day at Max Gate: October 13th
Max Gate, the house that Thomas Hardy had built and in which he lived until his death in 1928, welcomes you to a Writing Places Open Day on Tuesday 13th October 2015 to include free entry to the house and gardens. Read more…
Free Blogging Masterclass at Max Gate
Max Gate have a fantastic range of free events as part of the Writing Places Project. This is a partnership project between Literature Works, the Literature Development Charity for the South West, The National Trust and The Poetry Archive.
Sir Andrew Motion and Tracey Guiry, CEO Literature Works, with Dame Helen Ghosh, Director General National Trust and James Grasby, Curator National Trust in Max Gate, 2nd June 2015
Left to right: Helen Mann, General Manager National Trust West Dorset, Dame Helen Ghosh, Director General National Trust, Sir Andrew Motion, Tracey Guiry, CEO Literature Works & Lawrence Roots, Visitor Experience Consultant, National Trust
Chair of Literature Works, Dr Joan Chandler
Tracey Guiry, CEO Literature Works, launches Writing Places, Max Gate, June 2nd 2015
Sir Andrew Motion with Dame Helen Ghosh, Director General, National Trust
Sir Andrew Motion signing books at the Writing Places launch
Sir Andrew Motion, Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, Max Gate, 2nd June 2015- Max Gate, Writing Places Launch Day, 2nd June 2015
The Writing Places launch in Max Gate 2nd June 2015
Last week Sir Andrew Motion came to Max Gate to help us launch the Writing Places project. The previous night’s storm had thankfully calmed and the marquee stood strong and square on the lawn, and the Hardy volunteers were out in force, making sure cars were able to park and visitors were able to enjoy tours of the house, and soon the gardens were full of guests.
The house was empty and quiet and as we toured we were able to experience what it must have been like to visit the Hardy family as guests. As Lawrence Roots of the National Trust noted, it was wonderful to see so many National Trust staff, volunteers and partners come together to celebrate the launch of this exciting new project, and a real honour to have both Sir Andrew Motion and Dame Helen Ghosh there.
Max Gate, Writing Places Launch Day, 2nd June 2015
Writing Places Launch … setting up
At Thomas Hardy’s study window, Writing Places Launch Day
Max Gate Sign
Max Gate
Max Gate
Interior, Max Gate
By the study window
In Thomas Hardy’s study (his third!)
Thomas Hardy’s Study
Max Gate
Interior, Max Gate
Thomas Hardy
Max Gate Front Door
Interior, Max Gate
Interior, Max Gate
Interior, Max Gate
Sir Andrew Motion reading in the garden for the Writing Places launch
Try out a typewriter at Max Gate
By the fireside 
Interior, Max Gate
Please Come In!
Painting, Max Gate
A quiet tour of Max Gate as Writing Places is launched
A quiet photo tour of the beautiful and mysterious Max Gate as the Writing Places launch with Sir Andrew Motion is underway. Coming soon … film and words from the launch.
