Links

The Alliance of Literary Societies

The ALS is the umbrella organisation for literary societies/groups in the UK. We were formed in 1973 and currently have around 125 members.

The Churches Conservation Trust

The national charity protecting historic churches at risk. We care for over 350 irreplaceable buildings which attract almost 2 million visitors a year.

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

The Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has a vast collection of geological and archaeological artefacts, natural history, rural crafts, folklore and a gallery including the world's finest collection on Thomas Hardy.

Sturminster Newton Museum and Mill

Small local museum showing aspects of life in a country market town. The working mill still grinds flour in a traditional way using a 1904 turbine. Milling days arranged for visitors during the season.

Thomas Hardy Society

The Thomas Hardy Society is an educational Charity founded in 1968 with the intention of promoting public knowledge and understanding of the life and works of the Dorset poet and novelist to anyone with an interest in Thomas Hardy anywhere in the world. It is a Society as much for the lay-enthusiast as the scholar, student or general reader

New Hardy Players

The New Hardy Players were formed in 2005 to celebrate the works of Dorset's world famous and much loved author and poet Thomas Hardy.  A friendly and supportive group from all walks of Dorset life, the players meet throughout the year to perform work  written by Dorset writers, and to enjoy each others company. The annual Hardy related play is rehearsed and performed during the spring and summer months. The autumn winter and spring months bring performances from a feast of Dorset Voices that include Hardy, Barnes and new work written by the groups talented writers

The Folklore Society

Look here for the folklore of traditional music, song, dance and drama, narrative, arts and crafts, customs and belief, popular religion, traditional and regional food, folk medicine, children's folklore, traditional sayings, proverbs and rhymes.

Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset

Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset has been published in unbroken sequence since 1888. During that time it has recorded evidence on the history, archaeology, architecture, antiquities, genealogy, heraldry, literature, dialect, customs and folklore of the two counties. This provides material of permanent value to all those interested in the the west of England, and in these topics generally. The journal is especially useful to the growing number of people actively interested in local and family history.