It was Dorset Heritage weekend on the 14th and 15th September, and there were houses and places of historical interest open to the public for free.
We were attending Kate Kelly’s YA ‘Red Rock’ book launch on Saturday, an excellent event, so it was on Sunday we took a trip to Dorchester. We spent a fascinating afternoon touring the old Crown Court and underground cells.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried in this very court and held in the dark, claustrophobic cells before and during the trials. It’s part of our rich Dorset history, which includes smugglers, a naval base, George the Third, the Olympics, and Thomas Hardy. Kathy Sharp and I, both Dorset writers, have been contracted for books that were inspired by our beautiful county.
Dorset inspires, from its landscapes to its buildings.
‘Truth or Dare?’ will be with you in October, and in the lead-up, I’ve been busy visiting places that feature in the story, and capturing them on camera. A photo tour will follow in due course.
There will also be the cover reveal. It is superb. Another Berni Stevens masterpiece.
Take care.
Laura x
Sounds wonderful – I love Dorset and haven’t had the chance to visit enough recently
I love it here, Angela. We can be in the country or on the coast within minutes. I have a fondness for Chesil Beach, which appears in both ‘Truth or Dare?’ and ‘Follow Me’. I can’t help myself. 🙂
Loved seeing the photos and reading the information Laura. We have family connections to the area and so I love anything to do with the county. Tolpuddle is a favourite because a friend lived in one of the martyr’s cottages opposite ‘the tree’ and so it was exciting to go there for the weekend and look out on history. Thanks so much. xx
There’s a lot of history in Dorset 🙂