Hardy’s Cottage (Thomas Hardy’s Birthplace)

Hardy’s Cottage in Higher Bockhampton is where England’s greatest regional novelist, Thomas Hardy, was born in 1840 and lived until 1862. This charming thatched cob cottage, built by Hardy’s great-grandfather, inspired settings in ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’ and other Wessex novels. The cottage retains period furnishings evoking Victorian rural life. The garden Hardy’s father planted and the surrounding woodland featured in Hardy’s writing. The isolated location explains Hardy’s deep connection to Dorset landscape and rural traditions. Managed by the National Trust, the cottage offers intimate glimpses into the environment that shaped one of English literature’s finest writers. The 10-minute woodland walk from the car park to the cottage adds to the sense of rural remoteness. Hardy’s Cottage demonstrates how childhood environments influence creative artists. Essential for Hardy devotees and those interested in literary heritage.