Neolithic site discovered under Thomas Hardy's house protected as scheduled monument

A Neolithic site discovered beneath the home of famed author Thomas Hardy has been granted protection as a scheduled monument.

The circular enclosure, nearly 100 metres in diameter, was unearthed under the garden of Max Gate, located in Dorchester, Dorset, and is composed of ditches and pits. Some of these pits house sarsen stones that cover human remains, while others boast walls etched with rare Neolithic spiral designs.

Dating back to the Middle Neolithic period (3365 to 2960 BC), excavations in 2022 revealed evidence of use during the Early Neolithic period, suggesting it's one of the earliest identified archaeological sites in the area, aged between 5,500 and 5,800 years old.

The remnants beneath Max Gate form half of the larger structure known as Flagstones, with the other half having been excavated and subsequently destroyed in the 1980s during the construction of the Dorchester bypass. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has now scheduled the site on the advice of Historic England, ensuring the remaining eastern half of the enclosure will remain undisturbed.

Hardy designed and built Max Gate in 1885, residing there until his death in 1928. It was here he penned many of his most significant works, including Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Jude The Obscure. Interestingly, several Iron Age and Roman burials were discovered during the construction of the house.

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In 1891, following garden renovations, a sarsen stone was unearthed, requiring seven men to lift it out of the ground. Hardy placed it in his garden, naming it the Druid Stone, which inspired his poem The Shadow on the Stone. Later excavations in the 1980s revealed another sarsen stone, and both stones have been repositioned in the garden, included within the scheduling. Max Gate was donated to the National Trust by Hardy's sister Kate in 1940, and the house opened to the public in 2011.

Heritage minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "The multi-layered importance of this site is very special, as Thomas Hardy's discoveries at Max Gate influenced him and shaped his poetry. It shows how our historic landscape often inspires art and how the two can work beautifully in harmony. These Neolithic remains form one of the earliest identified monuments in the Dorchester area."

"Scheduling the site will ensure this piece of our history can continue to capture people's creative imagination for many years to come."

Duncan Wilson, Historic England's chief executive, said: "The remains of the site known as Flagstones under Max Gate are a rare example of a Neolithic monument, which can significantly contribute to our understanding of the prehistoric ceremonial landscape around Dorchester."

The discoveries at Max Gate inspired one of England's most important writers, and the protection of the site ensures its survival, allowing it to continue to inspire generations to come."

Hannah Jefferson, from the National Trust, added: "Thomas Hardy's own archaeological discoveries at Max Gate featured significantly in his poems and stories, but he was also inspired to write papers, give talks locally, and display many of the artefacts found at Max Gate. We've no doubt Hardy would approve wholeheartedly with the scheduling of the Neolithic monument."