Thomas Hardy's home, Max Gate. Photograph and text (2002) by Philip V. Allingham; perspective correction 2008 by George P. Landow. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL.]
Max Gate, Hardy's home from 29 June 1885 until his death on 16 January 1928, was designed by Hardy himself (he had practised architecture professionally in both Dorchester and London before becoming a writer) and his brother Henry, a local builder. The name is a pun on "Mack's Gate," for it was built on the site of the cottage and tollgate of Mack, the turnpike keeper. Little did Hardy realise in 1885 that the house was actually situated in the middle of a neolithic stone circle and a Romano-British cemetery.
Last modified 19 April 2024