Thomas Hardy Statue, Dorchester

Sitting on a tree stump with a book on his lap, Thomas Hardy’s statue is located near Dorchester’s Top o’ Town roundabout.

The statue was unveiled in 1931 by J.M. Barrie, the author of “Peter Pan”, who was Hardy’s close friend.

Visitors to Dorset often think the impressive Hardy Monument near Portesham is in memory of the writer, but that was built to remember Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar.