Dorchester West

The Station

Dorchester West is one of Dorchester’s two stations, the other, Dorchester South, being on the Waterloo to Weymouth line. Dorchester West Station is not manned.

Dorchester West has step free access from both platforms. The access from Platform 1 provides easy access to Dorset County Hospital. Those requiring accessible access to the town centre should turn left at the foot of the ramp and use the bridge under the railway. The exit from Platform 2 leads directly towards the town centre.

The Surrounding Area

Dorchester is Thomas Hardy’s “Casterbridge” and is still the thriving market town he knew in his youth, and later evoked in his fiction and poetry. The building he had in mind as the home of “The Mayor of Casterbridge” even has a blue plaque!

High West Street

Dorchester’s main thoroughfare is High Street, divided into High East Street and High West Street

On High West Street is to be found the splendidly refurbished Dorset Museum, a largely new structure nestled next to the Victorian Hall which formed the core of the old Dorset County Museum and is now a function space.

It features the geological and early history of the area and celebrates both prominent local figures and the lives of the other residents of Dorset.

Dorset Museum also devotes a whole gallery Dorchester’s most famous son, Thomas Hardy

Roman Dorchester

Dorchester was once a Roman settlement, Durnovaria, and tree lined walks around the town follow the line of the old Roman Wall, a section of which can still be seen on the right near the Top of Town roundabout. The 4th Century AD Roman Town House is Britain’s most complete and best-preserved example of its kind. The grounds are open every day and admission is free.

 Poundbury

About a mile from the station is Poundbury, a fascinating new urban extension on Duchy of Cornwall land, a vision of Prince Charles, who has remained intimately associated with its development.

Dorchester’s Other Attractions

The Keep Military Museum, home of the regiments of Devon & Dorset, and themed attractions featuring Dinosaurs, the Terracotta Warriors, Tutankhamen and Teddy Bears are amongst the town’s other attractions. Together with a great range of cafés, pubs and restaurants, including Brewery Square, this has to be a top contender along our line for a lovely day out with the family.

There’s an extensive market on Wednesdays just a few minutes’ walk from the station, and the magnificent iron age hill fort of Maiden Castle with its great views is about 1½ miles walk from the station.