Dorset

Dorset (pronounced Dorsit, sometimes in the past called Dorsetshire) is a county in the southwest of England, on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester, situated in the south of the county at {{coor dms|50|43|00|N|02|26|00|W|}}. Between its extreme points Dorset measures 50 miles (80 km) from east to west and 40 miles (64 km) north to south, and has an area of 1,024 square miles (2,653 km²). Dorset borders Devon to the west, Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north-east and Hampshire to the east. The county is largely rural with a low population and population density. Dorset's motto is Who's Afear'd.

Dorset people

Dorset is famed in literature for being the native county of author and poet Thomas Hardy. Many of the places he describes in his novels in the fictional Wessex are in Dorset. The National Trust own Thomas Hardy's Cottage, in woodland east of Dorchester, and Max Gate, his house in Dorchester. Stalbridge was home of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Poet William Barnes, authors Theodore Francis Powys, John le Carré, P.D. James and satirical novelist Thomas Love Peacock are also locals. The author John Fowles lives in Lyme Regis.

Related Topics:
Literature - Author - Poet - Thomas Hardy - Wessex - National Trust - Thomas Hardy's Cottage - Max Gate - Stalbridge - Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - William Barnes - Theodore Francis Powys - John le Carré - P.D. James - Satirical - Thomas Love Peacock - John Fowles - Lyme Regis

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Dorset is also the birthplace of artist Sir James Thornhill, musicians P.J. Harvey and Robert Fripp, paleontologist Mary Anning and archbishops John Morton and William Wake. Explorer Sir Walter Raleigh lived in Dorset for a time. Scientist and philosopher Robert Boyle lived in Stalbridge Manor for a time. Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg lives in Burton Bradstock, near Bridport.

Related Topics:
Artist - James Thornhill - P.J. Harvey - Robert Fripp - Paleontologist - Mary Anning - Archbishop - John Morton - William Wake - Explorer - Walter Raleigh - Scientist - Philosopher - Robert Boyle - Billy Bragg - Burton Bradstock - Bridport

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