A giant traffic hold up

Alistair Chisholm, Dorchester's National Champion Town Crier, is here to tell you that Dorset's county town, known to readers of Thomas Hardy as "Casterbridge", is steeped in history and heritage with great places to visit, eat and shop. You can still visit Iron Age Maiden Castle, Thomas Hardy's birthplace, the award winning town museum with a wealth of Hardy artefacts, the Roman Town House, the Old Crown Court where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried and Judge Jeffreys' lodgings.

Launch of Dorchester Chamber of Commerce and World Heritage's 2006 Town Promotion Campaign

In blazing sunshine the centre of Dorchester came to a halt at midday on Wednesday 5th April as a parade of characters representing Dorchester's rich history and cultural attractions took place in the High Street. The event marked the launch the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce's 2006 Town Promotion campaign and the town promotion brochure produced and marketed by World Heritage - the company which runs the town's four commercial museums.

Characters present were Edward the Bear representing the museums, Tess the Dorset Giant, Dorchester's most famous son, Thomas Hardy, The Rev John White, the "patriarch of Dorchester" and Celts and Roman soldiers from the Invaders and Settlers Group