Students studying Visitor Attractions Management within the School of Tourism paid a visit recently to the Shire Hall in Dorchester, where they were given a behind the scenes tour by the project team.

Shire Hall, a grade 1 listed building, houses the Old Crown Court and Cells, where Thomas Hardy once sat as a magistrate and the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried. The Project was recently awarded Heritage Lottery Fund Round 1 development funding, and as part of this a workshop was held where ideas were tested and the students were asked to come up with their own potential themes and ideas for the proposed attraction, including a name. Martin Cooke, lead consultant working with West Dorset District Council, thanked the students for their participation which provided useful input to help inform their bid for Stage 2 Heritage Lottery Funding.

By: Steven Richards