CENTENARIAN Norrie Woodhall gained the first glimpse of Thomas Hardy manuscripts when they came home to Dorchester.

She leafed through the papers – including a play she appeared in 1924 – at the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.

Director Jon Murden invited Norrie to a reception along with actor Julian Fellowes and other supporters to mark the arrival of the 200-strong collection of documents.

The museum and fundraisers, including Norrie’s New Hardy Players, managed to drum up £58,750 to save the manuscripts from falling into foreign ownership.

Norrie, aged 104, of Owermoigne, said: “It is lovely to see them.

“It is wonderful that they are in Dorchester. I remember going to see the plays all those years ago at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester.”

Norrie, who is last surviving member of the original Hardy Players, played Tess’s sister Liza Lu in the stage version of Tess of the D’Urbervilles, which was performed in Dorchester in 1928.

Actor Julian Fellowes said: “I can’t believe we have been so lucky to keep the collection.

“There have been tremendous efforts to raise the money.

“It is wonderful that we have managed to keep the collection in this country and of course in Dorchester which is where it should be and belongs.”

Others at the reception included Andy Worth and Devina Symes from the New Hardy Players, John Travell and Helen Gibson.

The collection includes typescripts from contemporary dramatisations of Hardy’s works.

The archive features annotated typescripts, prompt copies, actors’ parts, programmes, posters and miniature mock-up scenery.

The Hardy Players staged performances with input from Hardy himself between 1908 and 1924.

Andy Worth, of the New Hardy Players, said: “It is tremendous and to have Norrie present as well is fantastic. We intend to stage Tess next year so we will be looking at the documents very closely.”

The museum has also scooped a £14,968 Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Mr Murden said the money would be used to redesign the writers gallery to incorporate the collection, for schools sessions about Hardy and drama, and for a museum makers group for adults with learning disabilities to become involved.

The plan is also to link up with the Bath Philharmonic to stage a performance of music inspired by letters between Hardy and Elgar about a collaboration.

The documents will be going on show in a temporary exhibition at the museum from October to December.

There will also be costumes from the original Hardy players. The aim is also to recreate some of the original sets.