Swanage
Encyclopedia
Swanage is a coastal town
and civil parish
in the south east of Dorset
, England
. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck
, approximately 10 km
south of Poole
and 40 km east of Dorchester. The parish has a population of 10,124 (2001). Nearby are Ballard Down
and Old Harry Rocks
, with Studland Bay and Poole Harbour
to the north. Within the parish are Durlston Bay
and Durlston Country Park
to the south of the town. The parish also includes the areas of Herston
, just to the west of the town, and Durlston
, just to the south.
The town, originally a small port and fishing village flourished in the Victorian era, when it first became a significant quarrying port and later a seaside resort for the rich of the day. Today the town remains a popular tourist resort, this being the town's primary industry, with many thousands of visitors coming to the town during the peak summer season, drawn by the bay's sandy beaches and other attractions.
During its history the bay was listed variously as Swanawic, Swanwich, Sandwich, and only in more recent history as Swanage.
The town is located at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast
, a World Heritage Site
.
The town is first mentioned in historical texts in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
of 877AD. It is stated as being the scene of a great naval victory by King Alfred over the Danes: "This year came the Danish army into Exeter from Wareham; whilst the navy sailed west about, until they met with a great mist at sea, and there perished one hundred and twenty ships at Swanwich." A hundred Danish ships which had survived the battle were driven by a storm onto Peveril Point
, a shallow rocky reef outcropping from the southern end of Swanage bay. A monument topped (historically incorrectly) by cannon balls was built in 1882 by John Mowlem
to celebrate this event and is situated at the southern end of the seafront promenade.
In the 12th century demand for Purbeck Marble
grew once again. While Purbeck marble is not suited to external use, as it does not weather well, it is however strong and suitably decorative for use as internal columns. As such the stone was used in the construction of many large churches and cathedrals being built as the time.
In contrast to the decorative Purbeck marble, Purbeck limestone, or more commonly 'Purbeck stone', has been used in construction locally since the early days of quarrying in Purbeck. Its use is less well documented as it was taken for granted as the default construction materials in the area. However, the arrival of more modern quarrying techniques in the 17th century resulted in an increase in production. The Great Fire of London in 1666 led to a period of large scale reconstruction in the city, and Purbeck stone was extensively used for paving. It was in this time that stone first started being loaded upon ships directly from the Swanage seafront; before this time quarried stone had been first transported to Poole for shipping.
The idea that Swanage could become a tourist destination was first encouraged by a local MP William Morton Pitt in the early 19th century, who converted a mansion in the town into a luxury hotel. The hotel is noted for having been visited in 1833 by the (then) Princess Victoria, later to become queen. The building was later renamed the Royal Victoria Hotel, now the building has been converted into flats and a bar and nightclub in the left and right wings respectively.
(1788–1868), a Swanage resident, became a successful builder in London, creating the Mowlem
construction company, which still existed as recently as 2006, when it was acquired by another company.
John Mowlem made his business in London by importing stone into the city from around the country, including Purbeck limestone. Through this process, many relics and monuments were brought from London
to Swanage in the nineteenth century by Mowlem and his nephew George Burt
(1816–1894) who took over the business when Mowlem retired. It is said that these items brought from London were used as ballast for the empty vessels which transported the Purbeck stone to London.
These include the big clock tower near Peveril Point. The clock tower, commemorating the Duke of Wellington
, designed by Arthur Ashpital, was built in 1854 at the southern approach to the old London Bridge
. Within 10 years it became an obstruction to traffic on the busy bridge and had to be removed. It was re-erected 1867-68 on its present site at the southern end of the bay on the sea front. A further item transported from London to Swanage is the 1860 facade of the Mercers' Hall, that was used as the facade of the Swanage Town Hall, which was designed by G.R. Crickmay (1830–1907)of Weymouth, and built during the early 1880s.
Both John Mowlem and George Burt were highly influential in the development of the town, taking an active interest in their town of birth into retirement. Between them they were responsible for the building of much of the town's infrastructure, including the town's first pier
, the Mowlem Institute (a reading room), the first gas and water works, and the development of the Durlston estate and Country Park
, at the southern end of the town. The Great Globe
which can be found slightly south of Durlston Castle
in the Durlston Country Park was completed by George Burt in 1887. It is made up of 15 sections of stone and joined together with granite dowels. The Great Globe weighs 40 tons and is 10 feet in diameter.
Swanage Lighthouse was built in 1880, on the clifftop at Anvil Point
, not far away from Durlston Castle.
Railway was introduced to the town in 1885 with the encouragement of George Burt by the London and South Western Railway Company. By this time the town was becoming a popular resort destination for the wealthy, noted for its fine weather and clean air. The town previously had been fairly cut off due to its valley location, but the introduction of the railway made the town much more accessible to visitors, with direct services running from London. However the greatest increase in visitors came with the building of the second 'new' pier in 1895, built primarily for use by pleasure steamers.
.
After the Second World War the town, like many other seaside resorts and indeed the country at large, suffered a recession with few people able to spare the money for holidaying. In 1972 the Swanage branch line of the railway was closed by British Rail as part of larger network-wide cutbacks. Fortunately a group of local enthusiasts formed a charitable organisation with the purpose of restoring and preserving the branch line and steam and diesel locomotives to run along it, forming the Swanage Railway
.
Through the years Swanage has suffered from flooding, with severe flooding occurring as recently as 1990. In 1993 a large-scale flood alleviation scheme was completed, ending in the banjo-shaped 'new jetty' outletting rainwater. This in itself created a new problem, disturbing the natural northward drift of sand up the bay, with a buildup on the southern side and reduction of sand on the northern. This reduction of sand levels exposed the foundations of parts of the seawall threatening to damage it. As a result the beach was improved in 2005–06 by construction of new greenheart
timber groynes and the placement of 90,000 m³ of sand as beach nourishment
.
Swanage is located in Swanage Bay in Dorset on the south coast of England at 50°36′43"N 1°57′30"W (50.612, −1.958). The bay is east facing and is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck
, approximately 10 km
south of Poole
and 40 km east of Dorchester. The northern headland of the bay is formed of chalk, the southern of Purbeck Limestone, with softer primarily Wealden clays forming the bay and valley in which the town is sited. The Purbeck limestone was extensively quarried with several sites to the south west showing evidence of former quarries, particularly Tilly Whim Caves and Dancing Ledge
, a man made rock shelf used for loading ships. Natural erosion has formed stacks along and at the end of the northern headland, in particular the notable Old Harry Rocks
. In part through the process of quarrying, fossils from the dinosaur age have been discovered in the local rock, and the coastline up to and including Swanage Bay has been included in the Jurassic Coast
World Heritage Site
.
Swanage experiences a maritime climate with warm (but not hot) summers and cool (but not cold) winters. Within this climate zone, Swanage's coastal location ensures a smaller range in annual temperature than in places further inland. The Met Office
operates a weather station at the town, and temperature extremes recorded range from -9.4 C in January 1963 up to 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) during July 1976. Rainfall typically peaks in winter, and is at its lowest during summer. The town's position on an east-facing bay provides it some protection from the prevailing southwesterly winds.
and Bournemouth
.
The town centre has a small number of medium sized outlets for major retailers, a collection of local retailers, a number of cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs. The seafront has two amusement arcades, several ice cream outlets, fish restaurants and cafes. The town also has a number of successful small-scale cottage industries.
There is a brickworks
on the outskirts of the town that uses the Wealden Clay found in the valley for producing bricks, and quarrying still continues to the south.
s and general watersports equipment. There are amusement arcades and parks.
Besides the beach, there are other local attractions including the restored Swanage steam railway
and the Victorian
pier
. The town may also be used a base from which to visit other nearby areas of interest, such as Corfe Castle
.
week which includes a procession of floats and dancers and several firework displays, and many other attractions and small events including live music from various bands from all over Southern England, races and a regatta
.
The railway used to have special Thomas The Tank Engine
themed events, until the cost of running these became prohibitive, and other special services.
The town also hosts successful festivals, which attract more than a purely local audience. These include a Jazz Festival, a Folk Festival, a Blues Festival, and there are plans for a Food Festival in the future.
New Year's Eve has traditionally been a big event for Swanage, with the town drawing more people from surrounding areas, and people travelling considerable distances to attend. In part this has been due to attendance by employees of the nearby Wytch Farm oil processing facility. While the popularity of the event has waned somewhat from its peak in the early 1990s, with fewer oil employees in the area, there is still a large gathering each year, spilling out into the square and High Street at midnight.
Swanage has a centre called "The Old Stable" which is a Christian led Community Centre in the Centre of Town.
Swanage is accessible from the M27 motorway
and the A31
and A35
roads.
The main bus services are provided by Wilts & Dorset
. Numbers 40 and 44 which run between Swanage and Poole, and the number 50 which runs between Swanage and Bournemouth
via the chain ferry
between Studland
and Sandbanks
. Double-deck
open top buses are used on the Poole
/Bournemouth to Swanage routes in the summer months. The buses on these routes are branded as Purbeck Breezers.
Swanage has a heritage restored steam railway
which operates for most of the year, though at the moment this only goes as far as Norden
. Recent developments on the railway have seen the physical connection between the Swanage Railway and the mainline restored. The first passenger service in more than 40 years from London Victoria and returning to London Waterloo took place on 1 April 2009. It is hoped that regular passenger services connecting to the mainline will commence in the future. Limited ferry services also run between Poole Quay and Swanage Pier
. These are used by Swanage residents for shopping trips to Poole's large shopping centre, and also by tourists in Poole for day trips into Swanage.
The nearest mainline railway station to Swanage is Wareham
, where connections can be made for South West Trains
services westward to Dorchester South
and Weymouth
. Services also travel eastwards towards Poole
, Bournemouth
, Southampton Central
and London Waterloo. Services to and from Weymouth and London Waterloo can be either fast or stopping services.
at the top of the system is the The Purbeck School
, in Wareham. In Swanage there are several primary schools and a middle school
on the edge of the town at Herston, Swanage Middle School. This is one of several middle schools in Purbeck that feed into the Purbeck School.
There is also a large language school
in the town, for foreign students. The school has a large white pressurised dome which serves as a sports hall, which is visible from some distance.
The town has a library in the town centre which is housed in a distinctive 1960's octagonal glass and Purbeck Stone building.
At the square on the seafront there is a small town museum with artifacts and displays recounting the town and surrounding area's history. There was until a recently a second museum housed in the historical Tithe Barn
building, however the roof of the building was becoming unsafe, and the artefacts were moved out into safe storage. These may or may not be redisplayed in the future, but for the time being a small number are on display in the museum at the square.
and fire station
provided by Dorset Police
and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
respectively, both located centrally within the town.
Swanage Hospital is a small but capable Cottage Hospital
provided by NHS
Dorset with an accompanying Ambulance Station provided by the South Western Ambulance Service
. The hospital has a Minor Injuries Unit, providing basic 24 emergency care, inpatient and outpatient departments, an operating theatre
, radiography
, physiotherapy and occupational therapy
departments. Swanage Medical Practice provides GP
services.
Given the coastal location, the town is also served by an RNLI lifeboat station and a HM Coastguard
post.
to sailing
, windsurfing
and jetskiing.
Swanage has a number of teams representing the town in several sports. There is a dedicated football pitch with limited covered seating and associated social club, which is the home of the town's football club, Swanage Town and Herston, who play in the Dorset Premier League. There is also a joint Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club who play in the South West 2 East League, a mens and women's hockey team and a cricket team. Also there is a recently formed, but very popular men, women's and junior sea gig rowing club.
Each year the town boasts a fireworks festival each Saturday during August and an annual Carnival procession. The R.N.L.I have a lifeboat stationed in Swanage, close to Peveril Point
and have a week of celebrations during the summer to raise extra funds.
Much of the beach and foreshore is owned by Swanage Council who purchased it in 1930 from the Crown Estate however they have since sold much of the north part of the beach, which is now privately owned. The first section of private beach is called Oceanbay. There is a slipway here and watersports people are welcome to enjoy the sand and launch boats and personal watercraft at this location for a small fee.
Scuba diving
takes place under the piers and at nearby coastal wrecks. Swanage is considered by many to be the home of British Scuba diving as not only is it one of the most popular sea water training sites for dive schools and clubs to take trainee divers due to the sheltered conditions within the bay, but the dive school still situated on the pier was the first dive school ever to open in Great Britain.
Swanage acts is a destination for PS Waverley
, the last sea going paddle steamer in the world, at the end of the summer season. Typically the route runs from the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, Swanage and Weymouth and the return journey back.
There is a sailing club, established in 1935 to the immediate south of the pier.
Swanage has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V
, which recently became home to a new skate park (which continues to expand though fund raising by locals) and a new hi-tech play area, funded in a similar way to the skate park. Planning applications have been submitted by the Trust for a sports pavilion.
The sea cliffs and quarries to the west of Swanage provide excellent venues for rock climbing.
There are two public swimming pools at the former Municipal campsite - and another at Ulwell Caravan Park is also open to the public as well as running children's swimming lessons and aqua aerobic sessions.
The surrounding areas make for excellent walking
and as such the town is a popular destination for hikers who use the town as base. Many beauty spots are in walkable distance, while never being too far from refreshment.
's character Basil Fawlty
in the sitcom Fawlty Towers
.
James Blunt
's video "Carry You Home" was filmed in Swanage.
The first episode of the second series of British comedy, The Inbetweeners
, is based mainly in Swanage. The episode is titled "The Field Trip", although this episode was filmed in Littlehampton
, not actually Swanage.
’s novels. In The Hand of Ethelberta
it is described as “…a seaside village lying snug within two headlands as between a finger and thumb”.
In E.M. Forster's Howards End
, Margaret and Mr. Wilcox first kiss there at the end of an evening's stroll, and the town is mentioned frequently throughout the book.
"The Lady Margaret", one of the linked short stories in Keith Roberts
', Pavane
has Swanage as the place where Jesse Strange meets an old school friend and fails to establish a relationship with his childhood sweetheart Margaret.
International artist and writer, Philip Sugden
was born and raised in Swanage. He is known for his drawings and paintings of India and Tibet, and his books entitled, Visions From The Fields of Merit (Floating Temple Press) and White Lotus (Snow Lion Publishers).
Local villages:
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the south east of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck
Isle of Purbeck
The Isle of Purbeck, not a true island but a peninsula, is in the county of Dorset, England. It is bordered by the English Channel to the south and east, where steep cliffs fall to the sea; and by the marshy lands of the River Frome and Poole Harbour to the north. Its western boundary is less well...
, approximately 10 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
south of Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
and 40 km east of Dorchester. The parish has a population of 10,124 (2001). Nearby are Ballard Down
Ballard Down
Ballard Down is an area of chalk downland in Dorset, southern England.The down forms a headland, Ballard Point, between Studland and Swanage bays in the English Channel, and once formed part of a continuous chalk ridge between what are now west Dorset and the Isle of Wight, part of the Southern...
and Old Harry Rocks
Old Harry Rocks
The Old Harry Rocks are two chalk sea stacks located at Handfast Point, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, southern England.- Location :Old Harry Rocks lie directly east of Studland, about 4 kilometres northeast of Swanage, and about 10 kilometres south of the large towns of Poole and...
, with Studland Bay and Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour is a large natural harbour in Dorset, southern England, with the town of Poole on its shores. The harbour is a drowned valley formed at the end of the last ice age and is the estuary of several rivers, the largest being the Frome. The harbour has a long history of human settlement...
to the north. Within the parish are Durlston Bay
Durlston Bay
Durlston Bay is a small bay next to a country park of the same name, just south of the resort of Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England...
and Durlston Country Park
Durlston Country Park
Durlston Country Park is a 1.13 square kilometre country park and nature reserve stretching along the coast of the Isle of Purbeck near Swanage in Dorset, England...
to the south of the town. The parish also includes the areas of Herston
Herston, Dorset
Herston is a village in Dorset, England. It lies in the civil parish of Swanage....
, just to the west of the town, and Durlston
Durlston
Durlston is an area of Swanage, in England. The area was developed by George Burt as a residential suburb, and includes many large Victorian villas as well as modern developments.The area also includes Durlston Country Park....
, just to the south.
The town, originally a small port and fishing village flourished in the Victorian era, when it first became a significant quarrying port and later a seaside resort for the rich of the day. Today the town remains a popular tourist resort, this being the town's primary industry, with many thousands of visitors coming to the town during the peak summer season, drawn by the bay's sandy beaches and other attractions.
During its history the bay was listed variously as Swanawic, Swanwich, Sandwich, and only in more recent history as Swanage.
The town is located at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. The site stretches from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset, a distance of ....
, a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
History
While fishing is likely the town's oldest industry, quarrying has been important to the town and the local area since at least the 1st century AD. During the time of the Roman occupation this industry grew, with the distinctive Purbeck marble being used for decorative purposes in buildings as far away as London. When the Romans left Britain, quarrying largely ceased until the 12th century.The town is first mentioned in historical texts in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
of 877AD. It is stated as being the scene of a great naval victory by King Alfred over the Danes: "This year came the Danish army into Exeter from Wareham; whilst the navy sailed west about, until they met with a great mist at sea, and there perished one hundred and twenty ships at Swanwich." A hundred Danish ships which had survived the battle were driven by a storm onto Peveril Point
Peveril Point
Peveril Point is a promontory forming the easternmost part of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England, and is part of the town of Swanage.It is located at OS Grid Ref: SZ 041 787.On top is a coastguard hut...
, a shallow rocky reef outcropping from the southern end of Swanage bay. A monument topped (historically incorrectly) by cannon balls was built in 1882 by John Mowlem
John Mowlem
John Mowlem was an English stonemason, builder and founder of the quarrying and construction company "Mowlem, Burt and Freeman".-Career:Mowlem was born in Swanage, Dorset, the son of a quarryman...
to celebrate this event and is situated at the southern end of the seafront promenade.
In the 12th century demand for Purbeck Marble
Purbeck Marble
Purbeck Marble is a fossiliferous limestone quarried in the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula in south-east Dorset, England.It is one of many kinds of Purbeck Limestone, deposited in the late Jurassic or early Cretaceous periods....
grew once again. While Purbeck marble is not suited to external use, as it does not weather well, it is however strong and suitably decorative for use as internal columns. As such the stone was used in the construction of many large churches and cathedrals being built as the time.
In contrast to the decorative Purbeck marble, Purbeck limestone, or more commonly 'Purbeck stone', has been used in construction locally since the early days of quarrying in Purbeck. Its use is less well documented as it was taken for granted as the default construction materials in the area. However, the arrival of more modern quarrying techniques in the 17th century resulted in an increase in production. The Great Fire of London in 1666 led to a period of large scale reconstruction in the city, and Purbeck stone was extensively used for paving. It was in this time that stone first started being loaded upon ships directly from the Swanage seafront; before this time quarried stone had been first transported to Poole for shipping.
The idea that Swanage could become a tourist destination was first encouraged by a local MP William Morton Pitt in the early 19th century, who converted a mansion in the town into a luxury hotel. The hotel is noted for having been visited in 1833 by the (then) Princess Victoria, later to become queen. The building was later renamed the Royal Victoria Hotel, now the building has been converted into flats and a bar and nightclub in the left and right wings respectively.
Mowlem and Burt - The Victorian era
The town's greatest prominence came during the Victorian period. John MowlemJohn Mowlem
John Mowlem was an English stonemason, builder and founder of the quarrying and construction company "Mowlem, Burt and Freeman".-Career:Mowlem was born in Swanage, Dorset, the son of a quarryman...
(1788–1868), a Swanage resident, became a successful builder in London, creating the Mowlem
Mowlem
Mowlem was one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the United Kingdom. Carillion bought the firm in 2006.-History:Founded by John Mowlem in 1822, the company was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1902 and went public on the London Stock Exchange in 1924. It acquired SGB Group in...
construction company, which still existed as recently as 2006, when it was acquired by another company.
John Mowlem made his business in London by importing stone into the city from around the country, including Purbeck limestone. Through this process, many relics and monuments were brought from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Swanage in the nineteenth century by Mowlem and his nephew George Burt
George Burt (Britain)
George Burt was a public-works contractor and businessman from Swanage, England, who managed the construction company Mowlem, founded by his uncle John Mowlem....
(1816–1894) who took over the business when Mowlem retired. It is said that these items brought from London were used as ballast for the empty vessels which transported the Purbeck stone to London.
These include the big clock tower near Peveril Point. The clock tower, commemorating the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, designed by Arthur Ashpital, was built in 1854 at the southern approach to the old London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
. Within 10 years it became an obstruction to traffic on the busy bridge and had to be removed. It was re-erected 1867-68 on its present site at the southern end of the bay on the sea front. A further item transported from London to Swanage is the 1860 facade of the Mercers' Hall, that was used as the facade of the Swanage Town Hall, which was designed by G.R. Crickmay (1830–1907)of Weymouth, and built during the early 1880s.
Both John Mowlem and George Burt were highly influential in the development of the town, taking an active interest in their town of birth into retirement. Between them they were responsible for the building of much of the town's infrastructure, including the town's first pier
Swanage Pier
Swanage's Victorian pier is over 100 years old and is one of two built, although it is the only one that survives complete today. The pier extends into the southern end of Swanage Bay near Swanage, a small town in the south east of Dorset, England...
, the Mowlem Institute (a reading room), the first gas and water works, and the development of the Durlston estate and Country Park
Durlston Country Park
Durlston Country Park is a 1.13 square kilometre country park and nature reserve stretching along the coast of the Isle of Purbeck near Swanage in Dorset, England...
, at the southern end of the town. The Great Globe
Great Globe
The Great Globe at Swanage is one of the largest stone spheres in the world. The Great Globe is constructed of Portland stone. It weighs 40 tons and is in diameter.-Location:...
which can be found slightly south of Durlston Castle
Durlston Castle
Durlston Castle stands within Durlston Country Park, a 1.13 square-kilometre country park and nature reserve stretching along the coastline south of Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset.-Preamble:...
in the Durlston Country Park was completed by George Burt in 1887. It is made up of 15 sections of stone and joined together with granite dowels. The Great Globe weighs 40 tons and is 10 feet in diameter.
Swanage Lighthouse was built in 1880, on the clifftop at Anvil Point
Anvil Point
Anvil Point is part of the Jurassic Coast near Swanage on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. The Jurassic Coast stretches over a distance of , from Orcombe Point near Exmouth, in the west, to Old Harry Rocks, in the east.-Geography:...
, not far away from Durlston Castle.
Railway was introduced to the town in 1885 with the encouragement of George Burt by the London and South Western Railway Company. By this time the town was becoming a popular resort destination for the wealthy, noted for its fine weather and clean air. The town previously had been fairly cut off due to its valley location, but the introduction of the railway made the town much more accessible to visitors, with direct services running from London. However the greatest increase in visitors came with the building of the second 'new' pier in 1895, built primarily for use by pleasure steamers.
The Great War - Present
The town enjoyed several decades quietly being successful as a seaside resort. The First World War left few physical marks on the town, however during the Second World War gun emplacements and pillboxes were built at spots along the shoreline at the southern end of the bay. The town also received bomb damage during the Second World War, with 20 people killed. The town and other nearby villages are noted for playing a part in the development of radarRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
.
After the Second World War the town, like many other seaside resorts and indeed the country at large, suffered a recession with few people able to spare the money for holidaying. In 1972 the Swanage branch line of the railway was closed by British Rail as part of larger network-wide cutbacks. Fortunately a group of local enthusiasts formed a charitable organisation with the purpose of restoring and preserving the branch line and steam and diesel locomotives to run along it, forming the Swanage Railway
Swanage Railway
The Swanage Railway is a long heritage railway in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The railway follows the route of the Purbeck branch line between Norden railway station, Corfe Castle railway station, Harman's Cross railway station, Herston Halt railway station and Swanage...
.
Through the years Swanage has suffered from flooding, with severe flooding occurring as recently as 1990. In 1993 a large-scale flood alleviation scheme was completed, ending in the banjo-shaped 'new jetty' outletting rainwater. This in itself created a new problem, disturbing the natural northward drift of sand up the bay, with a buildup on the southern side and reduction of sand on the northern. This reduction of sand levels exposed the foundations of parts of the seawall threatening to damage it. As a result the beach was improved in 2005–06 by construction of new greenheart
Greenheart
Greenheart is a common name for several different plants:*Chlorocardium rodiei , a tree native to Guyana in northern South America.*Colubrina arborescens , a shrub native to Florida and the Caribbean....
timber groynes and the placement of 90,000 m³ of sand as beach nourishment
Beach nourishment
Beach nourishment— also referred to as beach replenishment—describes a process by which sediment lost through longshore drift or erosion is replaced from sources outside of the eroding beach...
.
Governance
Local governance and service provision is provided by, in order of directness - Swanage Town Council, Purbeck District Council and Dorset County Council. In the National Parliament, Swanage falls within the constituency of South Dorset.Town Council
Swanage Town Council is the Parish Authority based in the historic town hall in the high street. Services provided by the Town Council include - "Sport and recreational faciltiies, Beach, Tourist Information and promotion of tourists, Caravan Parks, Off-street car parks, Public Conveniences, Cemeteries, Allotments". The Town Council consists of twelve elected Councillors, who appoint a Chairman to act as the Town Mayor. Working Groups and Committees are formed for specific concerns and functions. The council employs up to 100 staff to deliver its services who are managed by the Town Clerk and various sub managers.Geography and geology
Isle of Purbeck
The Isle of Purbeck, not a true island but a peninsula, is in the county of Dorset, England. It is bordered by the English Channel to the south and east, where steep cliffs fall to the sea; and by the marshy lands of the River Frome and Poole Harbour to the north. Its western boundary is less well...
, approximately 10 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
south of Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
and 40 km east of Dorchester. The northern headland of the bay is formed of chalk, the southern of Purbeck Limestone, with softer primarily Wealden clays forming the bay and valley in which the town is sited. The Purbeck limestone was extensively quarried with several sites to the south west showing evidence of former quarries, particularly Tilly Whim Caves and Dancing Ledge
Dancing Ledge
Dancing Ledge is part of the Jurassic Coast near Langton Matravers in the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England.-Geology:Dancing Ledge is a flat area of rock at the base of a small cliff . It is signposted on the South West Coast Path a few kilometres west of Swanage...
, a man made rock shelf used for loading ships. Natural erosion has formed stacks along and at the end of the northern headland, in particular the notable Old Harry Rocks
Old Harry Rocks
The Old Harry Rocks are two chalk sea stacks located at Handfast Point, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, southern England.- Location :Old Harry Rocks lie directly east of Studland, about 4 kilometres northeast of Swanage, and about 10 kilometres south of the large towns of Poole and...
. In part through the process of quarrying, fossils from the dinosaur age have been discovered in the local rock, and the coastline up to and including Swanage Bay has been included in the Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. The site stretches from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset, a distance of ....
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Climate
As with the rest of the British IslesBritish Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
Swanage experiences a maritime climate with warm (but not hot) summers and cool (but not cold) winters. Within this climate zone, Swanage's coastal location ensures a smaller range in annual temperature than in places further inland. The Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
operates a weather station at the town, and temperature extremes recorded range from -9.4 C in January 1963 up to 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) during July 1976. Rainfall typically peaks in winter, and is at its lowest during summer. The town's position on an east-facing bay provides it some protection from the prevailing southwesterly winds.
Economy
Swanage's primary industry is tourism, employing a large number of the working population, However, as with most tourism, the demand level is highly seasonal, and as such people looking for permanent work may have to commute to nearby towns such as PoolePoole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
and Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
.
There is a brickworks
Brickworks
A brickworks also known as a brick factory, is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks, from clay or shale. Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock often with a quarry for clay on site....
on the outskirts of the town that uses the Wealden Clay found in the valley for producing bricks, and quarrying still continues to the south.
Tourism
During the peak summer season many people are drawn by the town's beautiful setting, the beach and other attractions. The town has a large number of hotels and guest rooms though the number (particularly of hotels) has reduced slightly in recent years. Swanage has a gently sloping white sand beach which is sheltered and generally calm. The beach is well served by local businesses providing refreshments and services. For hire are deck chairs, boats, pedaloPedalo
A paddle boat or "pedalo" is a form of waterborne transport, primarily for recreational use, powered through the use of pedals....
s and general watersports equipment. There are amusement arcades and parks.
Besides the beach, there are other local attractions including the restored Swanage steam railway
Swanage Railway
The Swanage Railway is a long heritage railway in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The railway follows the route of the Purbeck branch line between Norden railway station, Corfe Castle railway station, Harman's Cross railway station, Herston Halt railway station and Swanage...
and the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
pier
Swanage Pier
Swanage's Victorian pier is over 100 years old and is one of two built, although it is the only one that survives complete today. The pier extends into the southern end of Swanage Bay near Swanage, a small town in the south east of Dorset, England...
. The town may also be used a base from which to visit other nearby areas of interest, such as Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. It is the site of a ruined castle of the same name. The village and castle stand over a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. The village lies in the gap below the castle, and is some eight...
.
Culture
As a small town there are no large cultural institutions based in the town, though there are a number of small clubs and groups, including the Swanage Town Band formed in the late 19th century. The largest facility in the town is the Mowlem Theatre, on the site of the former Mowlem Institute, opened in 1967. Performing a dual role as a 400-seat theatre and cinema, the complex also hosts a bar and restaurant and a small collection of shops. Typically there are around 200 film showings and 60-100 nights of live theatre.Festivals and events
The town hosts a number of annual festivals and events. In the summer months there is a carnivalCarnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
week which includes a procession of floats and dancers and several firework displays, and many other attractions and small events including live music from various bands from all over Southern England, races and a regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
.
The railway used to have special Thomas The Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
themed events, until the cost of running these became prohibitive, and other special services.
The town also hosts successful festivals, which attract more than a purely local audience. These include a Jazz Festival, a Folk Festival, a Blues Festival, and there are plans for a Food Festival in the future.
New Year's Eve has traditionally been a big event for Swanage, with the town drawing more people from surrounding areas, and people travelling considerable distances to attend. In part this has been due to attendance by employees of the nearby Wytch Farm oil processing facility. While the popularity of the event has waned somewhat from its peak in the early 1990s, with fewer oil employees in the area, there is still a large gathering each year, spilling out into the square and High Street at midnight.
Churches
There are several Churches in Swanage, many of which meet in sites of historic interest. St Mary's Anglican Church was built from 1860 and Swanage Methodist Church was built in 1886. There are also three more Anglican Churches, Emmanuel Baptist Church, King's Church (Evangelical), a Quakers' meeting, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army and United Reformed Church. All the above Churches are a part of the ecumenical group, known as "Churches Together in Swanage and District" which also extends to Churches within Langton Matravers, Kingston and Worth Matravers.Swanage has a centre called "The Old Stable" which is a Christian led Community Centre in the Centre of Town.
Transport
M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
and the A31
A31 road
The A31 is a major trunk road in southern England that runs from Guildford in Surrey to Bere Regis in Dorset.-Route of road:The road begins in the centre of Guildford, meeting the A3 road before running south west along the Hog's Back. It continues past Farnham, Alton and New Alresford before...
and A35
A35 road
The A35 is a trunk road in southern England, running from Honiton in Devon, that then passes through Dorset and terminates in Southampton, Hampshire...
roads.
The main bus services are provided by Wilts & Dorset
Wilts & Dorset
Wilts & Dorset is a bus company in England covering Poole, Bournemouth, East Dorset, South Wiltshire and West Hampshire. Its local headquarters is in Poole, but it is owned by the Go-Ahead Group, a major UK transport group....
. Numbers 40 and 44 which run between Swanage and Poole, and the number 50 which runs between Swanage and Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
via the chain ferry
Sandbanks Ferry
Sandbanks Ferry is a vehicular chain ferry which crosses the entrance of Poole Harbour in the English county of Dorset. The route runs from Sandbanks to Studland and in doing so connects the coastal parts of the towns of Bournemouth and Poole with Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck...
between Studland
Studland
Studland is a small village on the Isle of Purbeck in the English county of Dorset. It is famous for its beaches and nature reserve. In 2001 Studland had a population of 480, the lowest in 50 years...
and Sandbanks
Sandbanks
Sandbanks is a small peninsula or spit crossing the mouth of Poole Harbour on the English Channel coast at Poole in Dorset, England. It is well-known for the highly regarded Sandbanks Beach and property value; Sandbanks has, by area, the fourth highest land value in the world...
. Double-deck
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
open top buses are used on the Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
/Bournemouth to Swanage routes in the summer months. The buses on these routes are branded as Purbeck Breezers.
Swanage has a heritage restored steam railway
Swanage Railway
The Swanage Railway is a long heritage railway in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The railway follows the route of the Purbeck branch line between Norden railway station, Corfe Castle railway station, Harman's Cross railway station, Herston Halt railway station and Swanage...
which operates for most of the year, though at the moment this only goes as far as Norden
Norden railway station
Norden railway station is a railway station located half a mile to the north of the village of Corfe Castle, on the Isle of Purbeck in the English county of Dorset. It is the northern-most station on Swanage Railway, a heritage railway that currently operates from Norden to Swanage...
. Recent developments on the railway have seen the physical connection between the Swanage Railway and the mainline restored. The first passenger service in more than 40 years from London Victoria and returning to London Waterloo took place on 1 April 2009. It is hoped that regular passenger services connecting to the mainline will commence in the future. Limited ferry services also run between Poole Quay and Swanage Pier
Swanage Pier
Swanage's Victorian pier is over 100 years old and is one of two built, although it is the only one that survives complete today. The pier extends into the southern end of Swanage Bay near Swanage, a small town in the south east of Dorset, England...
. These are used by Swanage residents for shopping trips to Poole's large shopping centre, and also by tourists in Poole for day trips into Swanage.
The nearest mainline railway station to Swanage is Wareham
Wareham railway station
Wareham railway station serves the town of Wareham in Dorset, England. It is situated about one kilometre north of the town centre.- History :...
, where connections can be made for South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
services westward to Dorchester South
Dorchester South railway station
Dorchester South railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town of Dorchester in Dorset. The station is located on the London Waterloo–Weymouth main line.- History :...
and Weymouth
Weymouth railway station
Weymouth railway station is a railway station serving the town of Weymouth, Dorset, England. The station is the terminus of both the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo and the Heart of Wessex Line from and .-History:...
. Services also travel eastwards towards Poole
Poole railway station
thumb|right|Down stopping train in 1958Poole railway station is a railway station on the South Western Main Line serving the town of Poole in Dorset, England. The station is situated in the town centre next to Holes Bay...
, Bournemouth
Bournemouth railway station
Bournemouth railway station, originally known as Bournemouth East and then Bournemouth Central , is the main railway station serving the town of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. It is located on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo to Weymouth...
, Southampton Central
Southampton Central railway station
Southampton Central railway station is a main line railway station serving the city of Southampton in Hampshire, southern England. It is on the Wessex Main Line, the South Western Main Line and the West Coastway Line...
and London Waterloo. Services to and from Weymouth and London Waterloo can be either fast or stopping services.
Education
Schools in Purbeck operate as part of a three-tier comprehensive pyramid system. The secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
at the top of the system is the The Purbeck School
The Purbeck School
The Purbeck School is a mixed community TOE school in Wareham in the central southern area of Dorset, near the Isle of Purbeck.The organisation of schools in the Purbeck area is based on a comprehensive three-tier pyramid system. Children transfer at the age of 9 from fourteen First Schools to...
, in Wareham. In Swanage there are several primary schools and a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
on the edge of the town at Herston, Swanage Middle School. This is one of several middle schools in Purbeck that feed into the Purbeck School.
There is also a large language school
Harrow house
Harrow House is a large English language school in Swanage, Dorset in the United Kingdom, and provides year round educational courses for students from more than 60 different countries.It was started in 1969, and is accredited by the British Council....
in the town, for foreign students. The school has a large white pressurised dome which serves as a sports hall, which is visible from some distance.
The town has a library in the town centre which is housed in a distinctive 1960's octagonal glass and Purbeck Stone building.
At the square on the seafront there is a small town museum with artifacts and displays recounting the town and surrounding area's history. There was until a recently a second museum housed in the historical Tithe Barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
building, however the roof of the building was becoming unsafe, and the artefacts were moved out into safe storage. These may or may not be redisplayed in the future, but for the time being a small number are on display in the museum at the square.
Public services
The town is served by a small policePolice Station
Police Station is a American TV series that aired in syndication in 1959. Stories were taken from actual files.- Cast :*Baynes Barron as Sergeant White*Larry Kerr as Detective Chuck Mitchell*Henry Beckman as Detective Stan Abramson...
and fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
provided by Dorset Police
Dorset Police
Dorset Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English county of Dorset in the south-west of England.-History:Dorset County Constabulary was formed in 1855. On 1 October 1967 it merged with Bournemouth Borough Police to form Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary...
and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory Fire and Rescue Service for the area of Dorset, South West England. The Service Headquarters were located in Colliton Park, Dorchester, but as of October 2008 moved to a new purpose built location in Poundbury....
respectively, both located centrally within the town.
Swanage Hospital is a small but capable Cottage Hospital
Cottage Hospital
The original concept of a cottage hospital was a small rural hospital having up to 25 beds. One advantage of such a hospital in villages was the familiarity the local physician might have with their patient that may affect their treatment...
provided by NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
Dorset with an accompanying Ambulance Station provided by the South Western Ambulance Service
South Western Ambulance Service
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is the authority responsible for providing ambulance services for the National Health Service in the English counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset...
. The hospital has a Minor Injuries Unit, providing basic 24 emergency care, inpatient and outpatient departments, an operating theatre
Operating theatre
An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery...
, radiography
Radiography
Radiography is the use of X-rays to view a non-uniformly composed material such as the human body. By using the physical properties of the ray an image can be developed which displays areas of different density and composition....
, physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...
departments. Swanage Medical Practice provides GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
services.
Given the coastal location, the town is also served by an RNLI lifeboat station and a HM Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
post.
Sport and recreation
Swanage bay provides a well sheltered environment for a range of watersports, from swimmingSwimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
to sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and jetskiing.
Swanage has a number of teams representing the town in several sports. There is a dedicated football pitch with limited covered seating and associated social club, which is the home of the town's football club, Swanage Town and Herston, who play in the Dorset Premier League. There is also a joint Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club who play in the South West 2 East League, a mens and women's hockey team and a cricket team. Also there is a recently formed, but very popular men, women's and junior sea gig rowing club.
Each year the town boasts a fireworks festival each Saturday during August and an annual Carnival procession. The R.N.L.I have a lifeboat stationed in Swanage, close to Peveril Point
Peveril Point
Peveril Point is a promontory forming the easternmost part of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England, and is part of the town of Swanage.It is located at OS Grid Ref: SZ 041 787.On top is a coastguard hut...
and have a week of celebrations during the summer to raise extra funds.
Much of the beach and foreshore is owned by Swanage Council who purchased it in 1930 from the Crown Estate however they have since sold much of the north part of the beach, which is now privately owned. The first section of private beach is called Oceanbay. There is a slipway here and watersports people are welcome to enjoy the sand and launch boats and personal watercraft at this location for a small fee.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
takes place under the piers and at nearby coastal wrecks. Swanage is considered by many to be the home of British Scuba diving as not only is it one of the most popular sea water training sites for dive schools and clubs to take trainee divers due to the sheltered conditions within the bay, but the dive school still situated on the pier was the first dive school ever to open in Great Britain.
Swanage acts is a destination for PS Waverley
PS Waverley
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973...
, the last sea going paddle steamer in the world, at the end of the summer season. Typically the route runs from the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, Swanage and Weymouth and the return journey back.
There is a sailing club, established in 1935 to the immediate south of the pier.
Swanage has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, which recently became home to a new skate park (which continues to expand though fund raising by locals) and a new hi-tech play area, funded in a similar way to the skate park. Planning applications have been submitted by the Trust for a sports pavilion.
The sea cliffs and quarries to the west of Swanage provide excellent venues for rock climbing.
There are two public swimming pools at the former Municipal campsite - and another at Ulwell Caravan Park is also open to the public as well as running children's swimming lessons and aqua aerobic sessions.
The surrounding areas make for excellent walking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and as such the town is a popular destination for hikers who use the town as base. Many beauty spots are in walkable distance, while never being too far from refreshment.
Cultural references
Swanage is stated as the hometown of John CleeseJohn Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
's character Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty is the main character of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, played by John Cleese. The character is often thought of as an iconic British comedy character, and has been deemed unforgettable despite only a dozen half-hour episodes ever being made....
in the sitcom Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
.
James Blunt
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
's video "Carry You Home" was filmed in Swanage.
The first episode of the second series of British comedy, The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom which aired for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show follows the life of suburban teenager Will , and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The Inbetweeners Movie was...
, is based mainly in Swanage. The episode is titled "The Field Trip", although this episode was filmed in Littlehampton
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
, not actually Swanage.
In literature
Swanage is called Knollsea in Thomas HardyThomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
’s novels. In The Hand of Ethelberta
The Hand of Ethelberta
The Hand of Ethelberta is a novel by Thomas Hardy, published in 1876. It was written, in serial form, for the Cornhill Magazine, which was edited by Leslie Stephen, a friend and mentor of Hardy's.-Plot summary:...
it is described as “…a seaside village lying snug within two headlands as between a finger and thumb”.
In E.M. Forster's Howards End
Howards End
Howards End is a novel by E. M. Forster, first published in 1910, which tells a story of class struggle in turn-of-the-century England. The main theme is the difficulties, troubles, and also the benefits of relationships between members of different social classes...
, Margaret and Mr. Wilcox first kiss there at the end of an evening's stroll, and the town is mentioned frequently throughout the book.
"The Lady Margaret", one of the linked short stories in Keith Roberts
Keith Roberts
Keith John Kingston Roberts , was an English science fiction author. He began publishing with two stories in the September 1964 issue of Science Fantasy magazine, "Anita" and "Escapism.Several of his early stories were written using the pseudonym...
', Pavane
Pavane (novel)
Pavane by Keith Roberts is an alternate history science fiction fix-up novel first published by Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd in 1968. Most of the original stories were published in Science Fantasy...
has Swanage as the place where Jesse Strange meets an old school friend and fails to establish a relationship with his childhood sweetheart Margaret.
International artist and writer, Philip Sugden
Philip Sugden
Philip Sugden studied art in Paris under French painter, Arnaud D'Hauterives . After graduating from the New York School of Visual Arts and the Paris American Academie des Beaux Arts in Paris, he made twelve journeys throughout the Himalaya and Tibet, including the Kingdom of Mustang and Ladakh...
was born and raised in Swanage. He is known for his drawings and paintings of India and Tibet, and his books entitled, Visions From The Fields of Merit (Floating Temple Press) and White Lotus (Snow Lion Publishers).
See also
- List of places on the Jurassic Coast
- Swanage rail and bus stationSwanage railway stationSwanage railway station is a railway station located in Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in the English county of Dorset. Originally the terminus of a London and South Western Railway branch line from Wareham, the line and station were closed by British Rail in 1972...
- List of Dorset beaches
Local villages:
- Corfe Castle
- Harman's CrossHarman's CrossHarman's Cross is a small village on the Isle of Purbeck, in the county of Dorset in the south of England. It is situated on the A351 road between Swanage and Corfe Castle.The village is located in the civil parish of Worth Matravers...
- Kingston, Purbeck, DorsetKingston, Purbeck, DorsetKingston is a small village on the Isle of Purbeck in the county of Dorset in southern England.-Location:Kingston is situated about two miles south of Corfe Castle and five miles west of Swanage. The village of Kingston is situated on a hill near Swyre Head, the highest point of the Purbeck Hills...
- Langton MatraversLangton MatraversLangton Matravers is a small village on the Isle of Purbeck, in the county of Dorset in the south of England.Langton Matravers is part of the Purbeck local government district and is within the South Dorset constituency of the House of Commons and the South West England constituency of the European...
- Worth MatraversWorth MatraversWorth Matravers is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. The village is situated on the cliffs west of Swanage. It comprises limestone cottages and farm houses and is built around a pond, which is a regular feature on postcards of the Isle of Purbeck.The civil parish stretches...