History of Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck

Isle of Purbeck History explore the past in Swanage & the Isle of Purbeck

Swanage is a seaside town located on the south coast of England, in the county of Dorset. The town has a rich history dating back to the pre Roman era, and has been shaped by a variety of different cultural influences throughout the centuries.

Burial mounds around the common of Corfe Castle suggest that the area was occupied from 6000 BC. The earliest known inhabitants of the area were the Celts, who settled in the region around 400 BC. The common also points to a later Celtic field system worked by the Durotriges tribe.

The Romans arrived in the area around AD 43, establishing a small settlement. This settlement was primarily used as a port for the transportation of goods and people, and it is believed that the Romans also mined the nearby Purbeck Hills for minerals such as iron and lead.

After the Romans left in the 5th century, the area was settled by the Anglo-Saxons. The town of Swanage was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, and has been known as Swanawic, Swanwich and Sandwich until it was finally named Swanage.

During the Middle Ages, Swanage was a small fishing village that remained relatively isolated for many centuries. However, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the town grew and developed as a popular tourist destination. The first visitors were wealthy Victorians who came to Swanage to enjoy the sea and the beautiful countryside. The town's popularity as a tourist destination continued to grow throughout the 19th century, and by the early 20th century, Swanage had become a popular destination for middle-class families.

In the 20th century, Swanage continued to grow and develop as a tourist destination, and it also became a popular spot for holidaymakers from London and the surrounding areas. The town's population increased significantly during this period, and many new homes and businesses were built to accommodate the growing number of visitors.

Today, Swanage is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, charming Victorian architecture, and rich history. The town is also home to several museums and heritage sites, including the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum near Corfe Castle, which tells the story of the town's industrial past. The town's popularity as a tourist destination has helped to preserve its unique character and heritage, and it continues to attract visitors from all over the world.

A brief history of the Isle of Purbeck from -8000 BC to present.

8000BC

First known settlement

The first known settlement of Dorset was by Mesolithic hunters, from around 8000 BC. Their populations were small and concentrated along the coast in the Isle of Purbeck, Weymouth, Chesil Beach, and along the Stour valley.

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6000BC

Burial mounds around Corfe Common

Burial mounds around the common of Corfe Castle suggest that the area was occupied from 6000BC. The common also points to a later Celtic field system worked by the Durotriges tribe.

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2800BC

Stonehenge

Stonehenge was built in several stages from 2800 - 1800 BC.

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2000BC

Standing Stones at Rempstone

The bronze age Standing Stones at Rempstone erected. They are thought to date to around 2200-1400 BC

43

Roman Quarrying and Settlement

The Romans arrived in Dorset soon after their invasion of Britain in AD 43. Under Roman supervision, the quarrying of Purbeck stone and Purbeck marble expanded significantly. The distinctive marble was used for decorative purposes in buildings as far away as London. Romano-British graves, coins, and building materials have been found in Swanage.

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410

End of Roman Rule

Roman rule ended in the mid-5th century. Quarrying largely ceased and most of the Roman settlement was destroyed during the subsequent period of barbarian invasions. Life, however, continued in the area.

877

Danish fleet wrecked

A Danish fleet of ships is wrecked off of the coast at Swanage.

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877

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The ancient Mill House and Pond, in the heart of Swanage, was first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in this year.

18 Mar 978

Edward the Martyr

Edward the Martyr was king of the English from 975 until he was murdered in 978 probably at or near the mound on which the ruins of Corfe Castle now stand.

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1080

Corfe Castle built

Corfe Castle was built by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066

1100

St. Nicholas of Myra church

The St. Nicholas of Myra church in Worth was first built in about 1100

1140

Norman Chapel built

The Norman Chapel at St Aldhelm's Head is built. The Chapel is named after the first bishop of Sherborne.

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1200

Construction of the Church of St Mary the Virgin

The 13th-century parish church of St Mary was built, overlooking The Mill Pond. The tower dates from the 14th century. The church contains memorials to local sailors and a monument commemorating a naval engagement in 1758.

1297

First Rector of Swanage

The Rev. Henry Terry was made the first Rector of Swanage.

1300

Godlingston Manor built

Godlingston Manor, the medieval house at the northern end of Swanage is built. It originally comprised of an open hall with a cross passage, service wing, tower and parlour. The tower is probably defensive and may predate the rest of the house.

1338

French Invade

Swanage was burned and plundered by French raiders

1594

The Bells

One of the earliest recorded church bells was installed in St Mary's Church.

1615

King James 1st

King James was the last king to hunt in the Isle of Purbeck.

1643

First siege of Corfe Castle

First siege of Corfe Castle

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1646

Second siege of Corfe Castle

The second siege, in 1646, was resisted for two months before the castle was betrayed by a member of the garrison. After its capture, the castle was slighted (destroyed) with some explosives and mainly by undermining to ensure that it could never stand again as a Royalist stronghold.

1666

Great Fire of London Boosts Purbeck Stone Trade

Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, there was a huge increase in demand for Purbeck stone for the capital's reconstruction. It became more economical to load stone directly onto ships from Swanage rather than transporting it overland to Poole. This transformed Swanage from a small fishing village into a busy shipping port.

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1701

Construction of the Manor House

Thomas Chapman built a Manor House in Swanage. It later became the Manor House Hotel and then the Royal Victoria Hotel.

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1705

Congregational chapel

Congregational chapel built, rebuilt in 1837

1744

John Wesley preached at Swanage

John Wesley preached at Swanage. He stayed at a house in the High Street, The house was later named Wesley Cottage. It was destroyed by a German bomb in world war 2

1752

The Square and Compass

The Square and Compass Pub at Worth Matravers built.

1754

Old mill was rebuilt

The old mill was rebuilt

1762

Major Fire at Wareham

In 1762, a fire destroyed two thirds of the town, which has been rebuilt in Georgian architecture with red brick and Purbeck limestone, following the Roman street pattern.

1778

Wareham South Bridge rebuilt

The southern bridge at Wareham was rebuilt to replace the one which dated back to the 11th century.

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1788

John Mowlem born

John Mowlem was born in an ancient cottage in what is now Court Hill. He was the founder of the well known London contractors. He was a poor quarry boy until he made his way to London to seek his fortune. Guernsey granite rather than Purbeck stone brought him wealth and he retired to Swanage in 1844. He is responsible for the building of the monument on the sea front, the Albert the Good monument at the top of Court Hill (no longer there) and the Mowlem Institute. He bought land from the area which is now Kings Road to Ulwell.

1793

Church Hill Cottages

The cottages in Church Hill built

1801

First Census

The first census was taken in Swanage. 300 houses and a population of 1382.

1803

First Policeman and Lock-Up Built

The first Policeman in Swanage started work here. The Swanage Lock-Up was constructed behind the site of the future Town Hall. It is now a scheduled ancient monument.

1807

Wesleyan chapel

The old Wesleyan chapel was built

1810

End of quarrying at Tilly Whim

Tilly Whim was last quarried in 1810

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1816

George Burt was born

George Burt was born. He was the nephew of John Mowlem. He brought two items from London, the Wellington clock tower at Peveril and the 17th century facade from the Mercers Hall in Cheapside which he used for his new town hall in 1864. He bought land from Sentry Fields (at the top of Seymore Road) to Durlston. George Burt provided Swanage with a pure water supply, gas, drainage and the railway.

1822

John Mowlem Establishes His Business

John Mowlem started his own business as a stone merchant at Pimlico Basin, London, winning contracts for paving London's streets including Fleet Street and the Strand. This company would evolve into the internationally known Mowlem construction firm.

1823

Seafront Road built

A road was built along the seafront, one of the first steps in developing Swanage as a seaside destination.

1825

Foundation Stone of Marine Villas Laid

The foundation stone of Marine Villas was laid on 24 February 1825 — a bath house, billiard room, and coffee house designed by Charles Wallis of Dorchester for William Morton Pitt, MP for Dorset. It included four salt-water baths replenished by the sea at high tide. Their remains can still be seen through glass panels in the floor of the present-day building on Swanage Pier.

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12 Oct 1826

First Cemetery

The parish's first detached cemetery is consecrated across the road from St Mary's Church.

1833

Queen Victoria Visits

Princess Victoria, later Queen Victoria, spent a night at the Manor House Hotel. It was later renamed the Royal Victoria Hotel

16 Nov 1834

The old brewery burns down

The Old Brewery situated between the goods yard and Kings Road is burnt to the ground. The flames shot up to 150 feet and two thirds of the bay were covered in half an inch of black ash.

1843

Town hall built

George Burt built Swanage Town Hall. Its façade was adorned with the entire 17th-century stone frontage from the Mercers' Hall in Cheapside, London, one of many London architectural relics that Burt and Mowlem transported to Swanage as ballast in their ships, earning the town the nickname "Old London by the Sea."

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1845

Blue Pool

Blue Pool started to be dug for clay works

1854

Wellington Clock Tower Erected in London

The Wellington Clock Tower, commemorating the Duke of Wellington, was originally erected at the south end of London Bridge in 1854. It was later removed and re-erected in Swanage in 1867–68 at the southern end of the bay on the seafront, another of the London relics brought to the town.

1855

St Marks school built

St Marks school at Herston was built

12 Oct 1856

First Cemetery

Swanage's second cemetery is built at the west end of Northbrook Road. The site coves 1 ½ acres.

1859

Construction of the Original Swanage Pier

The original Swanage Pier was constructed by James Walton of London for the Swanage Pier and Tramway Company, and opened by John Mowlem. It was built primarily for shipping Purbeck stone. Horses pulled carts along a narrow gauge tramway running along the pier and seafront.

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1860

Rebuilding of the Church of St Mary

Much of the Church of St Mary was rebuilt from 1860, though the medieval tower was retained.

1862

King Alfred Column Erected

John Mowlem built a monument on the promenade to celebrate King Alfred the Great's victory over the Danes in 877. It is topped with a stack of cannonballs, weapons that would not be used at sea for at least 500 years after Alfred's time.

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1862

Albert the Good

A monument in memory of Price Albert is erected by John Mowlem in the High Street above Court Hill.

1863

Mowlem Institute built

Mowlem Institute built by John Mowlem. He built it as a reading room "for the benefit and mutual improvement of the working class"

1863

Population of 1173

Population of Swanage was 1173

1863

George Burt Purchases the Durlston Estate

George Burt purchased an estate at Durlston, described at the time as "a semi-industrial landscape, combining rough pasture and treeless downland, pitted with old stone workings." He set about transforming it into an ornamental landscape and planned residential development.

1868

Death of John Mowlem

John Mowlem died at Old Purbeck House in Swanage in his 80th year, having devoted his retirement years to philanthropic work in the town. He gave money to charities, churches, and the poor, and invested in roads, the pier, and attempts to bring the railway to Swanage.

1869

Saint Marks church built

Herston (saint Marks) church built

1869

Swanage gasworks built

Swanage gasworks built

1870

La Belle Vue Restaurant Built

George Burt built "La Belle Vue" restaurant at the entrance to the Durlston Park Estate on Belle Vue Road, as part of his grand plans for the area.

1874

Mount Scar first school opened

Swanage Combined School (now Mount Scar first school) opened.

1874

Pleasure Steamers Introduced

Pleasure steamer services began between Swanage, Bournemouth, and Poole, increasing the need for improved pier facilities and boosting tourism.

1875

first lifeboat

The first lifeboat, the Charlotte Mary, came to Swanage

1875

Purbeck House built

Purbeck House built on the High Street

1875

Thomas Hardy Lives in Swanage

The novelist Thomas Hardy and his wife Emma moved to Swanage, where he wrote The Hand of Ethelberta (serialised from July 1875, published 1876). Hardy renamed Swanage as "Knollsea" in the novel and famously observed that "everybody in the parish who was not a boatman was a quarrier." The Hardys walked daily on the Durlston cliffs.

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24 Jan 1879

Annie Margretta

The 500 ton Norwegian timber schooner Annie Margretta was lost beneath Ballard Head. Rescue efforts were hampered by strong easterly winds.

1880

Swanage Bay Frozen

Swanage Bay was frozen in the coldest winter on record for the area.

1882

Light House built

Swanage Lighthouse was built by Trinity House on the clifftop at Anvil Point, near Durlston Castle, between 1880 and 1882. It was opened by Joseph Chamberlain, then President of the Board of Trade. The imperative was a series of shipwrecks, culminating in the loss of the sailing ship Alexandrovna with her 77 crew on Ragged Rocks.

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1882

Swanage Town Hall Rebuilt/Completed

The Town Hall, designed by G. R. Crickmay of Weymouth, was completed during the early 1880s. Its most distinctive feature is the 17th-century stone façade from the Mercers' Hall in Cheapside, London, brought to Swanage by George Burt.

1885

Swanage railway opened

The first public train left Swanage in May 1885, thanks largely to the efforts of George Burt, who had long championed extending the railway from Wareham. The London and South Western Railway Company built the line. Its arrival transformed accessibility and boosted the town's popularity as a seaside resort.

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1887

Durlston Castle and the Great Globe

Durlston Castle was designed by the Weymouth architect G. R. Crickmay and built by W. M. Hardy in 1886–87 entirely of local stone. It was purpose-built by George Burt as a restaurant for visitors to his estate. The Great Globe — one of the largest stone spheres in the world, 10 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 40 tonnes and constructed from 15 segments of Portland stone — was made at Mowlem's stone yard at Greenwich and erected at Durlston in 1887.

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1889

Grand Hotel built

The Grand Hotel was built overlooking Swanage Bay, reflecting the town's rising status as a fashionable Victorian seaside resort.

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1890

Swanage Cottage Hospital built

Swanage Cottage Hospital was built in Queens Road on the southern side of Swanage

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1892

Ballard Down Obelisk erected

After being demolished in London the Ballard Down Obelisk was transported to Swanage and erected by George Burt above the Ulwell Gap. It toppled over and was re-erected again the following year.

1896

Old Harry's Wife collapses

Old Harry's Wife collapses into the sea.

1896

New Pier Constructed and Opened

A second, larger pier was constructed primarily for use by pleasure steamers, opening to the public in 1897. This greatly increased the town's appeal and visitor numbers.

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1899

Police Station built

The police station was built

1899

Marconi's Early Wireless Experiments at Durlston

A team of Guglielmo Marconi's engineers used the roof of Durlston Castle for some of their early wireless experiments, transmitting to the Isle of Wight. This connected Swanage to the pioneering development of radio communication.

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1904

Sea wall built

The sea wall was built

1911

Swanage Conservative Club built

The Conservative Club in Kings Road is built by the third Earl of Eldon.

1912

Antartic Expedition

Edgar Evans left the house he was living in at 82 High Street to travel with Captain Robert Scott and three other companions on their ill-fated Antartic Expedition to the south pole.

10 Mar 1914

Swanage Flooded

Swanage town centre was flooded after heavy rain. The rain started on Saturday night and did not stop until Monday evening.

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1921

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church, the red brick built church in the High Street opens its doors for the first time. The foundation stones were laid the previous year by Beatrice Ellen Beebe and Pastor James Wicks.

1929

Swanage Grammar School Founded

Swanage Grammar School was established, serving the town until 1974 when local government education reforms led to its closure.

12 Jul 1933

Edward, Price of Wales drops in on Swanage

Gale force winds forced the princes plane to make an emergency landing during a trip to Weymouth. The plane landed in a field near Godlingston Farm and the Prince was given a lift to Weymouth by Captin F.R. Bacon of the brickworks.

1936

The Mill Pond closes

The last sack of corn from Herson is ground in the Mill House at the Mill Pond off of Church Hill.

1940

Ballard Down Obelisk dismantled

The Ballard Down Obelisk was dismantled due to the fear that it might be used as a navigational aid by German pilots.

1940

Swanage During World War II

During the war, gun emplacements and pillboxes were built along the shoreline. Swanage Pier was partially destroyed to prevent it being used by enemy forces in the event of an invasion. An OBOE radar navigation station was established where Durlston Country Park now sits. Secret radio spy stations monitoring German radar signals were established at Craig-Y-Don House in Belle Vue Road, Swanage. On D-Day, radio communications passed through a link on Godlingston Hill.

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May 1940

Telecommunications Research Establishment

In May 1940, approximately 200 radar research scientists, engineers, and technicians relocated from Dundee to Worth Matravers, a few miles from Swanage. The establishment was renamed the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) in November 1940. Within two years, the workforce expanded to around 2,000, and many were billeted in Swanage. Their work on 10-centimetre (microwave) radar was groundbreaking, contributing to the development of the rotating aerial and the Plan Position Indicator (PPI) display — the basis of modern radar screens. Forres School in Swanage was used as a radar training establishment.

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13 Jun 1940

HMS Abel Tasman sunk

While entering the entrance to Poole Harbour the HMS Abel Tasman hit a German mine and was blown to pieces. All 11 crew members were killed.

20 Apr 1942

Air Raid on Swanage

An air raid by German bombers damaged houses in Cornwall Road and buildings in Station Road

14 May 1942

Air Raid on Swanage

An air raid by German bombers damaged Wesley's Cottage.

13 Jul 1942

Air Raid on Swanage

An air raid by German bombers injured 3 people and damaged buildings in Park Road.

8 Aug 1942

Air Raid on Swanage

An air raid by two German Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighters that were each carrying single 250-kg bombs. They machine-gunned people on the beach and promenade before releasing their bombs, one of which destroyed the Westminster Bank in Institute Road and other fell in the sea. They killed 8 people and wounded 39. Several other buildings in Institute Road were damaged as were The Narrows in the High Street and St Mary's Church.

23 Aug 1942

Air Raid on Swanage

An air raid by German bombers killed 5 people and wounded 9. Buildings in the Square suffered extensive damage including Swanage Dairies and The Ship Inn.

1951

Purbeck Golf Club bought by Enid Blyton

The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club is purchased by children's author Enid Blyton and her husband Kenneth Darrel-Waters.

1954

Punch and Judy

The first Punch and Judy show came to Swanage

1956

All Saints Church

All Saints Church in Ulwell Road was built by George Parsons of Swanage.

1966

Last Pleasure Steamer Departs

The last pleasure steamer departed from Swanage Pier. The pier was left to fall into disuse and disrepair.

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1970

Agglestone Rock falls over

Agglestone Rock falls over onto it's side.

1972

Swanage railway closed

The Swanage branch line was closed by British Rail as part of the Beeching-era network-wide cutbacks.

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1973

Ballard Down Obelisk rebuilt

The Ballard Down Obelisk was rebuilt by a group of Royal Engineers.

1973

Dorset County Council Purchases Durlston Castle

Durlston Castle and surrounding land were purchased by Dorset County Council, eventually becoming Durlston Country Park, which is open to the public as a 280-acre nature reserve.

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1974

Durlston Country Park

Durlston Country Park is opened to the public. Durlston Country Park is a 280 acre nature reserve stretched along the coast of the Isle of Purbeck near Swanage in Dorset, England. The park, which is part of the Jurassic Coast world heritage site, has been owned by Dorset county council since the early 1970s and is mostly open access.

1975

Swanage Railway Preservation Begins

A group of local railway enthusiasts formed a charitable organisation to restore and preserve the Swanage branch line, founding the Swanage Railway heritage steam railway.

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1976

Belle Vue Cliffs bought by National Trust

Belle View Cliffs, west of Durlston Country Park is bought by the National Trust.

1979

Railway re-opened.

Swanage steam railway re-opened thanks to the work by volunteers.

1980

Dinosaur footprints

30 dinosaur footprints were discovered in Townsend Road

1990

Major Flooding

Swanage was flooded, an area covering most of the lower part of Northbrook road, Kings Road, Victoria Av was under water and the car park and King Georges field was under more than 7 feet of water. The town had to bee closed to traffic and many people were evacuated from their homes by boat.

1993

Flood Alleviation Scheme Completed

A large-scale flood alleviation scheme was completed, including a banjo-shaped jetty at the end of Victoria Avenue designed to outlet rainwater and prevent future flooding.

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1994

Pier Restoration Begins

A group of local residents launched a project to restore Swanage Pier to its former glory, forming the Swanage Pier Trust.

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1995

Virtual Swanage launched

This website was first launched in 1995 with 4 pages!

1996

Last paddle steamer

The Embassy, the last paddle steamer to make regular trips to and from Swanage made its final visit here.

1997

First stage of flood scheme

First stage of the flood scheme finished

1999

Top of pier rebuilt

The top section of the main pier reopened after being completely rebuilt.

2000

Flood alleviation scheme finished

Swanage Flood alleviation scheme finished, it is supposed to stop the town from flooding ever again

2001

Major flooding

Major flooding in the town after a day's rain !!!

2001

Jurassic Coast Designated as World Heritage Site

The Dorset and East Devon Coast, stretching 96 miles from Exmouth to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001, for its outstanding geological value spanning 185 million years. It is England's only natural World Heritage Site. Swanage sits at its eastern terminus.

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2001

Radar Memorial Unveiled at St Aldhelm's Head

A memorial to the wartime radar research at Worth Matravers was unveiled at St Aldhelm's Head, overlooking the cliffs where the pioneering work took place.

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2002

Major Flooding

Swanage is flooded again after heavy rain. Flood water averaging eight inches in depth flooded a number of homes, shops and businesses in the town.

31 May 2002

Large Fire

Major fire in the town centre on 31st May. The chip shop in the square is completely gutted with the top 2 floors having smoke damage.

2005

Beach recharge scheme

Swanage Beach recharge scheme adds new sand back to the beach

2006

Lottery grant

Durlston Country Park win £3.2m from a lottery grant

2007

Corfe Castle repairs

Major repairs started on Corfe Castle

29 Jun 2011

Swanage Library reopens

Following an extensive refurbishment programme, Swanage Library reopened after six months of improvement work.

17 Nov 2011

Durlston Castle reopens

Work at Durlston Castle started in May 2010 with the help of a £5.5m Heritage Lottery Fund contribution. The Castle now has a new visitor centre, gallery, shop and cinema room.

2013

Government Grant for Swanage Railway Main Line

The Swanage Railway obtained a government grant of £1.47 million to reintroduce regular services connecting to the main line at Wareham.

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Sep 2013

Swanage opens first secondary free school

The Swanage School is an independently run secondary school which will be moving to a new purpose built school on the old Middle School site in 2014

1 Dec 2013

Seafront Stabilisation Project Starts

Work started on the new seafront stabilisation project and work in the Broad Road car park to reduce the risk of land slides.

Feb 2014

Flooding and Cliff Falls

After strong storms parts of the lower High Street had flooding and large sections of the cliffs at Ocean Bay collapsed onto beach huts and the beach

25 Apr 2014

The Swanage School

The new Swanage School built on the site of the older Swanage Middle School opened.

Aug 2019

Purbeck Coast radio Station

In August 2019 a new local community radio startion was launched which is based on Swanage pier. You can listen on 101.2FM

2022

Demolition of Swanage Grammar School

Work started on the demolition of Swanage Grammar School in Northbrook Road established in 1929 and closed in 1974. A new housing estate is planned for the old Grammar School site and fields.

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2023

Swanage Pier "Foundations for the Future"

A Heritage Lottery Funded project, "Foundations for the Future," restored Swanage Pier, including the replacement of 42 timber piles and large sections of decking. Marine Villas was also completely redeveloped to house a café, exhibition space, and gift shop.

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2023

Wareham Rail Service Restored

A regular four-day-per-week rail service from Wareham was restored between April and September.

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Key Sources for Further Study

This document was compiled from multiple online and published sources. Dates and details have been cross-referenced where possible, but readers are encouraged to consult the cited sources for further verification and depth.

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