Purbeck Mining Museum
About This Museum
You'd never guess that the sleepy Purbeck hills hide a labyrinth of tunnels below, but this museum is the gateway to that secret world. It's a wonderfully unpretentious place, all housed within the rugged, functional buildings of what was once a real clay mine. The air inside feels different—cool and heavy with the scent of old stone and history. It doesn't feel like a curated exhibit so much as a place where the miners have just clocked out for the day.
Collection Highlights
You can get hands-on with the massive, grease-stained machinery used to haul clay, from towering crushers to the narrow-gauge locomotives that ran right into the hillside. Don't miss the collection of miner's lamps casting long shadows or the personal snapshots and tools that tell quiet stories of a tough, vanished way of life.
Visitor Information
It's tucked away in Purbeck Park in Norden, super easy to find with plenty of parking. Just check their website for opening times before you go, as they can be seasonal.
Architecture & Building
A no-frills, industrial complex of sturdy stone and corrugated iron buildings that were built for hard work, not for show.
Contact & Location
Address: Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum, BP Company Road, Corfe Castle, Dorset, England, BH20 5DW, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1929 481461
Website: Visit Website
