Purbeck as a land mass
20 million years ago was much further south and was made up
primarily of muddy swamps and lagoons. At this time dinosaurs and
other prehistoric creatures lived in the region.
As time went on layers of mud and rock became compacted and the
land mass moved northwards. As the European and African plates
collided, this landmass buckled in a ripple effect and this has
created the dramatic scenery and geology that Purbeck is famous for
today.
As the layers were forced up at 90 degrees, dinosaur and ancient
animal fossils were brought to the surface. The exposed chalk and
harder rocks have created majestic formations such as Durdle Door,
Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks. This coastline has now been
designated as a World Heritage Site and is known as the
Jurassic
Coast.
Most representatives of ancient man have been known to have settled
in the district and the name "Purbeck" comes from the Purbik –
meaning a beak shaped ridge frequented by bittern or snipe.
The first most notable settlement in the area was a large
Saxon community at
Wareham, which grew into one of the most
important towns in the country. Due to its status and also its
strategic location, many Viking raids were staged in the area. This
led to the great King Alfred commanding great Saxon walls be built
around Wareham. These can still be seen today, along with the
town’s Saxon grid pattern.
Medieval times brought to the area two castles, one at Wareham
built on the orders of William the Conqueror, and one which
majestically remains at
Corfe Castle, though in now in ruins. There
were many battles in the two civil wars that took part in the area,
with King Stephen and Empress Matilda taking part in a fight for
Wareham Castle.
Thankfully, the latter Civil war was the last of the most violent
times for the area and since then Purbeck has become the quiet
rural area of today.
In Victorian times,
Swanage began a rejuvenation. With the arrival
of entrepreneurs like
George Burt and
John Mowlem (nephew and uncle), the area
made a real name for itself. The company Mowlem was born and is
still in existence today, indeed its local Purbeck stone paved some
of London’s finest streets. The money made by these gentlemen was
always invested back into Swanage and great facades such as the
Town Hall. It also gave rise to the fascinating
Durlston Castle and
Park (external link).
Purbeck stone had always been an important asset for trade and
Purbeck Marble (not really a marble but a compacted layer of
geological rock) was used to decorate the country’s finest
cathedrals.
Agriculture has not only played a part in shaping the area’s
landscape but it has been an important source of local employment.
Much of the area is managed by large estates which have retained
the area’s special qualities over the centuries.
In recent times tourism has overtaken all of these as the major
source of income and provider of employment. Over 4.8 million
people visit the area each year, providing £118 million in direct
visitor spend helping to keep the landscape and Purbeck communities
alive.
More information on the history of Purbeck can be found in our
heritage centres, museums and historic buildings – why not pay them
a visit?
Links:
Contact Details:
To speak to someone in our Tourist Information Centre, please
call 01929 552740 or email us at tic@purbeck-dc.gov.uk.