England’s first natural World
Heritage Site!!
From baking deserts to
tropical seas, an ancient fossil forest and dinosaur infested
swamps; the Dorset and East Devon coast provides a fascinating
glimpse into the ancient past including the entire Jurassic
period.
Between Orcombe Rocks in Exmouth, Devon and Studland Bay
in Dorset, the Jurassic Coast Natural World Heritage Site gives a
unique insight into life in the past through the rocks exposed
along the 95 miles of beautiful coastline. There are 185 million
years of Earth History for you to explore. Walk along the South
West Coast Path and walk through time; discovering the Mesozoic
Era, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth!
The Coast of East Devon reveals the rocks of the Triassic period with the richest
Mid-Triassic reptile sites in Britain. Imagine a hot semi-arid
landscape with rivers where large reptiles, amphibians and fish
dominate the scene.
The Jurassic period is
represented between Pinhay in Devon and Kimmeridge in Dorset,
providing a complete record of every stage of the Jurassic
period with exceptional fossils. Marine reptiles continue to
be found providing new species. A remarkable new specimen of
Scelidosauras dinosaur and many other fossils often with
exceptional preservation make this coast a world class venue for
paleontology.
The
Cretaceous period, unconformable above
the Triassic and Jurassic rocks for much of the site records a
marine transgression. In the Purbeck Formation the Jurassic to
early Cretaceous terrestrial sequence is one of the finest in the
world. At the far eastern end of the World Heritage Site, Old Harry
rocks which are prominent sea stacks of Chalk are the youngest
Mesozoic rocks exposed on the site.
The natural processes acting upon the rocks along the whole of the
coast have formed today’s attractive landscape including
spectacular and world famous features such as Lulworth Cove, Durdle
Door and Gad Cliff. Inland, the chalk ridge divides the older rocks
from much younger Tertiary age clays and sands that give rise to
the open heathland surrounding Poole Harbour. The great diversity
of rocks that underlies Purbeck has created a varied range of soils
on which a number of habitats have developed. The heathlands, chalk
grassland and reed beds are of international importance for
wildlife, including butterflies, birds and plants.
Since Roman times the rocks, and particularly the Purbeck
Marble, have been used for decorative stone across the country.
Quarrying for Purbeck Stone continues today in the vicinity of
Langton Matravers, Acton and Kingston. Permission to visit some of
the working quarries can be obtained from their owners.
Fossils:
Fossils may be picked up from Purbeck's beaches. Fossil
hunters: please do not hammer indiscriminately or into the cliffs.
Use of geological hammers is not permitted at Kimmeridge. Metal
detectors may not be used unless you have specific written
permission from site owners. For a copy of the fossil collecting
code, contact 01305 224477 or visit the
Jurassic Coast website.
For more information on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site,
call into Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre, The Square, Swanage.
Tel: 01929 421427 or email:
shc@purbeck-dc.gov.uk
Links:
Contact Details:
Further details about Dorset’s famous geology can be obtained
from the World Heritage Team at Dorset County Council, tel. 01305
224285.
To speak to someone in our Tourist Information Centre, please call
01929 552740 or email us at tic@purbeck-dc.gov.uk.