Purbeck Stone Museum

The Purbeck Stone Museum celebrates Swanage’s rich heritage as a center of stone quarrying and masonry, showcasing the famous Purbeck stone that has built cathedrals, palaces, and monuments across Britain. This fascinating local museum tells the story of the quarrymen, masons, and stone carvers whose skills shaped the landscape and exported Purbeck marble and limestone worldwide. Exhibits include quarrying tools, historical photographs, geological specimens, examples of decorative stonework, and displays explaining quarrying techniques from medieval times to the industrial age. Learn how Purbeck marble graces Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, and countless churches. The museum also covers Swanage’s history as a Victorian seaside resort and the role of stone in building the town. Free entry makes this an excellent stop for understanding the geology and industrial heritage that defined this corner of Dorset.