Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum

29/08/2026

Here are our September and October opening dates

Purbeck Mining Museum will be open 11:00 – 16:00, last entry 15:30 as follows:

- September, we will be open Tues, Weds, Sat and Sun
- October, weekends only

Our last opening day of 2026 will be 1 November, after which the museum will close for the winter.

We have a few extra opening days:
Friday 11 September – Swanage Railway autumn steam gala
Weds, Thurs and Fri 28, 29 and 30 October – school half-term

Visit Us Purbeck Mining Museum is located on the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, near Corfe Castle in Dorset. Find us at Purbeck Park, next to Norden Station. Our postcode is BH20 5DW. What3words ///yelled.correct.evening 2026 opening times Purbeck Mining Museum will be open 11:00 – 16:00, last entry 1...

22/08/2026

Purbeck Mining Museum was delighted to host a group of friends for a special guided tour today. If you would like a guided tour for your club or group, please get in touch!
https://purbeckminingmuseum.org/contact-us/

18/08/2026

Meet Paola, one of the volunteers at Purbeck Mining Museum

After a long career as an Electronic Engineer, Paola joined Purbeck Mining Museum as a volunteer when she retired in 2022.

Starting as a Front of House volunteer, she now also helps with everything from the museum’s website and social media to volunteer recruitment, training and administration.

But it’s meeting visitors that she enjoys most.

“Every time I volunteer, I meet new people, many of whom have fascinating stories to tell about their working life and hobbies.”

Paola particularly loves helping younger visitors get involved with activities including ‘Hunt the Norden Nippers’ and ‘Clay Mine Super Sleuth’, bringing the history and engineering of Purbeck’s clay industry to life.

“It’s great to see children engaging with history and engineering, with the hope that this will inspire their studies when they get back to school.”

Purbeck Mining Museum is located at Norden, right alongside Swanage Railway. Next time you’re travelling with us, why not stop by and discover more about the fascinating history of Purbeck’s clay industry and its narrow-gauge railways?

18/08/2026

New Woodland Clay Trail open at Purbeck Mining Museum

https://purbeckminingmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Purbeck_Clay_Trail_2026.pdf

With thanks to Dorset Council Heathland Mitigation Fund.

(Photo: Andrew P M Wright)

13/07/2026

Purbeck Mining Museum was delighted to participate in the What's Beneath archaeological and geological festival last weekend on the beautiful Isle of Purbeck. Thanks very much for inviting us!

28/06/2026

A huge thank you to Paul Abbott for the donation of the chimney from the historic steam locomotive Tiny which was scrapped around 80 years ago. We now have the chimney on view in the main building at Purbeck Mining Museum.

27/06/2026

Thanks to Swanage Railway Trust 200 club, Purbeck Mining Museum has some new seating! Visit us to try it out!

06/06/2026

Wondering what the kids can do on a rainy day? At Purbeck Mining Museum we have a new children's activity about the Norden Nippers. Come and try our new trail!
https://purbeckminingmuseum.org/visit-us/

04/06/2026

Great video from Swanage Railway showing visitors at Purbeck Mining Museum
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1013541627810747

02/06/2026

A nice article about Purbeck Mining Museum in the Bournemouth Echo

More than 40 pre-1957 Citroën vehicles visited Purbeck Mining Museum in Norden as part of the three-day Jurassic Coast Rally.