#isle of purbeck

[maureen2musings]

@ian.explores

[hopefulkidshark]

The Pig - on the beach, Dorset, United Kingdom: Mellow yellow house tucked away along studland bay, the pig-on the beach is truly rural, with uninterrupted views of the long stretches of dorset's sandy beaches and jurassic coastline. Designed in the style that has become the pig’s signature, it features a greenhouse restaurant, panelled cosy retreats with roaring open fires, 28 bedrooms with a touch of luxury but bags of homely charm, and massage treatment rooms tucked away in the shepherd’s huts at the bottom of the gardens.

[opelman]

Signal Box and Standard by Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts Via Flickr: BR 4MT 80104 steams towards Harman's Cross at the start of a Don Bishop/Steam Recreations photo charter on the Swanage Railway. Locomotive: British Railways Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T 80104. Location: Harman's Cross station, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.

[beebees-photography]

Took a trip to Studland, a coastal village in Dorset. Took a walk to Old Harry's Rock and a few of the beaches, including Shell Beach, which you can see Sandbanks from.

[noconcessions]

[historyfiles]

Corfe Castle: the castle's position allows it to dominate a gap in the Purbeck Hills, with the location probably meaning that a fortified site had been established here long before the Norman conquest.

[ltwilliammowett]

The Mortar Wreck

In 2020, archaeologists found a wreck in Swash Channel, near Poole Bay in Dorset, England, believed to be Britain's oldest known wreck with wooden remains in English waters.

The clinker construction of the hull. The wood used here is Irish oak from the 13th century.(x)

The clinker-built remains have been dated to between 1242-1265 thanks to dendrochronology.

The survival of 13th-century vessels is extremely rare, and prior to this discovery, there are no known wrecks of seagoing ships from the 11th to the 14th century in English waters. There are older wrecks dating back to the Bronze Age in English waters but these only comprise the remains of the cargo and no hull structure remains. Here, too, cargo has been preserved.

Parts of the cargo (x)

The presumably 20m long cargo ship, which probably fell victim to a storm, carried mortars, stone kettles, Gothic Purbeck stone gravestones and raw marble from the nearby Isle of Purbeck, as well as a large kettle for cooking soup, a smaller kettle with a long handle and cups covered in concretions, hence the name Mortar Wreck. The finds are now being cleaned and prepared for display at Poole Museum.

One of the Purbeck Stone gravestones (x)

The wreck itself has now been given protected heritage status, but whether it will ever be lifted is unclear.

[venicepearl]

Corfe Castle is a fortification standing above the village of the same name on the Isle of Purbeck peninsula in the English county of Dorset. Built by William the Conqueror, the castle dates to the 11th century and commands a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. The first phase was one of the earliest castles in England to be built at least partly using stone when the majority were built with earth and timber. Corfe Castle underwent major structural changes in the 12th and 13th centuries.

In 1572, Corfe Castle left the Crown's control when Elizabeth I sold it to Sir Christopher Hatton. Sir John Bankes bought the castle in 1635, and was the owner during the English Civil War. While Bankes was fighting in London and Oxford, his wife, Lady Mary Bankes, led the defence of the castle when it was twice besieged by Parliamentarian forces. The first siege, in 1643, was unsuccessful, but by 1645 Corfe was one of the last remaining royalist strongholds in southern England and fell to a siege ending in an assault. In March that year Corfe Castle was slighted on Parliament's orders. Owned by the National Trust, the castle is open to the public and in 2018 received around 237,000 visitors. It is protected as a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Monument.

[projectourworld]

Luck is a thing that comes in many forms, and who can recognise her; Ernest Hemingway

A spectacular sunrise over Corfe Castle, Dorset, surrounded by early morning fog, on the Isle of Purbeck.

Photograph: Rachel Baker/BNPS/Guardian Newspaper #luck #sunrise #sunrisephotography

[whatpandorasaw]

A barrel jellyfish and Atlantic horse mackerel at Kimmeridge Bay, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England

[master-john-uk]

Many people are unaware that the beautiful county of Dorset has a large amount of oil reserves, much of which is untapped.

The first oil well in Dorset was at Kimmeridge Bay, bordering the MoD firing ranges at Lulworth. A single "nodding donkey" pump has been extracting oil form this site since 1959, making it the oldest working oil well in the UK. Kimmeridge Bay is part of a privately owned estate and visitors have to pay a toll to enter the area. The impact of the oil well on the local community has been minimal, but in 2018 it was revealed that the oil production plant has been releasing methane into the atmosphere since pumping began.

The oil spill reported this morning stems from the Wytch Farm oil production site on the Isle of Purbeck. The oil field extends under Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island, Sandbanks and south of Bournemouth. It is the largest on-shore oil field in Western Europe and has been operating since 1979. Fortunately this spill appears to be minor and has been contained, although the public are still being advised to stay away from the area, and not to go into the sea.

In December 2019, South West Energy applied for planning permission to drill a new exploratory oil well near Puddletown, not far from my Dorset Farm. The initial planning application was described as being "farm diversification"! There was huge uproar from the local community and a campaign was launched to stop this application from going ahead.

A little over a year later it appeared that Dorset County Council were set to approve this planning application. Personally, I was livid! I had been denied planning permission to erect a single wind-turbine on my farm because of the "visual impact" it would have in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. [Hmmm, I accept your decision... but it is acceptable to drill a new oil well, which will almost certainly release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, in order to extract fossil fuels which will have an even more harmful effect on the environment?] I suspected that some very large brown envelopes had exchanged hands!

In 2022, South West Energy withdrew their initial planning application. But this was not the victory campaigners were hoping for. Legal advisors recommended that SWE should submit three separate planning applications to cover exploration, building infrastructure and full production. Permission is more likely to be granted in this three phase approach.

I have received no updates on this issue since April 2022. I will be doing a little deeper research as soon as I have time.

[caedmonofwhitby]

Jesus and Mary, 1995

Mary Spencer Watson (1913-2006)

Purbeck stone

This sculpture is made from the same stone as the Cathedral columns.

The artist, Mary Spencer Watson, grew up on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, near where the stone was quarried. She began carving at the age of nine, when she was given her first set of tools.

Her work is inspired by ancient myths, Christian scripture and poetry.

In this sculpture, Jesus and Mary are made from a single piece of stone, highlighting the bond of love between mother and child. Mary's face is hidden but her arms are raised to protect Jesus.

Salisbury Cathedral

[opelman]

Autumn Colours by Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts Via Flickr: BR Standard 4 Tank 80104 heads past Holme Lane towards Norden on the Swanage Railway's northern extension. Seen during a Don Bishop/Steam Recreations photo charter. Locomotive: British Railways Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T 80104. Location: Holme Lane, near Wareham, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.

[mybookplacenet]

Author Interview: Gill Calvin Thomas

Tell us about yourself.: I'm married, live with my husband Phil. My three adult children, have families of their own and are all successful in their own ways. I've retired from academic life and live in Swanage, a seaside town in Dorset. I enjoy walking on the Isle of Purbeck and in other areas in the south west when I get a chance. I enjoy being involved in local politics. I sing with a choir. I also used to sing with a rock roll band supporting the band with harmonies. My husband was their lead guitarist. We've both given up now but miss the camaraderie and the creativity of producing live music for an audience. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I grew up in Pembrokeshire. My mother died when I was three and I've always felt something missing - I guess I've looked for her all my life. My childhood was traumatic after her death, and I left home as soon as I could. Those childhood experiences have coloured the way I am and I have certainly used them when writing my first book. I grew up by the sea and have returned to a similar peninsular here in Dorset. Experiencing the peace and quiet of cliff walking enables me to go into another world of my own making. I build characters and plots in my head as I go. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I don't think so. I tend to proof read as I finish a section, then I read it out loud to myself. I have to print and see the words. Somehow I miss things when I look at the document on my laptop. What authors have influenced you? I grew up in Pembrokeshire. My mother died when I was three and I've always felt something missing - I guess I've looked for her all my life. My childhood was traumatic after her death, and I left home as soon as I could. Those childhood experiences have coloured the way I am and I have certainly used them when writing my first book. I grew up by the sea and have returned to a similar peninsular here in Dorset. Experiencing the peace and quiet of cliff walking enables me to go into another world of my own making. I build characters and plots in my head as I go. Do you have any advice for new authors? As a new author myself-I tried writing a plan - it took me some time and although it was interesting to do, I ended up scrapping it. As I built the characters they took the story over and led me to places I hadn't thought to go. So, trust your characters. Build your story through them. Be persistent. If things aren't going too well, give it a rest and go back when you feel able. What is the best advice you have ever been given? Believe in yourself. Read a lot. What are you reading now? The Romantic by William Boyd What's your biggest weakness? Doubting and questioning myself. Thinking I'm not good enough. What is your favorite book of all time? I always think of Cold Comfort Farm, by Stella Gibbons. It has made me laugh. But I can think of a whole list of favourite books. When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? I like to spend time with my husband, family and friends. I'm a keen nordic walker. I belong to a group and together we have walked the Isle of Purbeck as well as walking in Spain and Italy. My middle son lives in Melbourne with his family, so we are frequent visitors to Australia. I enjoy travel but I don't particularly enjoy flying. Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? When I was a teenager in Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, I spent hours in the library. I read the Dune Trilogy by Frank Herbert and that led me to read a lot of Sci Fi. Before that, as a lonely youngster, I scoured the house for reading matter. I remember reading Zane Grey - cowboy books, and Biggles - I had two older brothers, neither of whom lived at home. What has inspired you and your writing style? I like page turners. When I'm writing I'm there in the room with the characters. I see what I'm writing in colour, in episodes. I admire Kazuo Ishiguro - for me The Remains of the Day is a masterclass in writing. I like subtlety. I'm also inspired by what I don't like. I don't like violence, too much swearing or steamy sex scenes, so I don't use them. What are you working on now? My second book. It's another murder mystery following on from the first. It's set 20 years later, so the characters from the first book are more mature and will be different because of their experiences. There are two themes running side by side. A mother and son fleeing danger and their adventures along the way until they reach sanctuary, (or do they). The other story is of a cult and a murder. They will marry together as the murder is eventually solved. What is your favorite method for promoting your work? Well, as a complete novice I have had to learn to love social media. I'm using Facebook to reach out to friends and local groups, everything is shared to instagram. I've yet to try X, but I have joined Linkedin. My book will be stocked by our Local Book Shop and I have a talk booked in our library. As I have friends and relatives in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, I have reached out to them and hope they will plug my book. I'm taking advice from Blossom Spring Publishers. What's next for you as a writer? Try to finish and get my second book published. Then I want to take my characters and weave a story away from the murder/mystery genre. I admire writers such as Barbara Kingsolver who can take topical themes and keep their readers enthralled. How well do you work under pressure? Pretty well. I was used to working full time but as I'm retired now I can choose what I do. I have had to learn to say NO. When I first left full time work, I did a lot of voluntary work, including working with refugees. I chaired a number of organisation and was a Governor at a local school. I've had to stop in order to write, and that was a pressure. The pressure of guilt. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? I want readers to enjoy my work. I want to develop as a challenging writer - I'm still finding my way. I'm sure most of us have books that we have started and then abandoned. I want to write so readers keep reading, right to the end. If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? Keep reading. There are so many books to enjoy which enrich our lives. Gill Calvin Thomas's Author Websites and Profiles Website Gill Calvin Thomas's Social Media Links Facebook Page Read the full article

[jaydeemedia]

[ad_1] With such a breathtaking stretch of coastline, you’ll want to find the best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast. Whether you are a hiker, a beachgoer, or a do-nothing-er; this guide helps you choose your perfect spot. By: Paul Healy | Published: 12 Apr 2024 span box-shadow: none !important; filter: brightness(1) !important; ]]> With 95 miles of coastline and 185 million years in the making, the Jurassic Coast is a geological marvel, a scenic refresher and a hiker’s paradise. Finding where to stay on the Jurassic Coast is just the start of a great escape to some of the best coastal activities the UK has to offer. Spend an afternoon in rejuvenation mode either hiking along rugged white clifftops or lazing on pebble beaches below them. Take in the Jurassic Coast light via a sunrise excursion to a decaying castle, or under the exposed lightbulbs of a hipster brewery producing artisanal ales. The Jurassic Coast is a 2-hour drive from one end to the other, so it’s important to understand where you want to stay. Pick from a stylish clifftop hotel staring, a shepherd’s hut, a cool treehouse or a traditional pub in a remote location. Whatever accommodation you are after, our guide to the best hotels on the Dorset Coast includes all the regions along the Jurassic Coast to help you plan your next long weekend in the UK. 1 – PURBECK PENINSULA Best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast for superb hikes and dramatic scenery The Purbeck Peninsula is a sixty square mile patch of England, jutting out into the English Channel and bordered on three sides by water. Nowhere along the Jurassic Coast is the scenery more dramatic than in the Purbeck Peninsula. Towering white cliffs and mighty stacks of rock drop precipitously to the sea. Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks – the iconic sights of the south of England – are scattered across the peninsula, connected by scenic hikes on the Jurassic Coast. Just inland, the exceptionally photogenic Corfe Castle and several abandoned villages, add to the remote feel of the region. There are some great Dorset Coastal hotels on the Isle of Purbeck. Remote pubs all alone on the southwest coastal path, grand hotels in charming market towns or a bit of luxury along the bay in Studland. OSMINGTON MILLS SMUGGLERS INN The remote pub with traditionally furnished rooms perched right on the coastal path has stunning views over a rugged stretch of the Dorset coast. BOOKING.COM WAREHAM PRIORY HOTEL A grand hotel in the charming town of Wareham, the Priory Hotel is set within 4 acres of beautiful English cottage gardens. BOOKING.COM | HOTELS.COM STUDLAND PIG ON THE BEACH A gem of a 16th-century manor house on Studland Bay with a commitment to local produce and quality service. BOOKINGS STUDLAND COSY COTTAGE This cosy 3-bedroom cottage sleeps 5 and is ideal for families with all the facilities you’ll need for a Dorset coastal getaway. It’s a lovely 10-minute walk to the beach. VRBO.COM 2 – LYME REGIS  Best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast for a hip and welcoming seaside town There are a few seaside towns along the Jurassic Coast, but the pick of the bunch is Lyme Regis. Unlike some of the tourist-driven towns on the coast, Lyme Regis capitalises on the character of the area. Independent shops stocked with local produce line the high street beside quality restaurants and surprisingly good coffee.  The Lyme Regis micro-brewery perched over a tiny brook is a secret worth knowing about. Down on the front, the part shingle, part sandy beach bends in an arc backed with colourful huts and cute townhouses. It’s a lovely, authentic town with a working harbour that still clamours with activity in the early hours as fishermen head out to sea.   A little further afield, take part in a fossil-hunting expedition at Charmouth or enjoy a circular walk around the weird rock formations of West Bay. The barrel-vaulted, 14th Century Chapel at Abbotsbury is as traditionally English as you could h

ope to find. LYME REGIS CLOVELLY GUEST HOUSE  Great value guest house in the centre of Lyme Regis with help-yourself breakfast and very friendly hosts. The perfect Dorset welcome. BOOKING.COM LYME REGIS COVERDALE A comfortable and spacious 1 bedroom apartment located just 450 metres from the beach, this is a great choice if you’re planning on making the most of the beach. BOOKING.COM LYME REGIS THE PILOT BOAT  The recently refurbished beautiful rooms at the Pilot Boat are complete with finishing touches including robes, slippers and free beer. BOOKING.COM | HOTELS.COM 3 – DORCHESTER  Best place to stay on the Jurassic Coast for a charming market town with easy connections If you want to explore all the things to do on the Jurassic Coast then Dorchester is a great option. Centrally located between the Purbeck peninsula and Lyme Regis, it’s a great base to explore most of the main attractions on the coast. But as the capital of Dorset, Dorchester has its own appeal as well. The High Street is lined with grand and imposing architecture, excellent restaurants and museums. Perhaps more importantly, there’s good coffee at Coffee Saloon. As a major centre, it has a good range of accommodation from top quality B&B’s to grand Jurassic Coast hotels in landmark buildings. Dorchester is a great option for accommodation on the Dorset coast. In less than an hour’s drive you can be at many of the best spots anywhere along the coast.   DORCHESTER DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Classic market town hotel with a Georgian theme, modern amenities and beautiful decor. The Duchess of Cornwall is a classy stay on the Dorset coast. BOOKING.COM 4 – DESTINATION STAYS  Best Jurassic Coast hotels and innovative stays which are the attraction in themselves The Jurassic Coast has its fair share of quirky accommodation; places so good it hardly matters that you’re also in one of the most scenic parts of the country.   Go off-grid in a well-equipped and cosy Shepherds’ Hut set in the Dorset countryside, or unwind in stylish, quirky accommodation overlooking the sea. For something completely different, escape to the outdoor luxury accommodation of a treehouse; a unique stay on the Jurassic Coast and a memorable way to unwind. BURTON BRADSTOCK THE SEASIDE BOARDING HOUSE Stunning clifftop views from this stylish hotel with an on-site restaurant serving some of the best food in the area. BOOKINGS THANKS FOR VISITING // WHERE NEXT? A BIG THANK YOU We’ve been providing free travel content on Anywhere We Roam since 2017. If you appreciate what we do, here are some ways you can support us. Thank you! Paul & Mark FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM USE OUR RESOURCES PAGE [ad_2] Source link

[maypoleman1]

18th March

St Edward the Martyr’s Day

Edward the Martyr. Source: Alamy Stock Photos

On this day in 979, the descriptively named Edward the Martyr was murdered. Edward was king of the relatively recently united England, but his legitimacy to succeed his father King Edgar was not uncontested. On the day of his death, Edward was enjoying a boar hunt and stopped at the manor of his step mother, Dowager Queen AElfthryth at Corfe Gate on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, who greeted him and offered the young man a refreshing cup of wine. As the king drank however, a hired assassin crept up behind him and stabbed him - literally - in the back. On feeling the blow, the surprised king instinctively spurred his horse forward to escape the attack, but the assassin had done his work. Edward tumbled dying from the horse and was dragged along the ground by a single stirrup as his steed bolted. His body was never found. AElfthryth however issued the story that Edward had been killed in a riding accident and ensured her son, Aethelred assumed the throne.

This Shakespearean story of murder most foul was not over however. The road between Corfe and Wareham in succeeding years became a place of miracles on which blind men found they could see, cripples were able to walk, and the deaf found they could hear. These phenomena were attributed to Edward and so gravediggers were sent to investigate. Edward’s body was found in a shallow roadside grave, in pristine condition and his tell-tale wound clearly visible. The former king was duly canonised and declared a martyr and his relics became a centre of pilgrimage in Shaftesbury. Although no charges were ever brought against AElfthryth, public opinion had no doubt, and the dowager queen ended her days in repentance as a nun at Wherwell in Hampshire. As for her son, he did not enjoy a happy reign - he was corrupt and weak and would be besieged by Viking invaders. He became known to history as Aethelred the Unready.