Reconstructed quarr at Hoburne Park, Swanage

Image: © Caroline Tandy Taken: 4 Oct 2002

The picture shows a quarr shortly after its reconstruction in 2002. For hundreds of years until the 1960s most quarrying of Purbeck stone was done from workings called 'Quarrs'. Stone quarried underground was hauled to the surface on a trundle (a small cart), pulled up an incline, known as the slide, by a horse or donkey working a capstan. The whole complex would have been surrounded by a boundary wall, and many quarrs had ancillary buildings, such as a stable. This quarr fell into disuse, and a park home site was developed around it. In 2002 several of these quarrs in the area were restored, both for their industrial archaeological interest, and as habitat for bats, including some very rare species. The picture shows the restored slide and retaining walls of this quarr, the entrance to the underground workings being immediately below the photographer. The capstan and other structures have not been restored.

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