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Purbeck Park

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February 2020

A site in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, has been refurbished and rebranded. Previously known as Norden, Purbeck Park is where adventures begin in 2020, so start here to explore nearby attractions and coast by train, bike, bus or foot.

Adventures at Purbeck Park include;

  • Explore the railway-themed adventure playground where children can ‘let off some steam’; the playground is located next to the new ‘The Left Luggage Café’ which will open spring 2020.

  • Hop on board the Swanage Railway steam train to Swanage.

  • Hire a cycle or electric bike hire and take on and off road trails through the heathland and to the coast and Studland.

  • Explore the old clay works and mine building of Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum and uncover the history of Purbeck's clay industry and its fascinating stories.

  • From Purbeck Park, walk the ¾ mile trail to Corfe Castle to discover the majestic ruins of the Castle owned by the National Trust and picturesque village with its pretty stone cottages and friendly shops and pub. You can also get to Corfe Castle by train, hop on the train at Purbeck Park’s Norden Station and off at Corfe Castle Station.

Purbeck Park is a great family meeting place. With picnic tables, public toilets and baby changing facilities, there’s time to catch your breath before your adventure begins.

February 2019

The new adventure play park is now open to the public and is already being enjoyed by families visiting Norden. The railway and mining themed play park designed, built and installed by Andy Frost Design celebrates Purbeck's local heritage by having a play themed steam engine, clay mining trucks a dinosaur climbing frame, a slide, towers and much more fun detail that takes some time to take it all in. Bring the family down to see and enjoy the play park whilst on route to discovering what Norden and the surrounding attractions and places have to offer.
















January 2019

Refurbishment of the cobb building's toilet facilities and office upgrade are now complete. The new play park has been installed with the final checks currently taking place, the play park should be open by the end of the month. Finally, the landscaping and car park improvement are progressing well.

Refurbished cobb building - toilets & kiosk space

November 2018

Phase 1 - Refurbishment of the toilet block and office - due for completion by mid-November

Phase 2 - A brand new play area - The play area is still strongly themed to the railway and its history of mining and position close to Corfe Castle. The play area installation is due to start on 12th November 2018.

Phase 3 - The landscaping work - To improve the car parking surface and surrounding areas will be phased over the winter months

The expectation is that all capital works will be completed by the end of 2018.



June 2018 - Andy Frost Design was appointed to design and build the new play area at Norden. Andy's winning concept themed design builds on the local heritage of the rail and mining themes and includes a steam engine, a diesel engine and small clay mining trucks. Image to the right shows a model of the play area design.



Project Background

This project aims to improve visitor experience by providing new and improved facilities to the public space at Norden car park and by linking visitors to local attractions and to the local area. Improvements will include the design and build of a new play park, car park resurfacing and toilet refurbishment.

Enhancing the car parking and redeveloping the area around the main hub was part of the ‘Coastal Connections - people and places’ bid to the Coastal Communities Fund, and will receive £147,000 towards its costs from this successful bid, granted in April 2017. The remainder of the funding, around £48,000 is being provided by Purbeck District Council, who are the project partner leading on this project.


Community Engagement

Consultation took place during August/September 2017 to understand the views from people visiting Norden and the local stakeholders of how the experience of visiting Norden can be improved. Feedback from the consultation highlighted that the majority of people who responded felt that the public space and facilities at Norden car park did need improvement, in particular the toilets, children's play park and the surface of the car park. It was also noted that improved signage with maps and way finding around the area would be a great benefit for visitors to Norden and the surrounding area.


February 2020

A site in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, has been refurbished and rebranded. Previously known as Norden, Purbeck Park is where adventures begin in 2020, so start here to explore nearby attractions and coast by train, bike, bus or foot.

Adventures at Purbeck Park include;

  • Explore the railway-themed adventure playground where children can ‘let off some steam’; the playground is located next to the new ‘The Left Luggage Café’ which will open spring 2020.

  • Hop on board the Swanage Railway steam train to Swanage.

  • Hire a cycle or electric bike hire and take on and off road trails through the heathland and to the coast and Studland.

  • Explore the old clay works and mine building of Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum and uncover the history of Purbeck's clay industry and its fascinating stories.

  • From Purbeck Park, walk the ¾ mile trail to Corfe Castle to discover the majestic ruins of the Castle owned by the National Trust and picturesque village with its pretty stone cottages and friendly shops and pub. You can also get to Corfe Castle by train, hop on the train at Purbeck Park’s Norden Station and off at Corfe Castle Station.

Purbeck Park is a great family meeting place. With picnic tables, public toilets and baby changing facilities, there’s time to catch your breath before your adventure begins.

February 2019

The new adventure play park is now open to the public and is already being enjoyed by families visiting Norden. The railway and mining themed play park designed, built and installed by Andy Frost Design celebrates Purbeck's local heritage by having a play themed steam engine, clay mining trucks a dinosaur climbing frame, a slide, towers and much more fun detail that takes some time to take it all in. Bring the family down to see and enjoy the play park whilst on route to discovering what Norden and the surrounding attractions and places have to offer.
















January 2019

Refurbishment of the cobb building's toilet facilities and office upgrade are now complete. The new play park has been installed with the final checks currently taking place, the play park should be open by the end of the month. Finally, the landscaping and car park improvement are progressing well.

Refurbished cobb building - toilets & kiosk space

November 2018

Phase 1 - Refurbishment of the toilet block and office - due for completion by mid-November

Phase 2 - A brand new play area - The play area is still strongly themed to the railway and its history of mining and position close to Corfe Castle. The play area installation is due to start on 12th November 2018.

Phase 3 - The landscaping work - To improve the car parking surface and surrounding areas will be phased over the winter months

The expectation is that all capital works will be completed by the end of 2018.



June 2018 - Andy Frost Design was appointed to design and build the new play area at Norden. Andy's winning concept themed design builds on the local heritage of the rail and mining themes and includes a steam engine, a diesel engine and small clay mining trucks. Image to the right shows a model of the play area design.



Project Background

This project aims to improve visitor experience by providing new and improved facilities to the public space at Norden car park and by linking visitors to local attractions and to the local area. Improvements will include the design and build of a new play park, car park resurfacing and toilet refurbishment.

Enhancing the car parking and redeveloping the area around the main hub was part of the ‘Coastal Connections - people and places’ bid to the Coastal Communities Fund, and will receive £147,000 towards its costs from this successful bid, granted in April 2017. The remainder of the funding, around £48,000 is being provided by Purbeck District Council, who are the project partner leading on this project.


Community Engagement

Consultation took place during August/September 2017 to understand the views from people visiting Norden and the local stakeholders of how the experience of visiting Norden can be improved. Feedback from the consultation highlighted that the majority of people who responded felt that the public space and facilities at Norden car park did need improvement, in particular the toilets, children's play park and the surface of the car park. It was also noted that improved signage with maps and way finding around the area would be a great benefit for visitors to Norden and the surrounding area.


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Page last updated: 10 Jun 2020, 04:20 PM