Next opening days
14 and 15 February 2026: as part of Swanage Railway’s Community Weekend, the museum will be partially open with the engine shed open, some static exhibits available for viewing, and a chance to chat with former miner Brian Biles. 11:00 – 16:00, last entry 15:30.
A few Engine Shed experiences are available. Please book via the Swanage Railway website
Detailed opening dates and days for 2026 will be added to our Visit Us page soon.
See also our Events page for special event information.
Please visit our Facebook page for the latest information on opening dates.
Narrow Gauge Railway running dates
Please visit our Facebook page for the latest information on the Narrow Gauge Railway.
8 Jul 2025
New exhibition of clay shipping by local artist Barry Cobb opens today at Purbeck Mining Museum
12 Jun 2025
Our visitors from the Romsey U3A Industrial Heritage Group brought the sunshine with them today!
5 Jun 2025
Thanks very much to the Railway Ramblers for their visit to Purbeck Mining Museum, despite the rain!
29 Mar 2025
Purbeck Mining Museum's Narrow Gauge Railway demonstrations proved very popular alongside Swanage Railway's Steam Gala weekend.
22 Feb 2025
Narrow Gauge Railway running at the Swanage Railway Community Weekend
8 Feb 2025
Thanks very much to the Swanage Railway Sygnets for helping Purbeck Mining Museum with winter maintenance!
22 Nov 2024
The Purbeck Mining Museum team of volunteers celebrated our Arts Council England Accreditation which was awarded in July 2024. (Photo Andrew P M Wright)
7 Sep 2024
The new Bachmann T3 made a fleeting visit to the model of Furzebrook ball clay works at the Purbeck Mining Museum. Then PMM hosted 150 visitors to the museum as part of the Bachmann launch event of their new model on the Swanage Railway today. (Photo P Sills)
14 Aug 2024
Chat with former miner Brian every Wednesday in August and September at Purbeck Mining Museum
10 Jul 2024
PMM Chairman Peter Sills welcoming a group of Swanage Railway stakeholders to a guided tour (photo: Andrew P M Wright)
10 Jul 2024
Guided tour for the Purbeck Society.
8 Jun 2024
Thanks very much to the 226 visitors from Bournemouth District Scouts. We had a busy day!
9 Apr 2024
Another happy group of visitors having a guided tour of Purbeck Mining Museum.
23 Mar 2024
Narrow Gauge Railway at Swanage Railway Victorian Weekend. Photo: Andrew P M Wright
9 March 2024
Thanks very much to the Swanage Railway Sygnets for a great day's work at Purbeck Mining Museum helping us get the site ready for the 2024 season.
18 Feb 2024
Some of our 200 visitors to the first day of Purbeck Mining Museum's 2024 season.
17 Feb 2024
Narrow Gauge Railway demonstrations at the Swanage Railway Community Weekend. It was great to see so many visitors.
9 Feb 2024
Ruston in action - preparing the narrow gauge railway for our 17/18 Feb demonstrations
29 Dec 2023
A beautiful day for our volunteers to have a sneak preview of the woodland trails in development. We plan to open the trails to the public during the 2024 season.
26 Aug 2023
Great day for our Narrow Gauge Railway and lots of interested visitors.
16 Aug 2023
Thanks very much to the Owen family from Stoke on Trent for their visit. One of them was our 4,000th visitor this year!
3 Aug 2023
PMM were part of Channel 5's Dorset Countryside & Coast series. If you missed it, you can see it on-demand on MyFive. Thanks to everyone who helped out on the day and made it happen.
24 June 2023
Thanks to all our visitors to the Narrow Gauge Railway today. We hope to see you all again soon!
8 June 2023
Great visit from a TV production company at Purbeck Mining Museum last week. They are making a short promotional video for the ‘Purbeck Community Rail Partnership’ and it features various things to do on a day out to Purbeck traveling by SWR from London, and then using the Swanage Railway link from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.
23 May 2023
Thanks to the lovely group from Jollydays Holidays for their visit today.
9 May 2023
Thanks very much to Stacey and George from Imerys Furzebrook office for their visit. We're looking forward to more discussions with Imerys over the next few months.
28 Apr 2023
Thanks to the lovely members of the 2CV appreciation society who came for a private tour today.
7 Apr 2023
Lovely weather to be running Purbeck Mining Museum's narrow gauge railway. Lots of visitors to the museum also.
