Swanage
Complete guide to Swanage, Dorset.
One Stop Guide to Swanage Dorset
A small coastal town in the county of Dorset, England, Swanage has a population of around 10,000, and is a traditional English seaside resort, attracting holidaymakers much as it has since Victorian times. The nearby coastline has some of Dorset's best known landmarks, such as the Old Harry Rocks and Lulworth Cove.
Quick Links to Swanage Information
Swanage Facfile:
Location: South-eastern Dorset, England, United Kingdom.
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Swanage Dialing Code: 01929
Swanage Population: 10,124 (2001)
Swanage Map: Shown to the right is a Google satellite map, showing an interesting view of Swanage, and offering the opportunity to see the map in terrain and road map modes.
Swanage is located on the A351 about 25 miles from Dorchester and 7 miles from Poole.
Swanage History: Little is known of the early history of Swanage, though this part of Dorset's coast was certainly settled as long ago as 8000BC. By the 1st century AD, it had attracted the attention of the Roman invaders, who soon saw the worth of its Purbeck marble, and began quarrying the stone for use on their buildings.
The site of an early naval battle, Swanage (or Swanawic as it was then called) was mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle (AD877), after King Alfred defeated a force of Danes, and 120 Danish ships sank in Swanage Bay.
Though it fell into decline after the Romans left Britain, quarrying began again in the 12th century, as demand for this easily carved stone grew for the building of churches and cathedrals. The less decorative Purbeck stone (limestone), was used for local construction projects, and the demand for this stone also grew during the 17th century, after it was widely used for paving, after the Great Fire of London (1666).
Swanage gained more notoriety during the Victorian Era, when local builder John Mowlem began transporting large quantities of local stone into central London for use in various memorials and building projects.
Apart from quarrying and related industries, Swanage has mostly survived economically over the centuries through its fishing exploits, though the arrival of the railway in 1885, brough money to the town in the form of holidaymakers, who arrived, mostly from London, to enjoy the pleasant climate and the clean, healthy air. Even greater number of visitors came to the town after the construction of a new pier in 1895, specifically for the use of pleasure steamers.
Despite the general decline of the traditional British seaside resort, due mostly to cheaper holidays abroad, Swanage has retained its charm and popularity and still attracts plenty of holidaymakers. The existence of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, ensures a constant stream of visitors to the Dorset coastline, with plenty looking for more than just a beach style holiday.
Swanage Name: The name of the town has had various versions over the years including Swanawic, Swanwic, Sonwic, and Swanwyche, the current version is more recent. The meaning of the name Swanage seems to be either 'dairy farm of the peasants' or 'farm where swans are reared'.
Swanage Council:
Council Offices - Address: The Town Hall, High Street, Swanage. Telephone Number: 01929 423636. (website: www.swanage.gov.uk).
St Mary's Parish Church Swanage - Address: Kings Road, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 916.
Swanage Methodist Church - Address: 105 High Street, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 421767.
Holy Spirit and St Edward Roman Catholic Church - Address: 1 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 491.
Swanage First School - Address: Mount Scar, Swanage, BH19 2EY, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 424.
Swanage Middle School - Address: High Street Herston, Swanage, BH19 2PH, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 025.
Rainbows End Nursery School - Address: 5 Hillsea Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2QL. Telephone Number: 01929 421 928.
Swanage St Mark's Church C of E First School - Address: Bell Street, Swanage, BH19 2SA, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 949.
Swanage Railway (preserved heritage steam and diesel railway) - Address: Station House Railway Station Approach, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1HB. Telephone Number: 01929 425 800.
Swanage Police Station - Address: Argyle Rd, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HZ. Telephone Number: 01929 422004.
Address: High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2NU. Telephone Number: 01929 423 485.
Swanage Citizens Advice Bureau - Address: Town Hall, High Street, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2NZ. Telephone Number: 01929 427 134.
Swanage Lifeboat Station - Address: Swanage Lifeboat House, Peveril Point Road, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2AY. Telephone Number: 01929 423 237.
Swanage Doctor / Doctors:
Dr C Haw - Address: High St, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2NH. Telephone Number: 01929 421 945 (doctors).
Dr J C D Clark - Address: Railway Station Approach, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HB. Telephone: 01929 422 231 (doctors).
- Swanage Hotels:
Mortons House Hotel - Address: 45 East Street, Corfe Castle, Wareham BH20 5EE. Telephone Number: 01929 480 988. E-mail: stay@mortonshouse.co.uk
Enchanting hotel and restaurant, housed in a 16th century manor house. Formerly 'Small Hotel of the Year'. Fine restaurant holds 2 AA Rosettes.
The Grand Hotel - Address: Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 423 353.
Purbeck Hotel - Address: 91 High Street, Swanage, BH19 2LZ, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 425 160.
Robertsbrook Guest House Swanage - Address: 35 Kings Road West, Swanage, BH19 1HF, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 421 378.
Sunny South Bed and Breakfast Swanage - Address: 118 Kings Road West, Swanage, BH19 1HS, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 465.
- Swanage Cottages:
Railway Cottage - Address: 26 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1AP. Telephone Number: 01929 425 542.
Purbeck Cliffs - Address: Purbeck Cliffs, 3 Boundary Close, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2JY. Telephone Number: 01929 424 352.
Herston Yards Farm Camping Site - Address: Herston Yards Farm, Washpond Lane, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 932.
Cauldron Barn Caravan Park - Address: Cauldron Barn Road, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 422 080.
The Red Lion Swanage - Address: 63, High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2LY. Telephone Number: 01929 423 533.
The Globe Inn Swanage - Address: 3, Bell Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2RY. Telephone Number: 01929 423 515.
The Anchor Inn Swanage - Address: 30, High St, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2NU. Telephone Number: 01929 423 020.
The White Swan Inn Swanage - Address: 31 High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2LJ. Telephone Number: 01929 423 804.
Swanage Regatta and Carnival 2010 - Dates for 2010: 31st July to 7th August.
Swanage Property:
See estate agents page here. Swanage Estate Agents.
Swanage Sports and Activities:
Swanage Town and Herston Football Club - Address: 1 Day's Road, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 424 673.
Swanage Cricket Club - Days Park, Ulwell Road, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 421 216.
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club - Address: Corfe Road, Studland, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3AB. Telephone Number: 01929 450 354.
Swanage and Wareham Rugby RFC - Address: Bestwall, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4HY. Telephone Number: 01929 552224.
Divers Down - Address: The Pier, High Street, Swanage, Dorset. Telephone Number: 01929 423 565.
Sangina Angling Trips - 17 Osborne Road, Swanage BH19 2QA. Telephone: 01929 423 279 (fishing and angling equipment).
- Swanage Banks:
Barclays Bank PLC - Address: 22 Station Road, Swanage BH19 1AE. Telephone: 0845 755 5555.
NatWest - Address: 2 Institute Road, Swanage BH19 1BY. Telephone Number: 0845 600 2803.
HSBC Bank PLC - Address: 19 Institute Road, Swanage BH19 1BU. Telephone: 0845 740 4404.
- Swanage Beauty Salon:
The Bay Skin & Body Centre - Address: 1-5 Commercial Road, Swanage BH19 1DF. Telephone: 01929 423 313 (beauty salon).
A Perfect 10 - Address: 19A Commercial Road, Town Centre, Swanage BH19 1DF. Telephone Number: 01929 475 703 (nail and beauty salon).
- Swanage Builder / Builders:
Queensbury Contractors Ltd - Address: 2/Unit 1-3 Victoria Av Ind Est, Swanage BH19 1AU. Telephone: 01929 424 601 (builder).
- Swanage Dentists:
Swanage Dental Practise - Address: 271 High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2NH. Telephone Number: 01929 422 585.
- Swanage Driving Instructors / Driving Lessons:
Compass Driving School - Address: 24 Osborne Road, Swanage BH19 2QA. Telephone Number: 01929 422 529.
- Swanage Hairdressers:
Fusion Hairdressing - Address: 86a, High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2NY. Telephone Number: 01929 422 700.
- Swanage Mortgage Broker:
Philip Wakefield - Address: Chapel Lane, Purbeck, Swanage BH19 2PW. Telephone: 01202 232 275 (mortgage broker).
Centaur Financial Services Ltd - 49 Station Road, Swanage BH19 1AD. Telephone: 01929 425 818 (mortgage broker).
Swanage is located on the A351 about 25 miles from Dorchester and 7 miles from Poole.
Swanage Information: SWANAGE WEATHER - ESTATE AGENTS