On Thursday 29th January 2004, the Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum Project Group received full planning permission to develop the museum on the Norden Park and Ride site. The Planning Board of Purbeck District Council voted unanimously for approval. 

The group has also been given the opportunity to display the Furzebrook Railway locomotive Secundus, the engine a Bellis and Seeking 0-6-0WT of 1885 from the Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry. This is conditional on the group providing secure and dry storage, and on 22nd January 2004 Secundus was transported from Birmingham back to Purbeck, and is now displayed in the Corfe Goods Shed Museum until suitable accommodation can be provided at Norden. See (SR report 1) and (SR report 2)

The group are relocating the redundant ECC Norden No 7 mine (drift type) complete with operational winch gear and a rake of underground tubs, from its original position on the west of the A351 to the bank on the north side of Norden Station. This will provide a central focus for the Mineral Museum. This mine building would incorporate an educational/visitor centre and will compliment the outdoor exhibits. It will also be the entrance to the "Underground Experience" where members of the public will be able to experience the underground conditions.

      
The mine building and the track tramwayed in front of the building. 9th June 2009. © John Rowley

Work has completed on extending the ramp down "underground" and construction of the replica mine will begin when the clay dries out, and ceases to be a liquid.

The old Foreman's Office (circa 1920) has been rebuilt and is now alongside the approach footpath to Norden Station together with a Furzebrook Wagon which is believed to have been built in Purbeck in 1865 and 3 original Norden V-Skips. These are 2 of the four ex Norden skips returned from an North Dorset orchard and one returned from Seaton Tramway. It had been widened to 2ft 6ins gauge and was used on the construction of the extension of the tramway. It has now been modified back to the original 2ft gauge by pupils of the Purbeck School in Wareham.   The Foreman's Office holds a display of items, models and photographs of the Purbeck Ball Clay Mining and is OPEN most Sundays and occasionally during the week. This is dependant on volunteers being available.  

      
The Foreman's Office and Pikes Wagon © John Rowley

           
A short term aim of the group was the creation of a clay mining trailway using the existing footpaths around the site. A provisional trailway was successfully installed in 2004. It was regrettably closed after a few months due to dangerous steps on the route. These have been replaced with a slope from the platform leading to a picnic area. Now this is complete the trailway has been reopened. The trail starts at the PDC administration building with information boards along the trail and takes about half an hour to complete. 

The group are currently undertaking regular working parties and to date have made good progress at Norden on completing the foundations, drainage and utilities for the Transhipment shed and  the reconstruction of the mine building is complete. The sides of the ramp have been lined with timber allowing the stock of mine tubs to come in out of the weather. Steelwork has been altered to create a safe public viewing area of the winching operations. Track laying in the vicinity of the Mine building has been completed and tramwayed in.

A couple of ex-Norden V-skips and a substantial amount of ex-Norden rail have returned from the Seaton Tramway. Four other ex Norden V-Skips have returned from a North Dorset Orchard. 

A Ruston 48DL Diesel locomotive has been purchased as the groups first operational locomotive.

 
Ruston at Norden for a photo shoot © John Rowley

It is has under gone a thorough overhaul and is stored awaiting for use on the demonstration trains. 

A significant number of waggons, track and turnouts have followed the Ruston from the Lynton and Barnstable Railway. A working supporter has purchased a Railmotor Simplex Diesel for use at Norden and this is has been refurbished privately away from Purbeck and is ready for work.

2ft 6ins track, turnouts and flat bed waggons have also been purchased from the MOD. Some have been re-gauged and refurbished ready for use but require top works to be fitted.

 
 Killington Lane © John Rowley                                                         Chelfham Station © John Rowley                    

Progress on researching the National Archives and local history centres for Purbeck clay mining activities has been continuing in the background and has discovered many interesting facts. Recent discoveries are that the 2 Pike brothers William Joseph and John William who brought the first Steam locomotive and Secundus to Purbeck are lying side by side with their father William, brother Warburton and other members of their family in Church Knowle Graveyard, less than a couple of miles away from both the Museum and Secundus. The selling of Norden Ball clay paid for the education of the first person to send a radio message and who also invented the spark plug. We have found the portrait of Benjamin Fayle in an Australian art gallery and through the provenance have made contact with the great great grandson of Benjamin Fayle who tells us that Benjamin Fayle's son's (Rev. Richard Fayle - Vicar of St Mary's Wareham) chalice is with his great great great granddaughter who is the present cannon of Christ Church Oxford. 

Many talks and tours for both local and further a field groups have taken place providing much needed income.

"At last I think they have gone home" © John Rowley