Purbeck is noted for its heritage coast and countryside. Within this area are diverse mineral reserves which have been extracted over the centuries. Most well known of these is Purbeck stone, a hard limestone which occurs in varying types from Swanage,  Langton, Acton and Worth Matravers. Stone was also extracted as far west as  Blashenwell Farm in the parish of Corfe Castle.

Over the years Purbeck has supplied stone for many fine buildings including the castle at Corfe. Purbeck stone is not simply a good building material as it can be polished to provide decorative panels and columns. When thus worked, the multitude of fossilised creatures which formed it can be clearly seen.

Stone was mainly won by underground quarrying and hauled to the surface by horse or donkey powering a large capstan winch. Modern methods generally employ open cast  methods - often recovering the stone which was left as the ceiling for the old workings.  

Purbeck Marble is not a true marble but is a limestone that polishes very well.

If you are visiting the area, then a visit to the Stone Museum in Langton Matravers is a must. It is a small, but excellent Museum. http://www.users.waitrose.com/~langtonmatravers/The%20Museum.html

For an a comprehensive report on the Quarry industries of Purbeck in the Roman period visit http://www.palmyra.uklinux.net/purbeck1996.html

Please visit the Suttles website for a very good summary of the history of Purbeck Stone - http://www.stone.uk.com/history/index.html  

and another link to Purbeck Stone http://www.purbeckstone.co.uk/welcome.htm

And yet another link to show the different colours of the stone when polished http://www.tonyviney.co.uk/core/stone.htm