The Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum Group was formed to consider establishing a permanent mining museum at Norden to exhibit artifacts primarily connected to the mining of ball clay in Dorset and other significant minerals extracted in Purbeck, which were intimately connected with the growth and history of the Swanage Railway. The aim of the museum is to enhance the visitor experience when visiting the Swanage Railway and to record the History of Ball Clay extraction in the local area.

The museum will be predominantly an outdoor educational facility and is based on redundant land adjacent to the park and ride and Station. The desire is to re create a working environment typical of the clay mining industry, including a short operational narrow gauge demonstration line around the Norden site. This will provide moving interest using an industrial diesel loco (or steam loco when available) and a set of skip wagons. This area would also permit the display of a static rake of mining rolling stock. 

Plans include the reconstruction of a typical Ball Clay drift mine. Norden No.7 mine Transhipment building (donated by Imerys) has been dismantled and has been re-erected at the Park & Ride site. The building is the centre focus for the Mineral Museum and permanent location for all exhibits.

Already many people have visited the free Entrance Display at Norden which includes the 1920's Foreman's Office. A significant number have learnt for the first time what Ball Clay is and that one of the few places that it exists is in Purbeck. Many ex Clay workers have visited the museum.

Roy Welsh (Clayworker and son of Midge Welsh Foreman) with his son Keith and grandson meets Brian Langdown
© A.P.M.Wright
 

'Tiny' the Lewin of Poole 0-4-0T engine crossing the Skew Arch bridge at Norden in August 1938 © R.W. Kidner