Swanage is a small town in the south east of Dorset, England. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck, approximately 10km south of Poole and 40km east of Dorchester. The town has a population of 10,124 (2001).

The town was a small port and fishing village until the Victorian era when it became a seaside resort. Today, tourism is the main industry in the town. The town has a wooden 19th century pier with two branches; one was refurbished in 1999 and the other is derelict. Sight seeing and angling boats operate from the "new" pier. SCUBA diving take place under the piers and at some of the nearby, coastal wrecks. There is a sandy beach, on Swanage Bay, along the edge of the town. Some of the cliffs to the east of the town are used by climbers. The town is a gateway town for the Jurassic Coast, a popular world heritage site.

An old clock tower from one end of the old London Bridge has been set up by the seashore. A facade from one of the old London guild houses is on the front of the Town Hall. These relics and many more were brought to the town, in the nineteenth century, by John Mowlem and his nephew George Burt who became sucessessful builders in London. It is said that the items brought from London were used as ballast for the empty vessels which transported Purbeck stone to London.

An amateur-run heritage railway connects Corfe Castle to Swanage and runs both steam and diesel locomotives. It runs on tracks reconstructed on an alignment abandoned by the national railway system in 1960s.

Alfred the Great is said to have fought a sea battle in its bay. A monument topped by cannonballs has been set up to celebrate this event and is situated at the southern end of the promenade.

Nearby are Ballard Down, Old Harry Rocks and Studland Bay to the north and Durlston Country Park to the south.

External links

• Census data
• Town Council website
• Local tourism guide