Durlston Castle open to the public

After more than 8 years of work by a very large number of people, Durlston Castle near Swanage has been restored and enhanced to become the first major Gateway to the Jurassic Coast since designation nearly 10 years ago. Sitting within the spectacular Durlston Country Park, the former Victorian folly has been restored and enhanced to play a key role in welcoming people to the Jurassic Coast from the eastern end of the Site, introducing them to some outstanding wildlife and geology within the park itself.

The project, led and managed by Dorset County Council, has been a collaboration between many partner organisations and individuals. Funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, SWRDA, the County Council, the Fine Family Foundation, Viridor and many many others. Of particular value has been the volunteer effort from the Friends of Durlston, without which the project would never have happened.

Although there are some finishing touches needed over the coming weeks and months, the castle is now open to the public and is well worth a visit. The displays include The Rock, an opportunity to get up close to the fossils from Durlston bay, an outstanding Audio Visual presentation, and temporary exhibitions in the Fine Foundation Gallery. Several art installations may prove to be star attractions, with Lulu Quinn’s ‘diversity’ lining the walls of the café, and Gary Breeze’s timeline showing you the 4.5 billion years in a short walk!

Have a look at some of the photos from the pre-opening day. You can find more details on the Durlston website.