News

Master of Architecture Research Project

Arts University Bournemouth Masters of Architecture programme has chosen Burngate as one of the sites students will be researching this year. The Master of Architecture Research Project aims to introduce its architecture students to the wider environmental issues surrounding stone quarrying and its effects on the landscape and local communities.

Produced in collaboration with Burngate, the National Trust and Haysom Purbeck Stone, the video emphasises the synergy of having all of the organisations and facilities so locally to hand, and the opportunities for research being undertaken in 2022.

Ariel view of the Haysom Purbeck Stone in Langton Matravers

Surveying the quarry walls at Haysom Purbeck Stone.

Swanage Pier Project

Swanage School students assemble on Swanage Pier.

Swanage School students test out the stone rubbing trail on the pier.

Some of the stone rubbings completed by Allsort’d — Some of the stone rubbings completed by the students.

Burngate were delighted to collaborate with The Swanage Pier Trust and The Swanage School to mark the 125th anniversary of Swanage Pier in the making of an interactive art trail.

As part of their Fine Art GCSE course, students learnt about the importance of the Swanage Pier for the shipping of Purbeck Stone to London and beyond, they visited Haysom Quarry and attended several weekly stone carving workshops at Burngate, which has helped them to gain an understanding of both their landscape and heritage as well modern day quarrying and the heritage skills still so vital to Purbeck.

The project culminated in them making nine stone carvings which have been installed along the 125 year old pier, each featuring a marine themed design carved by the students, with the aim of inspiring visitors to the pier to make their own pieces of art through stone rubbings – similar to brass rubbings, using the medium of crayons, chalk or oil pastels, transferring the raised carving to paper.

Students get a feel for the source materials at Haysom Quarry in Langton Matravers.

Sketching out a carving of a seahorse ready for carving.

Stone carving took place in early summer at Burngate Stone Carving Centre — Stone carving took place at Burngate Stone Carving Centre.

Swanage Sea Life Bench

The Swanage Sea Life Bench was the inspiration of local stone carver and Burngate supporter Carlotta Barrow. A project with the Swanage School and Burngate Stone Carving Centre gave children the opportunity to design and carve a section of the bench. It can be found on the path that leads to Peveril Point just above Swanage Pier.

Full details of the project from start to finish can be found on the Purbeck Arts Week website.