Langton Matravers

The Village

Langton Matravers is a small, quaint village on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset.  The main road is lined with historic, purbeck stone cottages.  Purbeck stone has been quarried in the area for hundreds of years.  You can still enjoy stone carving at the Burnbake Stone Centre.  It is situated about 2 miles west of the seaside town of Swanage and 5 miles south-east of Corfe Castle. The name Langton stems from “long town”. Matravers stems from the name of Lord Mautravers who once resided there, and ultimately originates from the French “mal traverse”.

The village is home to a church and good foodie pub.  The Kings Arms also sells locally produced food in the deli.

There are many footpaths in and around the village, and the Coastal Path which is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is just over a mile away, so the village offers great countryside walks. Being a haven for wildlife in such a diverse landscape, this area is the perfect spot to photograph wildlife.

Langton Matravers Museum

The Museum is located in St George’s Close, behind the parish church of St George. The museum focuses on the quarrying industry (of Purbeck Marble and Purbeck Limestone) which has historically been important for the village. The museum occupies a former coach house, and houses approximately 25,000 artefacts.

The Museum is run by the

Local History and Preservation Society and is staffed by volunteers, providing a complete picture of the ways in which the local stone was quarried and used.

“This tiny museum is packed full of artefacts devoted to the local stone industry and quarrying.”

Putlake Adventure Farm

A great day out for the little ones.  The adventure farm is located within the village, so its within walking distance of cottages located in the village.  It has a lovely cafe, play area, soft play, tractor rides and walks.  There are scheduled events throughout the day, which include feeding the lambs, milking display and pony rides.