Furzebrook
The name appears to be a relatively modern coinage: Furze(gorse) + Brook. Furzebrook farm seems to have been the first to use the name.
Furzebrook was the centre of the clay industry. Ball clay from all over the northern half of Purbeck was brought here in the 19th century to 'mature' or ripen. The raw clay was turned and exposed to air for six months or so - it had to be protected from heavy rain. At the end of this process the clay had acquired greater plasticity and became suitable for mixing with other clays in order to improve their working qualities.
At Furzebrook several narrow gauge railways converged from outlying mines and claypits, and another line ran to Ridge Wharf (near Redcliffe) later the Wareham to Swanage branch line of the LSWR passed through Furzebrook and much clay was transferred to mainline trains.
The Blue Pool at Furzebrook, now a local beauty spot, is a flooded claypit. It is so called because of the unusual colours that appear in the water due to tiny particles of suspended clay. The pool is seen at it's best in overcast conditions.
Furzebrook is now the railhead for the oil industry, the Gasoil Terminal transfers thousands of barrels a day to the refineries.
The heath at Furzebrook
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology have laboratory at Furzebrook where scientists study the remarkable wildlife of the area. They have plenty to study for the scars of the clay industry are healing and the oil terminal is now a fairly stable factor. Casual visitors may not even notice it and some exclaim over the 'natural' wilderness of heath apparently untouched by the hand of man.
Stay at The Priory Hotel when you visit Furzebrook
Next: Kimmeridge
Sources.