Wareham, The Blue Pool c.1950

Photo ref: W173018

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The Blue Pool at Furzebrook, the best known of Purbeck's former heathland claypits was dug by Watts, Hatherley and Burns of Newton Abbot, in 1846. By 1953, after it had filled with water, T T Barnard of Furzebrook House had the bright idea of turning it into a beauty spot. Vivid and changing turquoise shades are caused by diffracted light passing through minute particles of clay in permanent suspension in the water. To the surprise of visitors, this blueness is at its strongest on an overcast day, when minimal sunlight is reflected off the surface.

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A Selection of Memories from Wareham

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Wareham

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Half A Crown To Spend.

My Twin sister Georgina and I (Catherine) would run up from No77 East Street once a week to spend our pocket money at Bennetts,we used to get halfpenny chews they were called Black Jacks and were liquorice( they used to make our teeth look black for a while),sherbert dips,sherbert lemons,aniseed balls,gobstoppers and pineapple chunks. Happy days,I can still feel myself running at speed up to the shop and Mr Bennet ...see more

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Added 26 July 2017

Wareham, River Frome, 1954 66

My father and I had boats on the river for many years, on the moorings in the picture. The boat with the cabin sporting a port hole in the side belonged to me. I spent most of my childhood on Wareham's rivers, fishing and boating.