Monument record MDO7067 - Ridge wharf tramway, Arne

A 2 ft 8 1/2 in gauge tramway from West Creech, serving clay workings and running six miles to a wharf near Ridge, was worked by steam locomotives from 1866, replacing an animal drawn tramway built circa 1840 from Ridge Wharf to Furzebrook. During its most active period there were five locomotives and 150 ten-ton trucks in use at the same time, and branches and sidings on the system brought its mileage up to nearly 20. At Ridge the clay was loaded on to barges, to be transferred to sea-going ships at Poole. The line east of the Swanage railway was closed by the War Dept circa 1939, but the remainder continued in use until 1956, clay being transferred to the main line at the point of intersection. After 1957 only sidings in the Creech Heath district remained active, and the system is now completely closed.

A 2 ft 8 1/2 in gauge tramway from W.Creech (SY 893823), serving clay workings and running six miles to a wharf near Ridge (SY 938872), was worked by steam locomotives from 1866. During its maost active period there were five locomotives and 150 ten-ton trucks in use at the same time, and branches and sidings on the system brought its mileage up to nearly 20. At Ridge the clay was loaded on to barges, to be transferred to sea-going ships at Poole. The line east of the Swanage railway was closed by the War Dept circa 1939, but the remainder continued in use until 1956, clay being transferred to the main line at the point of intersection. After 1957 only sidings in the Creech Heath district remained active, and the system is now completely closed. (The western end of the tramway, from West Creech to Grange Gate, is shown on OS 5th edn 1" 1937, Sheet 140). <2>

The line was originally built in circa 1840, from Ridge Wharf to Furzebrook, and was mechanised in 1866. The extension to West Creech itself was built at a later date. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1925 (Map). SWX1540.

(Name: SY 936851) Tramway (NAT)

<2> St John Thomas, D, 1966, A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The West Country, 194 (Monograph). SWX1139.

<3> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 613 (Index). SDO147.

‘FURZEBROOK TO RIDGE WHARF: Tramway track for transporting ball clay. 19th century. Most of its length crosses heather and gorse covered heathland. See OS SY98NW41. 7/7/C’

<4> Oral: Email from Ben Buxton, local historian, 15-SEP-2005 (Verbal communication). SDO20588.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456730 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:50PM