About

Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.

The Furzebrook Estate, which incorporates The Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms and The Furzebrook Garden Centre, is a diverse and historically significant property located near Wareham, in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.

 

Not only is it celebrated for its flora, fauna, and scenic beauty, but it also holds a rich industrial heritage tied to the Clay industry, which played a major role in the region’s economic history. 

 

Artistic black and white close-up of hands shaping clay pottery on a wheel.

Clay Extraction

The estate was central to clay extraction and transportation operations. The fine-quality ‘blue ball clay’ was prized by renowned potters such as Josiah Wedgwood. A network of narrow-gauge railways once ran through the estate, linking it to coastal shipping points and highlighting its industrial significance.

 

Today, the legacy of this industrial past coexists with the natural allure of the surrounding landscape. The Blue Pool, once a clay pit and now a tranquil pool, adds to the estate’s charm. 

Renowned Among Artists

Artists were also known to frequent the Estate, many travelling down from London for rest and recuperation in this magical locale, with its clear skies, warm climate, and tranquillity. Famous works such as The Blue Pool by Augustus Edwin John and Paul Nash’s A Private World series of photographs are now displayed in national galleries around the country.

Year-Round Destination

Visitors at The Blue Pool

The Furzebrook Estate is now a working Estate and a year-round destination, focusing on ecological land management, hospitality and tourism. Employing over 30 people from the local community the Furzebrook Estate and The Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms generates an estimated £6.7 million pounds into the local economy!

 

With ongoing conservation efforts, the Furzebrook Estate continues to represent a unique blend of Dorset’s rural beauty, ecological value, and historical depth.