Natural swimming hole where minerals change the colour from green to blue, with a hiking trail.
After many years living away from Wareham, the internationally well-known collection of 200+miniature teddy bears known as the Wareham Bears originally created by Mary Hildesley in the 1980’s took up residence in their 15 room Bear House at the Blue Pool over 5 years ago and look forward to meeting their many visitors. Come and see how they work, rest and play in their hat shop,builder’s workshop,the maltings,the stable block,in the kitchen garden and on the rugby field (did you know that Bears play rugby?).
Meet Havahug the cook,Justine Oasis the flower arranger,Miss Pizzi Carter the musician who never throws anything away and naughty young Annabel de Trot who causes chaos wherever she goes.
The Museum.
From Clay Pipes to Cream ware.
The Blue Pool Museum tells the story of clay mining in the area-an industry of great importance to the economy of Dorset, which traces its history back to the 16th century. The quality of Furzebrook clay was known to the Romans who had kilns in the area, but with the arrival of tobacco from the New World, clay became in great demand by the makers of clay tobacco pipes. By the 17th century, the craze for porcelain and the discovery that the extra fine white-firing clay from Furzebrook was ideal for fine china led to the expansion of the industry to supply such pottery manufacturers as Josiah Wedgwood.
There is a small collection of Chinese porcelain including a lidless Teapot now worth over £400,salvaged from the Dutch East Indiaman,Geldermalsen, wreaked in the south china sea in 1752,known as the Naking Cargo it arrived in Amsterdam 233 years late and the items were sold to collector’s worldwide,
Many Famous painters from Augustus John to A.R.Quinton have painted the Blue Pool over the years all capturing the Pool in their own unique ways, a selection of these painters works can be seen on display.
Tea Rooms
The Tea Rooms were built in 1935 of sand and lime bricks from the local Beacon Hill brickworks with a Canadian cedarwood shingle roof, allowing the building to blend in with its surroundings. Many of the fixtures and fittings are original including the pine floors.
Enjoy yourself in our nostalgic Teahouse which serves Morning Coffee, and Traditional Cream Teas with freshly baked scones, which can be enjoyed outside on the terrace in the sun over looking the Blue Pool or inside the Teahouse beside the Fireplace. We also have a selection of hot light lunches, and Lunch items from the specials board.
We also offer a selection of Purbeck ice creams and a range of organic drinks, but whatever your choice, be sure of a warm welcome.
Our imaginative menu is locally sourced wherever possible and caters for most dietary needs including gluten free and dairy free products.
Dogs on leads are also very welcome inside the Teahouse.
The Pool
The Blue Pool at Furzebrook constantly varies in colour. Very fine clay in suspension in the water diffracts light in different ways, producing a spectrum of colour sometimes green sometimes turquoise.
Set in a deep clay bowl, steps lead down to the waters edge or up to views of the Purbeck Hills. The Pool is surrounded by 25 acres of heath, woodland and gorse interlaced with sandy paths that seem to take you to another world.
The Estate
The Estate was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985, due to the excellent protection it received well before global ecological damage became of public concern. But now, law protects the habitat of a variety of rare plants and animals.
The Pool is surrounded by twenty acres of woods and heathland, crossed by many sandy paths leading to steps down to the waters edge. The Green Route includes steps up to views of the Purbeck Hills or down to the edge of the Pool. The Red Route around the Pool is for the less energetic and is suitable for prams/pushchairs. It is a place of peace and tranquillity, and the lush vegetation is inhabited by grey squirrels, rabbits, badgers, foxes, deer and a multitude of Dragonflies/Damselflies. A visitor may also be lucky to spot a Dartford Warbler or a Green Sand Lizard
There are benches all around the pool at strategic points, for people to just sit and rest, or to contemplate the ever-changing colour of the water while the children enjoy exploring the play areas.
Children can enjoy the Trails around the red route looking for Magic Fairy Doors, or spotting the model squirrels in the trees (parents get involved too!), when they have completed their hunt form they can check the “Magic Number” in the Teahouse window.
Dogs are very welcome, but must be kept on a lead at all times.
Neither dogs nor people should enter the water, it is not safe for bathing.
Information for visitors with disabilities
Buying Tickets - Wheelchair visitors are admitted free. Those able to show documentary identification of disability(ie blue/orange badge or similar) along with any carers are admitted at our concession rate. Disabled Toilets are situated to the left of the main toilet block. There is ramped access to all our buildings, and the marked red route avoids any steps as you travel around the grounds. BUT please be aware the path is sandy, uneven with slopes . We also have manual wheelchairs available at the entrance
