1 : Swanage
Swanage is a small town in the south east of Dorset, England. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck.
The town was a small port and fishing village until the Victorian era when it became a seaside resort. Today, tourism is the main work in the town. The town has a wooden nineteenth century pier with two branches; one was refurbished in 1999 and the other is derelict. Sight seeing and angling boats operate from the "new" pier. SCUBA diving take place under the piers and at some of the nearby, coastal wrecks. There is a sandy beach,on Swanage Bay, along the edge of the town. Some of the cliffs to the east of the town are used by climbers.
An old clock tower from one end of the old London Bridge has been set up by the seashore. A facade from one of the old London guild houses is on the front of the Town Hall. These relics and many more were brought to the town, in the nineteenth century, by John Mowlem and his nephew George Burt who became sucessessful builders in London.
Alfred the Great is said to have fought a sea battle in its bay. A monument topped by cannonballs has been set up to celebrate this event and is situated at the southern end of the promenade.
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