A MAN who has spent much of his life researching the history of a Dorset industry has written a book.

Fayle’s Tramways – Clay Mining in Purbeck is a labour of love for author Chris Legg. It is the result of his lifelong interest in the industry and his knowledge of mines and railways.

The book covers some 200 years of history and six different gauges of railways that transported ball clay from Purbeck.

It tells of the many aspects of clay extraction and mining but Mr Legg’s friendship with the miners makes it a very people-orientated story as well.

The book also features family connections and personalities, merchants and miners, accidents and rescues, and the effects of war.

Ball clay had been extracted from Purbeck since the sixteenth century but it was the beginning of the nineteenth that saw the start of serious exploitation.

Benjamin Fayle built Dorset’s first railway in 1806 to get his clay to the coast and over the years the needs of transport saw a number of very individual railways.

Retired pharmacist Mr Legg grew up in Wareham and now lives in Suffolk but is a regular visitor to Dorset and has family in Weymouth.

His career in pharmacy reinforced the need for meticulous and accurate recording, which has helped in his research.

The book was launched at the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum near Corfe Castle where Mr Legg signed copies. Mr Legg said: “I was delighted to sign copies of my new book at the museum because it’s not only located in the area where ball clay was mined for hundreds of years but it’s also unique – the only place telling the important and fascinating story of Purbeck ball clay extraction and transportation.”

Fayle’s Tramways – Clay Mining in Purbeck, a hardback featuring 225 illustrations, is published by Twelveheads Press and priced at £28, available at all good bookstores, or available post free from the publisher PO Box 59 Chacewater, Truro TR4 8ZJ.