Volunteers rebuilding a historic mine near Corfe Castle have won a £100,000 grant from the European Union.

The money from the Dorset-based Chalk & Cheese rural regeneration fund to the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum Group means the first phase of the scheme is on target to open to the public during the summer of 2011.

The new mine museum – the only tribute to ball clay mining’s two-thousand-year history in the Isle of Purbeck – is located next to the Swanage Railway’s Norden ‘park and ride’ station and car park just north of Corfe Castle.

Volunteers from the group have been working on the project since 2003 and have boosted the £100,000 Chalk & Cheese grant with £50,000 worth of money and labour.

Work by the group’s volunteers has involved the dismantling of a ball clay mine building near Norden Farm – in the lea of the Purbeck Hills – and its re- erection at the Norden site.

Re-creating a working industrial environment, the volunteers have just started work on the mining museum’s tunnel which will give visitors the experience of what it was like to mine ball clay underground.

Group chairman Peter Sills said: “We’re delighted at winning this vitally important grant which will accelerate the first stage opening of the ball clay mine to the public next year.

“This is a major vote of confidence from the Chalk & Cheese fund in our work to preserve and explain Purbeck’s important industrial heritage.

“The grant will kick start and fast track the opening of the mine to the public and enable us to achieve in 18 months what it would have taken us six to eight years to achieve. We hope to fully open the museum to the public during 2012.

“The museum will offer an important and rich social history experience to visitors – both holidaymakers and local people – and be an important educational resource for schools.

Chalk & Cheese director of programme, Sarah Watson said: “We’re delighted to make this funding award to the very worthwhile Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum during such a critical time in the project’s development.”

For details of how to help, visit pmmmg.org, visit the museum on Sundays 10am to 5pm or email Peter Sills at peter.sills @swanage-railway.co.uk