Winspit Knowpia

Winspit is a disused quarry on the cliffs near Worth Matravers in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England. To the west and east are the hills of West Man and East Man.

Until around 1940 Winspit was used as a stone quarry, providing stone for buildings in London. During World War II it was used as a site for naval and air defences. After the war the caves were opened to the public.^{[citation needed]}

The quarry is now a lesser-known tourist attraction. Recently many of Winspit's caves have been closed off for public safety and bat conservation.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2022, it was announced that the National Trust had purchased the 350 acre Weston Farm, including Winspit and its bat caves, adding to its other landholdings in the village and its vicinity such as Spyway.^[1]

Filming location edit

Winspit Quarry and caves were used as a location for the planet Mecron II in the Blake's 7 episode "Games", and in Doctor Who they were used in the story "The Underwater Menace", and then as the planet Skaro in the serial "Destiny of the Daleks", the quarry's stone cottage and two other larger buildings, (which were just empty derelict shells, with their roofs missing), were used in "Destiny", they were transformed into the external ruins of the long abandoned Dalek city and disused Kaled Bunkers. Later for the 2012 Disney film John Carter it was used as the scene location for the "Orkney Dig".

In May 2021 the quarry was also used for a location shoot for the Star Wars television series Andor.^[2]^[3]

climber, Winspit, Dorset, England

Winspit Cove
Inside a gallery

References edit

^ "National Trust brings coastal South Purbeck farm into its care". National Trust. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
^ "Star Wars Andor filming takes place in Dorset quarry". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
^ "Star Wars Andor filming in Dorset quarry cancelled". BBC News. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.