The Recreation Ground can be accessed from either Shore Road, Victoria Avenue or Horsecliffe Lane. A children’s play area can be found here, as well as the Santa Fe children’s play park and crazy golf, enjoyed by young and old alike.
War Memorial
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The Swanage War Memorial stands in the Recreation Ground on Shore Road. Originally unveiled on 1 August 1920, it was created to honour the local men and women who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial was carefully relocated and rebuilt nearby in 2014 to ensure its preservation.
Made from Purbeck stone in a tapering cairn design, the memorial sits on three stepped bases. Stone tablets list the names of 99 local residents who died in the First World War and 65 who died in the Second World War, along with additional plaques on the other faces.
The memorial holds both architectural and emotional significance for the town. As a Grade II listed structure, it is protected for its historic value and remains a central point for remembrance events and reflection within the community.
Swanage Bandstand
The bandstand is situated near to the play park and well worth a visit. Originally installed in 1923, the bandstand has hosted many events over its time. After falling into disrepair, following storm damage, the community pulled together and formed the ‘Friends of Swanage Bandstand’ to raise funds needed for the restoration project. Together with the support of the Town Council and other local organisations and trusts the target was reached and the bandstand was restored back to its former glory and re-opened in 2019.
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For further information and history of the bandstand please visit: Swanage Bandstand
The Swanage Town Band and other local performers utilise the bandstand for residents and visitors alike to enjoy musical performances and more. If you are interested in booking the bandstand for a performance, please visit our event management page where you will find a booking form: Event Management | Swanage Town Council
Mermond Place car park is situated behind the Recreation Ground, together with the resident’s car park which runs adjacent to Horsecliff Road. These are both pay and display car parks, please click here for the current car park charges.
Trevor Chadwick Memorial Statue
The Trevor Chadwick Memorial Statue in Swanage honours a local hero who helped rescue 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939 as part of the Kindertransport. Often called the "Purbeck Schindler", Chadwick was a schoolteacher and lifeboat volunteer who worked alongside Sir Nicholas Winton to carry out this life-saving mission.
Unveiled in August 2022, the life-sized bronze statue by sculptor Moria Puerver shows Chadwick gently holding one child while guiding another - capturing his compassion and bravery. It stands on a handcrafted Purbeck Stone plinth beside the bandstand and the renamed Chadwick Playground.
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The memorial, created through a community-led fundraising effort, is both a tribute to Chadwick’s courage and a reminder of the power of individual action in the face of injustice.