Historic pubs · South West England
The Square and Compass
In or near Worth Matravers.
Dorset's served-through-a-hatch family pub since 1907 — fossils, cider, pumpkin festival.
Mike Faherty — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Nearest railway station
- Harman's Cross · 2.8 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit The Square and Compass, the nearest railway station is Harman's Cross, located 2.8 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is BH19 3LY, and entry is free.
About
The Square and Compass at Worth Matravers in Dorset has been run by the Newman family since 1907. Stone-flagged floor, no music, served-through-a-hatch beer, cider made in the back yard, fossils and a small museum of finds from the local quarries assembled by the landlord over a century. The October pumpkin festival is locally legendary.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
The Square and Compass Fossil Museum showcases a diverse collection of fossils and archaeological finds primarily from the Purbeck area. Visitors can explore specimens collected over 60 years, including marine reptiles and various historical artifacts, all reflecting the rich natural and cultural history of Dorset.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: South Dorset Coast SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Dorset
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
Place summary
The Square and Compass is a Victorian pub located in South-West England. It is designated as a Grade II listed building, reflecting its architectural and historical significance.
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
- Coordinates
- 50.5950, -2.0319
- District
- Dorset
- Parish
- Worth Matravers
- Postcode
- BH19 3LY
- Parliamentary constituency
- South Dorset
- Nearest railway station
- Harman's Cross — 2.8 km
- Official site
- www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk
Sources
- manual: the-square-and-compass-worth-matravers (manual)
- wikipedia: Square and Compass (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Square and Compass?
- The Square and Compass is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode BH19 3LY), in the parish of Worth Matravers.
- What is The Square and Compass?
- Dorset's served-through-a-hatch family pub since 1907 — fossils, cider, pumpkin festival.
- How do I get to The Square and Compass?
- The nearest railway station is Harman's Cross, about 2.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode BH19 3LY.
- When was The Square and Compass built?
- Dates from the Victorian period.
- Is The Square and Compass a listed building?
- The Square and Compass is officially recognised as Grade II listed.
- Is The Square and Compass a protected site?
- Yes — The Square and Compass is part of the South Dorset Coast SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Dorset National Landscape (AONB).
- Is The Square and Compass free to visit?
- Yes, The Square and Compass is free to enter.
- How do I get to The Square and Compass?
- The nearest railway station is Harman's Cross, about 2.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BH19 3LY.