Monument record MDO47889 - Medieval quarrying, Portland
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Summary
Limestone quarries. Quarrying for limestone on the Isle of Portland began in the 14th Century. The oldest quarries are in the north east of the island.
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
Portland Limestone Quarries. Although Portland Limestone had been exploited by the Romans, full exploitation only began in earnest in the early C 14. The earliest quarries are in the NE of the island. Until the arrival of the railways in 1826, all stone had to be shipped from wooden piers on the east side of the island.
An extensive network of tramways were used to transport the stone, the quarries on the Weston side of the island using the Merchants tramway to Castletown, the central and eatern quarries using a route to The Camber along the east side of the island. By 1903 both networks were linked to utilise both of these routes and also the Portland Railway and the Easton and Church Hope Railway. <1-3>
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SWX2151 Article in serial: Bettey J H. 1983. The Portland Strip Fields. Archaeological Journal. 140. 76.
- <2> SWX2152 Monograph: Hudson, K. 1984. Industrial History from the Air. 12-15.
- <3> SWX2153 Monograph: Davey, N. 1976. Building Stones of England and Wales.
- <4>XY SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 868106. [Mapped feature: #637711 ]
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
| Grid reference | SY 690 720 (point) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY67SE |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 67 SE 50
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 868106
Record last edited
Mar 20 2024 4:49PM