Monument record MWX4045 - Tilly Whim quarries, Durlston, Swanage
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Summary
An old quarry marked as Tilly Whim (Old Quarry), marked on the first edition OS map. The quarrying is visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s and 2005. Extensive cliff-side galleries situated to the south-west of Durlston Head which formerly worked the Portland Freestone. Its earliest working date is unkown, although it is reputed to be the source of stone for Corfe Castle. It was certainly extensively quarried during the Napoleonic Wars for fortification building. Demand slumped after the Wars, and in 1887 George Burt opened the galleries as a tourist attraction on his Durlston Estate, and they stayed open until rock falls led to their permanent closure in 1976. The earliest quarrying is probably now representd by the ledge on the seaward side of the quarry, with subsequent workings being conducted underground. The ledge also facilitated loading of stone onto boats below using whims
Map
Type and Period (3)
Full Description
An old quarry marked as Tilly Whim (Old Quarry), marked on the first edition OS map, also marked on the second edition map (1-2)
The quarrying is visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s and 2005 to the east of Anvil Point Lighthouse. The quarrying is visible over an area measuring approximately 135 m by 26 m. <4-5> This site was digitally plotted during the South west Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SDO10239 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1864, 1886. Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one. paper. 1:2500.
- <2> SDO11594 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1900. Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch two. paper. 1:2500.
- <3> SDO18060 Monograph: Lancashire Archaeological Unit. 2000. Monument Protection Programme Quarrying Industry Step 3.2 Additional Site Assessments. Dorset 22.
- <4> SDO12861 Aerial Photograph: XX-XXX-2005. Google Earth.
- <5> SDO12862 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 15-MAR-1950. NMR SZ 0277/18 RAF 541/461 0065.
- <6> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1466679.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SZ 03104 76965 (135m by 90m) (6 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SZ07NW |
| Civil Parish | Swanage; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 6 020 159
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: 1466679
Record last edited
Jan 1 2024 2:25PM