Monument record MWX514 - Durdle Pier, Portland
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Summary
C18th or earlier stone loading quay
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
Durdle Pier is the last remaining example of an C18th or earlier quay on the east side of Portland used in connection with the stone trade. The present crane is by Galpin of Dorchester (1840-70) and is at least the third on the site. Recommended no action. <2>
A small re-entrant is faced with two stone walls each about 50ft long and forming a right angle. The quay is now only used by fishermen. <3>
A chart of 1779 <4> notes that this pier is called 'New Key or Dirtle Pier'.
Partially artificial quay of stone blocks with timber derrick crane now used for launching small fishing boats. Tracks from various stone-working sites in East Weares converge on the site. Recorded as ‘Dirtle key’ in 1745 <5>, ‘New Key or Dirtle Pier’ in 1765 <6>, 'Durtle Pier' served by tracks in 1800 <7>, 'Dirdale Pier' in 1811 <8> and later maps, becoming Durdle Pier in 1863 when there was a crane marked here <9>. Shown but not named in 1901 <10>.
Sources/Archives (11)
- <1> SDO17396 Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale map. 1:10000. 1978.
- <2> SWX2360 Monograph: Council for British Archaeology. 1973. Recommendations of CBA Panel on Industrial Monuments Dorset. 1.
- <3> SDO150 Monograph: Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England). 1970. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3. 248.
- <4> SWX8808 Chart: Sayer and Bennett. 1779. Hydrographic Survey of Isle, Road and Race of Portland with the Shambles.
- <5> SDO10234 Map: Roper, T. 1745. A Plan of the Island of Portland in the County of Dorsett, with a description of his Ma’ty’s Demesne Lands and Quarries there….
- <6> SDO10340 Map: Taylor, Isaac. 1765. Dorset Shire.
- <7> SDO10235 Map: F Webb and Co Salisbury. 1800. A Map of the Isle of Portland.
- <8> SDO10343 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1811. Ordnance Survey 1-inch map first series. Sheet 17.
- <9> SDO10239 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1864, 1886. Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one. paper. 1:2500.
- <10> SDO10276 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1901. Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.16.
- <11> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 453861.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
| Grid reference | SY 7048 7168 (point) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY77SW |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 4 001 403
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 77 SW 2
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 453861
Record last edited
Jun 8 2023 3:24PM