Monument record MDO19477 - Waycroft Quarries, Portland

Large quarry area merging on the east and south-east sides with Admiralty Quarries, the south with Withies Croft Quarries and the west with King Barrow Quarries. Worked progressively, some perhaps by 1745 but at least 1800 until 1901 when it was largely worked out. First named ‘Waycroft Quarries’ on the 1889 map. In 1863 it was served by two branches from Merchants' Railway, one of these from the East Drum at the top of a short incline which was soon after destroyed by the Verne fortifications. This was replaced by an incline directly from the Merchants’ Railway. Tramways had been removed by 1927.

Large quarry area merging on the east and south-east sides with Admiralty Quarries, the south with Withies Croft Quarries and the west with King Barrow Quarries. Worked progressively, some perhaps by 1745 but at least 1800 until 1901 when it was largely worked out (1-8). First named ‘Waycroft Quarries’ on the 1889 map (7) In 1863 it was served by two branches from Merchants' Railway, one of these from the East Drum at the top of a short incline which was soon after destroyed by the Verne fortifications. (6) This was replaced by an incline directly from the Merchants’ Railway. (7-8) Tramways had been removed by 1927 (9).

The 19th to 20th century quarries in the vicinity of Withie Croft Quarries, described above in (1-9), are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s. See MDO19486 for more details and sources.

<1> 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… (Map). SDO10234.

<2> F Webb and Co Salisbury, 1800, A Map of the Isle of Portland (Map). SDO10235.

<3> Wyld, J, 1828, Plan of the Island of Portland in the County of Dorset (Map). SDO10236.

<4> Roger Hopkins and Sons, 1832, Plan of Grove and Easton area of Portland, showing proprietors of quarry lands (Map). SDO10237.

<5> 1841, Portland Tithe Map (Map). SDO10238.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1889, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.11 (Map). SDO10240.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1901, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.11 (Map). SDO10241.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1929, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.11 (Map). SDO10242.

Record last edited

Nov 8 2013 1:15PM