Monument record MDO19487 - 18th to 20th century Admiralty Quarries, Portland

Extensive quarry area opened and worked for Breakwater Works and served by network of tramway branches. Difficult to interpret. Cliff area first worked by 1710, steadily advancing to west by 1889, and last parts in south west by 1901 and finally by 2006. In recent years the quarry was developed downwards into the cherty series which was crushed for aggregate; now ceased (2007). An ‘island’ of untouched Portland stone stands above the east face of this quarry. The quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s.

Extensive quarry area opened and worked for Breakwater Works and served by network of tramway branches. Difficult to interpret. Cliff area first worked by 1710, steadily advancing to west by 1889 (1-7), and last parts in south west by 1901(8) and finally by 2006. In recent years the quarry was developed downwards into the cherty series which was crushed for aggregate; now ceased (2007). An ‘island’ of untouched Portland stone stands above the east face of this quarry.

The 19th to 20th century quarries to the north east vicinity of Withie Croft Quarries, described above in (1-7), are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s (see MDO19486 for more detail of the entire quarrying area). Four buildings which may be associated with the quarry, or with a Second World War military camp located immediately to the west (see MDO29704), are visible on the 1940s photographs around the edge of the north eastern most area of Admiralty Quarries. An area of finger dumps are also located in this area. The north eastern area of Admiralty Quarries, two quarries, are recorded here, while the western area is recorded together with Withie Croft Quarries. (9) This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> 1710, A Plan of the Isle of Portland and parts adjacent (Map). SDO10244.

<2> 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.

<3> F Webb and Co Salisbury, 1800, A Map of the Isle of Portland (Map). SDO10235.

<4> Wyld, J, 1828, Plan of the Island of Portland in the County of Dorset (Map). SDO10236.

<5> 1841, Portland Tithe Map (Map). SDO10253.

<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> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3229-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13055.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:32PM