Monument record MDO19488 - 18th to 19th century quarries, Admiralty Quarries ('Convict'), Portland

Extensive quarries worked by convicts for government works and surrounded by a wall. Quarry face survives on south side; also includes a limekiln. Now partly filled and levelled for playing fields. Area to east already quarried between 1710 and 1800. After a pause, main part actively quarried by 1863, with further work advancing on west side by 1889 and 1900. Area west of St Peter’s church became a recreation ground by 1900. The central area of the quarries appears to still be in use on on aerial photographs of the 1940s.

Extensive quarries worked by convicts for government works and surrounded by a wall. Quarry face survives on south side; also includes a limekiln. Now partly filled and levelled for playing fields. Area to east already quarried between 1710 and 1800 (1-3). After a pause, main part actively quarried by 1863 (4), with further work advancing on west side by 1889 and 1900 (5-6). Area west of St Peter’s church became a recreation ground by 1900. (6)

The post medieval quarries described above in (1-6) are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s. A central area of the quarry appears to still be in use at this time, covering the footprint of Grove Farm. A road leads to the site from the south east and a number of buildings are located within and outside the quarry. The quarry workings are visible over an area measuring approximately 265 m by 205 m. (7) The quarry area has now been redeveloped. 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> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1889, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.11 (Map). SDO10240.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1901, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.11 (Map). SDO10241.

<7> Royal Air Force, 25-SEP-1945, RAF 106G/UK/842 5060-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13038.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2024 10:52AM