Monument record MDO19509 - 20th century Silklake Quarries, Portland

Quarry started in 1910 by A.G. Coombes who was recorded here in 1912-37. Map shows quarries already opened up by 1926-7 and subsequently enlarged. Today, much of the site has been landfilled although there are original overburden tips. The quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s extending to the south and north (within the areas of MDO19510 and MDO19511).

A.G. Coombes cut the first turf at Silklake, 6 June 1910 (1) and Home Office Returns recorded A.G. Coombe here in 1912-37 (2). Map shows quarries already opened up by 1926-7 and subsequently enlarged. (3-4) British Geological Survey photo A4974 shows quarrying and overburden tip in open fields with 5 steel cranes in April 1930. (5) Today, much of the site has been landfilled although there are original overburden tips (6).

The 20th century quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s in the area of Silklake Quarries and also extending to the south and north (within the areas of MDO19510 and MDO19511). The quarries were plotted to their extent in the 1940s and are visible over an area measuring approximately 745 m by 340 m, centred on SY 69920 71556. (5) Aerial imagery of 2009 shows that the south part of the quarry has been filled in and that a new area of quarrying has been opened to the north. (6) This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Morris, S, 1990, Portland Camera (Monograph). SDO10273.

<2> Home Office, 1900-37, Home Office Quarry Returns (Monograph). SDO10274.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1929, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LVIII.15 (Map). SDO10269.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1960, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Map). SDO10272.

<5> Stanier, P, 1995, Quarries of England & Wales (Monograph). SDO10275.

<6> AC Archaeology, 2002, The Isle of Portland Review of Mineral Planning Permissions Stage 1: archaeological baseline study for Hanson Bath & Portland Stone, document no. 4299/1/4. (Unpublished document). SDO10260.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:32PM