Monument record MDO6547 - Romano-British cemetery at the Breakwater Quarries, Grove, Portland

A cemetery believed to have consisted of up to 200 graves found in 1851 in the Breakwater Quarries (now playing fields) by the young offender's institution.

A Romano-British cemetery found on east cliff at c. 300ft, 1851. At a spot c. 330ft high on the E-side of the island and adjacent to the cliff edge nearly 200 graves were found in the autumn of 1851, when topsoil was removed prior to quarrying. The graves were from 1-20 yards apart, and about 4ft below the surface. The sides of the graves and the ends were of stone slabs, with another slab in each case laid upon the top. In some were found Romano-British vessels and occasionally coins. A stone coffin was also found which is now in the chapel at Verne. These interments were found at the highest part of the island.(1) There is inaccuracy here, for the Verne is the highest part of the island at 500ft whereas Mr Neale gives the cemetery height as 300ft. (2) Quarrying the E side of Portland island entirely recent except for the area near HMS Osprey, where the washing away of lower layers has caused a general land slip, probably an Admiralty quarry (3) 'The spot is I believe upward of 300ft above the level of the sea, about a twelvemonth since a quantity of graves were discovered I should think numbering nearly 100. The surface being level [i.e.. Ground surface] the head [of the bodies in the graves] lying nearly north. In most cases the graves were not longer than the knee- the legs must have been doubled up or amputated. In some of the graves were a black jar and red saucer, a few copper coins found in the earth with figures of some of the Roman 4th century emperors. Likewise a large stone coffin 7ft 6inches long with a lid weighing about 1 ton- it contained the remains of a man and woman. A deep hole near to many of the graves had been filled with pieces of stone mixed up with bones of birds and animals which appear to be sacrificial. There were likewise four pieces of stone neatly joined together making a square of about 4ft with a groove about 2inches wide cut round near to the edge. It has the appearance of an altar. This and the coffin are placed in front of the prison chapel. (4) 'I can find no traces of a road or enclosure, it is remarkable that they had not been dissevered before as close to the spot -the stone for building St Paul's- and many other public buildings were quarried from the cemetery if I may so call it was on the E side of the island within a short distance from the edge of the rock or cliff and the highest part of the island." (5) Since the 300ft contour is no longer significant and the fact that the stone was for the breakwater coupled with the use of convict labour it can be confidently stated that the quarry is the one marked "Admiralty Quarry" on OS 1:2500 1864. I thought the stone for St Paul's came from the W side of the island (6) The area has been quarried out to a greater extent than that shown on OS 1:2500 1864 and whose boundary is defined on OS 6inch sheet. No trace of antiquity was found. Mr Neale probably estimated the height without a plan for consultation. As he was on top of the plateau with the cliff falling away from him to the E and the land rising but gently to the N it is not a serious misstatement to say he was on the highest part of the island. I obtained this impression myself. Topographically his description of the site is satisfied by the area delineated. The coffin and altar were not located during field investigation, the quarry site for St Paul's proved to be controversial. (7) Roam coins found ranged from 1st century to 4th century.(8)

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 606-607 (Monograph). SDO150.

DCC SMR, to 2003, Former DCC SMR Card Index (Index). SWX8285.

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1853, Archaeological Journal 10, p60 (Serial). SWX8401.

<2> Oliver, V L, 1923, Pre-Roman and Roman Occupation of the Weymouth District. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, p44-5 (Article in serial). SWX1763.

<3> Sansome, 1955, Oral: Mr Sansome 3.6.55 Manager Bath and Portland stone Firms (Verbal communication). SWX1998.

<4> Neale, 1852, Letter, A Neale Principal Warder, HM Borstal, Portland (Unpublished document). SWX8701.

<5> Neale, A, 1852, Letter, A Neale Principal Warder, HM Borstal, Portland (Unpublished document). SWX8702.

<6> Sansome, 1955, Oral: Mr Sansome 3.6.55 Manager Bath and Portland stone Firms (Verbal communication). SWX1998.

<7> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 08-JUN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

Record last edited

Dec 24 2021 11:05AM