Monument record MWX2798 - Ironstone Quarry, Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth

The Hengistbury Mining Company formed by J E Holloway in 1848, began cutting into the headland of Hengistbury Head in 1856 to extract the ironstone doggers for transhipment to Southampton, then onward to the steelworks of South Wales. The mining operations continued until 1870. The opencast quarry formed a deep cut into Warren Hill and the spoil tips known as the 'batters' were ranged along the north face of the hill. In 1976, part of the quarry was dammed to form a lake for wildlife. <1> <4>

A small ironstone quarry mine that is located at Hengistbury Head. The mine was in use between 1848 and 1854 and consisted of the mine/quarry area, spoil heaps and a harbour for the transportation of the ore. The quarry area of the site has since been flooded to provide a wildlife sanctuary and the remaining spoil heaps are covered in scrubland. The area is scheduled and is classed as an area of Special Scientific Interest. <2>

<1> Cunliffe, B, 1987, Hengistbury Head, Dorset. 1: The Prehistoric and Roman Settlement, 3500BC- AD500, Excavations at Crouch Hill, 1921, 1969. in Oxford University Committee for Archaeology monograph series Vol no.13 Page(s) 40-7, 14 (Monograph). SWX4038.

<2> English Heritage, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme Industrial Monuments Assessment, Step 3 Report: The Iron Mining Industry Volume 3 (Unpublished document). SDO20410.

<3> Cresswell, J, 2003, Items in collection of the Bournemouth Natural Science Society. (Index). SWX8161.

Hengistbury Head Quarry cut during iron-mining operations, 1850.

<4> Hoodless, W A, 2005, Hengistbury Head, The Whole Story, 55-60 (Monograph). SDO12578.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1463895 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 23 2024 3:41PM