Monument record MWX3125 - Post medieval to modern quay, Middlebere Quay, Arne

The remains of Middlebere Quay are visible as derelict landing stages and posts on aerial photographs of the southern foreshore of Middlebere Lake taken in 1952. It was associated with the loading of barges with clay from the Norden clay pits via the tramway built in 1806. The quay was derelict in 1905, reused briefly during WWII, but now the only remains are a series of wooden piles, up to 10 m from the shore.

Middlebere Quay was associated with the loading of barges with clay from the Norden clay pits. The 1901 OS Map indicates a tramway and pier associated with the quay. The quay was built in 1806 and was derelict in 1905. It was re-used by the Admiralty in the Second World War. A series of wooden piles, up to 10 m from the shore, is the remnants of a wharf. (1)

The remains of Middlebere Quay are visible as derelict landing stages and posts on aerial photographs of the southern foreshore of Middlebere Lake taken in 1952 (2). This feature was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset). It not visible on the most recent comprehensive imagery available to the project (3).

<1> Papworth, M, 1992, Middlebere, Corfe Castle Estate, Dorset. Wessex Region, 112,296 (Unpublished document). SWX1394.

Middlebere Quay was built in 1806 and went out of use in 1905 although it was used again by the Admiralty during the Second World War. Clay from the Norden clay pits was brought across Middlebere Heath on the tramway (112236) and transferred onto barges at Middlebere Quay. The ruins of the site are still visible on the ground. Remains of the railway can be seen as a series of stone blocks 50cm square with central holes 5cm dia which form the base of the tramway line approaching from the west. The quay is visible as a series of Purbeck limestone walls which extend for 30m along the shore, are 0.6m wide and survive to a height of 2m. A series of wooden piles are visible up to 10m from the shore projecting from mudflats and are remnants of the wharf. The extent of the site in 1901 is shown on the 1” – 25” O.S. map (see fig.9) by this time there were two piers, a bout slip, a windlass and five buildings including a large storage building on the site of the surviving stone walls. A spread of ball clay is visible on the west side of the site a remnant of the many thousands of tons which passed across the quay.

<2> Royal Air Force, 09-MAY-1952, RAF/540/723 F10 5060 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12768.

<3> Google Earth, 2013, Google Earth 2013 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12686.

Record last edited

Jan 31 2019 10:01AM