Monument record MWX380 - Romano British Cemetery, East Cliff/Breakwater Quarries, Portland

R.B. cemetery found on east cliff at c.300ft 1851. <1>

At a spot c.300ft 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 yds 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 R.B. 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. (b) There is an inaccuracy here, for the VERNE is the highest part of the island at 500 ft whereas Mr NEALE gives the cemetery height as 300ft (Author 1) [Reference (b) checked]<6>

Quarrying on the East side of Portland is 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) sansome

"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 general] lying nearly north. In most cases the graves were larger than to 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 Emperors. Likewise a large stone coffin 7'6" long with lid weighing about 1 ton - it contained the remains of a man and woman. A drip 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 2" 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" "I can find no traces of a road or enclosure….. It is remarkable that they had not been discovered before as close to the spot - the stone for building ST PAULS - and many other buildings were quarried from - the cemetery if I may so call it was on the East side of the Island within a short distance from the edge of the rock or cliff and the highest part of the island." [….= Broken Quotes. - = original punctuation] (4,5) Neale letters

An account of the finds by the Prison Governor, Mr Clifton. <4>

[Area centred SY 69797304] [sited from OS 1/2,500 1864] 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 PAULS came from the west side of the Island <7.1>.

The area has been quarried out to a greater extent than that shown on OS 1/2,500 1864 and whose boundary is delineated on OS 6" sheet. No trace of antiquity was found. Mr NEALE probably estimated his height without a plan for consultation. As he was on top of the plateau with the cliff falling away from him to the East and the land rising but gently to the north 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. Investigation. The quarry site for ST PAULS proved to be controversial. T6 appears to be an incomplete reference to Mr NEALE'S letters. <7>

"The Grove. Inhumation burials and pits were found in 1851 in the Breakwater Quarries (now playing fields) opposite the Clifton Hotel near the Convict Prison (now H.M. Borstal Institution) some 350ft above sea level (about 697725)." Roman coins found ranged from 1st cent. To 4th cent. <8>

Romano-British cemetery with nearly 200 graves found in the Breakwater Quarries close to HMYOI Portland. Burials mainly in stone cists but number of stone sarcophagi were also found. These sarcophagi are now within HMYOI Portland. A number of pits were also found. Quantities of Roman Pottery, coins, metalwork, animal bones etc. were recovered. <9>

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

<2> Letter: A Neale (principal warder), The Verne, Portland held by Portland Museum on loan from Mr J Leneham, Schoolmaster, Fortunewell, Portland, 16.8.1852 (Verbal communication). SWX1991.

<3> Letter: A Neale (principal warder), The Verne, Portland held by Portland Museum on loan from Mr J Leneham, Schoolmaster, Fortunewell, Portland, 22.10.1852 (Verbal communication). SWX1991.

<4> 1872, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol 28 Clifton, p204-5 (Article in serial). SWX1995.

<5> Goldesbrough, P, Annotated Record Map Rec. 6 P Goldesbrough 1948-50 AD undated (Map). SWX1988.

<6> Oliver, V L, 1923, Pre-Roman and Roman Occupation of the Weymouth District. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, p45 (Article in serial). SWX1763.

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

<7.1> Sansome, 1955, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Inf: Mr Sansome 3.6.55 Manager Bath and Portland Stone Firms (Verbal communication). SWX1990.

<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 (Monograph). SDO150.

<9> Bellamy, P, 2001, Laundry Shed, HMYOI Portland, Grove, Portland, Dorset: Archaeological Observations. (Unpublished document). SWX8560.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451682 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 28 2023 9:38AM