Monument record MWX4014 - Post medieval cliff-top limestone quarry, St Aldhelm's Chapel, Worth Matravers

A quarry marked on the first edition OS map (1)

Also marked on the second edition (2)

The cliffside quarry at St Aldhelm's Head formed the western terminus of the Purbeck cliff-side quarries which exploit the Portland Freestone. Unlike the other cliffside quarries, the stone occurs high up on the cliff, and was not continued in underground galleries, but was worked back from the cliff edge to leave a prominent step in the cliff. Quarried stone was lowered to boats below during the post-Mediaeval period. <3>

The post medieval cliffside quarry is visible on aerial photographs <4> and was digitally plotted during the South West Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch two (Map). SDO11594.

<3> Lancashire Archaeological Unit, 2000, Monument Protection Programme Quarrying Industry Step 3.2 Additional Site Assessments (Monograph). SDO18060.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 1398-99 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12897.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1466591 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:38PM