Monument record MWX4019 - Post medieval limestone quarries at Winspit, Worth Matravers

Quarries at Winspit, marked on the first edition OS map. <1>

A large cliff-side quarry on both sides of the valley below Worth Matravers formerly working the Portland Freestone. The quarry was working by 1719 and abandoned in 1953. The earliest workings are represented by the open quarry and later workings by an extensive complex of underground galleries. The latter are entered by a number of entries, many of which have narrow pillars of unworked stone or stacked stone blocks to support the gallery roofs. Some building ruins remain, one of which may be the site office. Stone was shipped by sea, and two rut-ways lead to the ledge below the quarries, where boats were moored at low tide. Square-cut holes which suported cranes are visible on the east side of the cliff-top. The galleries are now home to the protected Greater Horseshoe bat. <2>

The quarries are visible as earthworks on lidar <3-4>. The features were digitally plotted during the South West Coastal Zone Survey (Dorset).

English Heritage, 1997, Monuments Protection Programme Step 3 Report: The Quarrying Industries, Dorset 15 (Monograph). SDO20419.

‘Large cliff-side quarry on both sides of the valley below Worth Matravers formerly working the Portland Freestone (Purbeck-Portland). The quarry was working by 1719, and was well-established when visited by the engineer John Smeaton in 1756. The quarries abandonment (sic) in 1953. Essentially the earliest workings are represented by the open quarry and the later workings by an extensive complex of underground galleries. The latter are enter (sic) though a number of entries many of which have narrow pillars or ‘legs’ of unworked stone or stacked stone blocks to support the roofs of the galleries. Buildings relating to the later life of the quarry are ruinous but are of some interest, particularly the stone built facade (brick to rear) of one building (Office?) which may have served as an advert for prospective client of the quality of building stone produced by the quarry. The stone was shipped by sea and two rut-ways can be seen on the sea ledge below the quarry where stone would be transported in boats moored at low tide. On the east side of the quarry square cut holes for crane positions can be seen on the cliff top. A number of the galleries on this side are believed to contain quarrymen’s graffiti depicting ships. The galleries are now home to the protected Greater Horseshoe Bat. The sit also contains a memorial stone a drowning victim at the quarry in 1935.’

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

<2> Lancashire Archaeological Unit, 2000, Monument Protection Programme Quarrying Industry Step 3.2 Additional Site Assessments, Dorset 15 (Monograph). SDO18060.

<3> Channel Coastal Observatory, 23-MAR-2008, Lidar (Photograph). SDO12878.

<4> Channel Coastal Observatory, 25-FEB-2009, Lidar (Aerial Photograph). SDO12879.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1466616 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 19 2025 11:41AM