Monument record MWX4026 - Post medieval coastal limestone quarry, Dancing Ledge, Langton Matravers

PLarge scale cliff-side quarry situated to the south-east of Acton village which formerly worked the Portland freestone. It was working by 1771 when the whole of the cliff was removed to build the pier at Ramsgate. It was last worked in 1914. The earliest workings are represented by open quarries and the later workings by an extensive complex of underground galleries. Most of the cliff-side buildings and structures have been cleared. The stone was lowered on to horn-carts on the sea cliff and then directed along two converging rut-ways, the grooves of which are still prominent.

Large scale cliff-side quarry situated to the south-east of Acton village which formerly worked the Portland freestone. It was working by 1771 when the whole of the cliff was removed to build the pier at Ramsgate. It was last worked in 1914. The earliest workings are represented by open quarries and the later workings by an extensive complex of underground galleries. Most of the cliff-side buildings and structures have been cleared. The stone was lowered on to horn-carts on the sea cliff and then directed along two converging rut-ways, the grooves of which are still prominent.

A quarry marked on the first edition of the OS map. Also marked on the second edition.
Post medieval coastal limestone quarry, Dancing Ledge, Langton Matravers. The quarry is marked on the OS 1st edition map and is visible as earthworks on lidar <2-3>. According to the NMR (SY97NE169) the quarry was worked in 1771 when the cliff was removed to build Ramsgate pier. It was last worked in 1914. The features were digitally mapped and recorded during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Lancashire Archaeological Unit, 2000, Monument Protection Programme Quarrying Industry Step 3.2 Additional Site Assessments, Dorset 20 (Monograph). SDO18060.

<2> Channel Coastal Observatory, 23-MAR-2008, Lidar (Photograph). SDO12878.

<3> Channel Coastal Observatory, 25-FEB-2009, Lidar (Aerial Photograph). SDO12879.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1466671 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:38PM