Monument record MWX4045 - Tilly Whim quarries, Durlston, Swanage

Please read our .

Summary

An old quarry marked as Tilly Whim (Old Quarry), marked on the first edition OS map. The quarrying is visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s and 2005. Extensive cliff-side galleries situated to the south-west of Durlston Head which formerly worked the Portland Freestone. Its earliest working date is unkown, although it is reputed to be the source of stone for Corfe Castle. It was certainly extensively quarried during the Napoleonic Wars for fortification building. Demand slumped after the Wars, and in 1887 George Burt opened the galleries as a tourist attraction on his Durlston Estate, and they stayed open until rock falls led to their permanent closure in 1976. The earliest quarrying is probably now representd by the ledge on the seaward side of the quarry, with subsequent workings being conducted underground. The ledge also facilitated loading of stone onto boats below using whims

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

An old quarry marked as Tilly Whim (Old Quarry), marked on the first edition OS map, also marked on the second edition map (1-2)

The quarrying is visible on aerial photographs of the 1950s and 2005 to the east of Anvil Point Lighthouse. The quarrying is visible over an area measuring approximately 135 m by 26 m. <4-5> This site was digitally plotted during the South west Rapid 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, Dorset 22 (Monograph). SDO18060.

<4> XX-XXX-2005, Google Earth (Aerial Photograph). SDO12861.

<5> Royal Air Force, 15-MAR-1950, NMR SZ 0277/18 RAF 541/461 0065 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12862.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1466679 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1864, 1886. Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one. paper. 1:2500.
  • <2> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1900. Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch two. paper. 1:2500.
  • <3> Monograph: Lancashire Archaeological Unit. 2000. Monument Protection Programme Quarrying Industry Step 3.2 Additional Site Assessments. Dorset 22.
  • <4> Aerial Photograph: XX-XXX-2005. Google Earth.
  • <5> Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 15-MAR-1950. NMR SZ 0277/18 RAF 541/461 0065.
  • <6> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1466679.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Location

Grid reference Centred SZ 03104 76965 (135m by 90m) (6 map features)
Map sheet SZ07NW
Civil Parish Swanage; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Protected Status/Designation

Other Statuses/References

  • Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 6 020 159
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: 1466679

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:38PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.