Monument record MWX4389 - Duncecroft Quarries, Southwell, Portland

Duncecroft Quarries, marked on the second edition OS map.T he 1863 OS map indicates a small quarry at the NE end of Duncecroft, at c.SY 69297941. There was further development by 1901 but the main quarry face was formed by 1926. Wide floor of quarry is built up on waste. There is a long face, with a good example of a gullet. Some waste banks are within the quarry, with evidence of at least two crane sites (one a steam crane), tipping places and quarried blocks. The coastal quarries are visible on aerial photographs of the 1960s to the east of Southwell Road.

Duncecroft Quarries, marked on the second edition OS map. (1)
The 1863 OS map indicates a small quarry at the NE end of Duncecroft, at c.SY 69297941. (2) There was further development by 1901 (3) but the main quarry face was formed by 1926. (3) The quarry was fairly extensively worked back from cliff edge inland towards allotments. Wide floor of quarry is built up on waste (bank blocks can be seen on clifftop when viewed from Freshwater Bay). There is a long face, with a good example of a gullet. Some waste banks are within the quarry, with evidence of at least two crane sites (one a steam crane), tipping places and quarried blocks. (4)

The coastal quarries described above in (1-4) are visible on aerial photographs of the 1960s to the east of Southwell Road. The quarries are visible over an area measuring approximately 380 m by 120 m. (5) The site is still visible on the most recent comprehensive aerial imagery available to the project. (6) 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, 1901, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LX.3 (Map). SDO10281.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1929, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet LX.3 (Map). SDO10282.

<4> AC Archaeology, 2002, The Isle of Portland Review of Mineral Planning Permissions Stage 1: archaeological baseline study for Hanson Bath & Portland Stone, document no. 4299/1/4. (Unpublished document). SDO10260.

<5> Meridian Air Maps Ltd, 26-JAN-1968, MAL 68002/011-12 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13065.

<6> XX-XXX-2009, Google Earth (Aerial Photograph). SDO12705.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:38PM