Monument record MWX516 - Portland Inner Breakwater

Part of the Portland Breakwater constructed between 1849 and 1872. It is 1700 feet long and has a series of casemates facing in towards the harbour. It terminates in a small fort at the south ship channel end.

The Inner Breakwater (HM Naval Base). Construction begun in 1849 and was completed in 1872. It is 1700 feet long and has a series of casemates facing in towards the harbour. It terminates in a small fort at the South Ship Channel end. <2>

At the S end of the breakwater there is a stone carved with an achievement of the royal arms and inscribed 'From this spot on the 25th of July 1849 his Royal Highness Prince Albert consort of Queen Victoria sank the first stone of this breakwater. Upon the same spot Albert Edward , Prince of Wales, on the 18th of August 1872 laid this last stone and declared the work complete. These are imperial works and worthy kings'.

Watching brief during construction of new jetty revealed substantial timber upright identified as remnants of timber staging constructed to transport the stone for the breakwater construction. Also noted rubble core of breakwater comprised of a mixture of large pieces of limestone about 1m across and smaller fragments c. 300mm across. Surface of large limestone sets bedded on a layer of rough concrete covering limestone rubble. Observed inner face constructed of ashlar. <3>

National Record of the Historic Environment, 868156 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale map, 1970 (Map). SDO17396.

Inner Breakwater [NAT]

<2> Department of the Environment, 21 Sept 1978, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Weymouth and Portland amendment 1978, p17 (Scheduling record). SWX2136.

<3> Tatler, S and Bellamy, P, 2003, Portland Bunkering Facility, Inner Breakwater, Portland, Dorset: Archaeological Watching Brief, November 2002 (Unpublished document). SWX8576.

Record last edited

Oct 31 2023 10:22AM