Monument record MDO29758 - Medieval to post medieval Limestone quarries, East Weare, Portland

Medieval and post medieval limestone quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1968, between Rufus Castle and Durdle Pier. These limestone quarries were the earliest to be quarried on Portland, and were the site of Sir Christopher Wren's first workings. It occupies a 200-300m wide strip alng the east coast of the island between Church Ope Cove and King's Pier. At Penn's Weare the dressing process is clearly evident rfom roughly dressed stone to finely square blocks in situ, with dressing roughout piles in situ. These remains continue northwards into East Weare, although 19th and 20th century development has caused significant damage. The finished stone was shipped from the adjacent Durdle, Folly, and King's Piers, although only Durdle Pier is well-preserved.

Medieval and post medieval Limestone quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1968 <2> between Rufus Castle and Durdle Pier. The quarries are visible over an area measuring approximately 320 m by 130 m. The quarries are still visible as earthworks on the most recent comprehensive aerial imagery available to the project <3>. This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> English Heritage, 2000, Monument Protection Programme Quarrying IndustryStep 3.2 Additional Site Assessments
Lancashire University Archaeological Unit,. (Serial). SDO17683.

<2> Meridian Air Maps Ltd, 26-JAN-1968, MAL 68002/012-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13066.

<3> XX-XXX-2009, Google Earth (Aerial Photograph). SDO12705.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1466569 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:34PM