Dorset History Centre holds many historical and photographic records relating to the stonemason industry on Portland. It is an industry that has international reach and significance. With evidence of quarrying dating back to Roman times, stone-masonry has been a source of labour and wealth in the area for many centuries.
Portland stone is an oolitic limestone that was deposited around 145-163.5 million years ago during the late Jurassic period, when the UK was situated in a more sub-tropical latitude. The stone is sufficiently cemented to be resistant to weathering but not so compact that it can’t be carved and cut by stonemasons. This combination of qualities has contributed to the popularity of Portland stone over the centuries.
Use of Portland stone
Since the 14th century, Portland stone has been shipped to London to support the rapid expansion of the city. Numerous buildings of great importance were constructed with Portland stone, including The Palace of Westminster (1347), The Tower of London (1349) and even parts of Buckingham Palace (1854). In the 17th century, Portland stone was famously used by then MP and architect, Christopher Wren, to rebuild churches in London following the great fire in 1666. This includes his masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral. Portland stone has even made it across the Atlantic, where it was used for the United Nation’s Headquarter building in New York.
Herbert’s photographs
The Herbert Collection contains numerous negatives from the mid-20th century featuring the still booming Portland stone industry. The images displayed (DHC reference: D-HBT/3947) were taken in 1959, demonstrating the modernised processes of extraction, manufacturing and transportation. Work to digitise and index the Herbert collection is ongoing. Please contact us for details on how to access the collection.
[…] if you’ve never heard of Portland, chances are you’ve seen its stone. Portland Limestone was used to build St Paul’s Cathedral in London, as well as countless other important […]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Greetings from Hong Kong.
In the mid 1960’s my family lived in a beautiful old house situated above the Trevaunance Cove harbour which was destroyed in a series of storms circa 1916.
The inner and outer faces of the North Quay were made from dressed granite blocks.
On-going research to date has thrown up a series of questions which is the reason for this e-mail.
Intuition and guessing tends to think that the dressed granite blocks my have originated from Portland and been taken to Plymouth for dressing and thence by cargo sailing vessel to St. Agnes, Cornwall. A total distance in the range of 170 nautical miles.
The time frame for the construction of the harbour was 7 years – 1793 to 1798.
In the time frame given would the delivery of Portland stone have been by cargo sailing vessel? The railways and steam ships with propellers were still far away in time.
In the Portland/Dorset area is there any company or museum with records that might give a hint about the source of the North Quay granite blocks?
I know this enquiry is a rather unusual and likely to result in no knowledge to be offered, but a simple reply would be much appreciated – even if its negative.
Thank you.
Hi David, thank-you for your comment! We will send you an email as a response shortly, so please look out for it!
My name is Judith and my mother’s name belonged to the Chapman family from Yeovil, Somerset. The family were stonemasons, recognised throughout the county and beyond, I believe. I am researching my family history and was hoping you offer some help. Thankyou, in anticipation,
Judith M Aldridge.
Hi Judith, thanks for your message. If you send us an email with your queries – archives@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk; or give us a call during our opening hours – 01305 250550 (Wednesday-Friday, first Saturday of each month) and one of the team can try to help you further.
Hello. I wonder if there is any information about whether Portland or Purbeck stone was transported by rail. I’m fairly precise in what I’m asking. Early 1960s and what rail wagons were used also, if open wagons, what did the load look like ? i.e. large blocks, small blocks, straight cut or random.
I am a group leader in the Hull Model Railway Club and we have built a layout (Ladycross) based on the New Forest area just east of Brockenhurst and we are looking at the make up of freight trains. Thank you very much.
Hi John, we hold several records relating to local quarries and railways. You can find descriptions of these on our online catalogue.
We also hold a few books on the stone quarrying industry and a large selection of publications on Dorset Railways in our local studies library. You can find out more about the books that we hold by searching our library catalogue, you will need to select Dorset History Centre from the drop-down menu.
Many of these publications contain photographs, although they are not always accurately dated. Most of these images seem to be of passenger trains, but there are some of freight trains. A lot of the railway books focus on specific lines so if there is a particular railways that you are interested in this may help to narrow down the search. Please contact us directly for more information.
Hello. Are the big blocks of rock scattered around the lighthouse at Portland lighthouse remnants of the quarrying industry there? And, if so, we’re they mined in situ or mined elsewhere and then brought to the lighthouse site to bolster sea defences there? Thank you
Hi Tony, according to “Discover Dorset: Portland” by Stuart Morris – “Some of the cliffs around the Bill were quarried during the nineteenth century, in the course of which the great natural arch of rock (White Hole) was partially removed, leaving a stack which became well-known as ‘Pulpit Rock’…Unfortunately the quarrymen left piles of stone blocks covering several of the pebble beaches in the tiny coves.”
This book, and many others about the history of Portland and its quarries, are available to view in the Local Studies Library at Dorset History Centre. Other titles include “Portland: An Illustrated History” again by Stuart Morris; or “Quarrying of Portland Stone” by Peter Trim.