{"id":350,"date":"2016-11-13T13:32:07","date_gmt":"2016-11-13T13:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetforyou.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=350"},"modified":"2018-05-18T15:03:16","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T15:03:16","slug":"the-portland-stone-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2016\/11\/13\/the-portland-stone-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Portland stone industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

\n

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.<\/p>\n

Use of Portland stone<\/h2>\n

Since the 14th<\/span><\/sup> 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<\/span><\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n

Herbert’s photographs<\/h2>\n

The Herbert Collection contains numerous negatives from the mid-20th<\/span><\/sup> 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<\/a> for details on how to access the collection.<\/p>\n