Durdle Pier
Durdle Pier is a disused stone shipping pier of 17th century origin on the east side of the island, in the southern region of East Weare and north of Penn's Weare.
The pier has seen a number of variations to its name since the 18th century. It first appeared on a map of 1745, which recorded the name as "Dirtle Key", and later as "New Key" or "Dirtle Pier" on a 1765 map. The pier was named "Durtle Pier" on a map of 1800, "Dirdale Pier" on a map of 1811, and finally "Durdle Pier" on an ordnance survey map of 1863. The Dorset names Durlston Bay and Head (in Swanage) and Durdle Pier, again without early spellings, can be associated etymologically with Durdle Door.
History
Durdle Pier dates back to the early 17th century, when British architect Inigo Jones chose Portland Stone for the rebuilding of the Banqueting House at Whitehall, London, in 1619. The three-year contract between him and quarry owners on the island resulted in the establishment of various tracks and piers around East Weare and its coastline. One of these was Durdle Pier, which became one of Portland's primary stone shipping points in this region of the island, alongside Folly and King's Piers further north.
Following the Great Fire of 1666, Sir Christopher Wren sourced much stone for the rebuilding of London from the eastern cliffs of Portland. The workings were largely undertaken within the north-east region of the island, which later became incorporated into the Admiralty Quarries from 1849, and southwards towards Church Ope Cove. Much of the stone was shipped from the piers at East Weare including Durdle. To date, evidence remains of quarrying from this period, including some roughly dressed stone and discarded waste stone.
By the beginning of the 19th century, Durdle Pier, King's Pier, three piers around Church Ope Cove, and the wharfs and pier at Castletown, had become the most important shipping points for stone. However, as much of the area's quarrying activity came to an end during the early 19th century, Durdle and other piers were no longer required for the shipping of stone. With demand for Portland stone continuing to increase, quarries began to move inland from the cliffs, making use of traditional stone shipping piers difficult. In 1826, the horse-drawn and cable-operated Merchants' Railway was opened, which allowed stone to be easily transported from the Tophill Quarries to Castletown.
Following the end of its use as part of the stone industry, fishermen became regular users of Durdle Pier, with its crane being used for lifting boats into and out of the water. By the mid-20th century, a number of fisherman huts had been erected around the pier, while the crane continued to be used for launching boats late into the century until the crane became broken and beyond repair. The iron winding gear had become badly rusted, although the main timbers of the crane remained in good condition.
The pier's crane was destroyed during the storms of January-February 2014. Three separate parts of the crane were carried further north along Portland's eastern coastline. Two were cast ashore within the area of the Salt Pans and the third piece further north along the coastline. Today, Durdle Pier is now a popular place for recreational fishing.
Surrounding area
Overlooking the area surrounding Durdle Pier are two World War II pillboxes, constructed in 1940. One is located on the seaward side of the Weares, south of the pier, whilst the other is found further up, halfway between seaward edge of East Weares and the disused railway track. Both structures are the only two camouflaged pillboxes on Portland, designed to blend in with the boulder strewn area of the Weares.
The surrounding cliffs behind the pier are frequently used by birds during the breeding season, including fulmars. The Great Southwell Landslip, Britain's second largest recorded historical landslide, occurred in 1734, between Durdle Pier and Freshwater Bay, at a distance of one and a half miles.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Archaeology Data Service - Isle of Portland Industrial Archaeology Survey Report - PDF document
2) Exploring Portland - Yeolands Quarry & Durdle Pier - Geoff Kirby - website page
3) Jurassic Coastline - Freshwater Bay - Quick Facts Area - website page
4) Ordnance Survey - various maps, including 1864, 1902, 1929, 1960 and 1976 + Tithe map of 1841
5) Pastscape - Durdle Pier - website page
6) Pastscape - East and Penns Weares Quarries - website page
7) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420399 - website page
8) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420401 - website page
9) Strolling Guides - Church Ope Cove and St Andrew's Church - website page
10) The Dorset Page - Durdle Door, Dorset, England - website page
11) Visit Dorset - Wild about Weymouth & Portland - Legacy Trail - Circular Walk 8: The Weares and Church Ope Cove - PDF document
The pier has seen a number of variations to its name since the 18th century. It first appeared on a map of 1745, which recorded the name as "Dirtle Key", and later as "New Key" or "Dirtle Pier" on a 1765 map. The pier was named "Durtle Pier" on a map of 1800, "Dirdale Pier" on a map of 1811, and finally "Durdle Pier" on an ordnance survey map of 1863. The Dorset names Durlston Bay and Head (in Swanage) and Durdle Pier, again without early spellings, can be associated etymologically with Durdle Door.
History
Durdle Pier dates back to the early 17th century, when British architect Inigo Jones chose Portland Stone for the rebuilding of the Banqueting House at Whitehall, London, in 1619. The three-year contract between him and quarry owners on the island resulted in the establishment of various tracks and piers around East Weare and its coastline. One of these was Durdle Pier, which became one of Portland's primary stone shipping points in this region of the island, alongside Folly and King's Piers further north.
Following the Great Fire of 1666, Sir Christopher Wren sourced much stone for the rebuilding of London from the eastern cliffs of Portland. The workings were largely undertaken within the north-east region of the island, which later became incorporated into the Admiralty Quarries from 1849, and southwards towards Church Ope Cove. Much of the stone was shipped from the piers at East Weare including Durdle. To date, evidence remains of quarrying from this period, including some roughly dressed stone and discarded waste stone.
By the beginning of the 19th century, Durdle Pier, King's Pier, three piers around Church Ope Cove, and the wharfs and pier at Castletown, had become the most important shipping points for stone. However, as much of the area's quarrying activity came to an end during the early 19th century, Durdle and other piers were no longer required for the shipping of stone. With demand for Portland stone continuing to increase, quarries began to move inland from the cliffs, making use of traditional stone shipping piers difficult. In 1826, the horse-drawn and cable-operated Merchants' Railway was opened, which allowed stone to be easily transported from the Tophill Quarries to Castletown.
Following the end of its use as part of the stone industry, fishermen became regular users of Durdle Pier, with its crane being used for lifting boats into and out of the water. By the mid-20th century, a number of fisherman huts had been erected around the pier, while the crane continued to be used for launching boats late into the century until the crane became broken and beyond repair. The iron winding gear had become badly rusted, although the main timbers of the crane remained in good condition.
The pier's crane was destroyed during the storms of January-February 2014. Three separate parts of the crane were carried further north along Portland's eastern coastline. Two were cast ashore within the area of the Salt Pans and the third piece further north along the coastline. Today, Durdle Pier is now a popular place for recreational fishing.
Surrounding area
Overlooking the area surrounding Durdle Pier are two World War II pillboxes, constructed in 1940. One is located on the seaward side of the Weares, south of the pier, whilst the other is found further up, halfway between seaward edge of East Weares and the disused railway track. Both structures are the only two camouflaged pillboxes on Portland, designed to blend in with the boulder strewn area of the Weares.
The surrounding cliffs behind the pier are frequently used by birds during the breeding season, including fulmars. The Great Southwell Landslip, Britain's second largest recorded historical landslide, occurred in 1734, between Durdle Pier and Freshwater Bay, at a distance of one and a half miles.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Archaeology Data Service - Isle of Portland Industrial Archaeology Survey Report - PDF document
2) Exploring Portland - Yeolands Quarry & Durdle Pier - Geoff Kirby - website page
3) Jurassic Coastline - Freshwater Bay - Quick Facts Area - website page
4) Ordnance Survey - various maps, including 1864, 1902, 1929, 1960 and 1976 + Tithe map of 1841
5) Pastscape - Durdle Pier - website page
6) Pastscape - East and Penns Weares Quarries - website page
7) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420399 - website page
8) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420401 - website page
9) Strolling Guides - Church Ope Cove and St Andrew's Church - website page
10) The Dorset Page - Durdle Door, Dorset, England - website page
11) Visit Dorset - Wild about Weymouth & Portland - Legacy Trail - Circular Walk 8: The Weares and Church Ope Cove - PDF document
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