Lano's Arch
Lano's Arch, also known as Lano's Bridge, is a mid-19th century drystone arch/bridge at Tout Quarry, built as part of the quarry's tramway system. The structure is dated 1854 and became Grade II Listed in May 1993. It is approximately 2.5 metres wide, 3.5 metres to crown, with the tunnel vault being roughly 4 metres long. The structure rises to 5.5 metres without parapets.
The arch was constructed using the drystone technique and is made up of thin-bedded Portland stone with ashlar dressings. An inscribed keystone reads: "J.C.LANO 1854", while a set of 27 concrete steps are attached alongside the south abutment. English Heritage, in their 1993 survey, noted: "This is a well-built structure with some design pretension in an abandoned quarry area."
The arch is one of a number of industrial reminders within Tout Quarry and around West Cliff. Aside from the arch, there are remaining signs of tramway tracks, tunnels, and quarrymen shelters, as well as the remains of tipping bridges at West Cliff. At the rear of the arch, a remaining quarryman shelter is still in existence.
History
Tout Quarry had been worked commercially since at least the 18th century. Initially most quarrying was undertaken on the clifftops of West Cliff, but moved inland throughout Tout as the 19th century progressed. The quarry was traditionally split into small segments as family quarry gangs would work stone from their own designated areas. In 1826, the horse drawn and cable operated incline railway known as the Merchant's Railway was opened, which allowed stone to be transported from Priory Corner, at the top of the island, down to sea level at Castletown where it would be shipped off to its destination. The railway's inception sparked a network of inland, horse-drawn tramways to be created throughout the northern quarries of Tophill. Those located near to West Cliff had their tramways built to allow two-way traffic, so that stone could be transported to Priory Corner for the Merchant's Railway, while waste stone and overburden could be taken to the cliff edge and tipped.
Lano's Arch was constructed in 1854 by Jonathan Lano, who operated some of the quarrying at Tout during that time. Lano was a respected local resident and a member of Portland's Local Board of Health from 1858. The arch was positioned between natural rock revetments where the track was cut through. This allowed the structure to act as a two-level railway, over the top, and under the bridge. The bottom track passed through one of the quarry's stone-walled gullies to reach West Cliff, allowing stone to be either transported to Priory Corner for the Merchant's Railway or discarded over West Cliff. The tramway running across the top of the arch was a tipping tramway, solely used for the disposal of waste stone.
Tout Quarry largely fell into disuse in the mid-20th century, while the Merchant's Railway closed for the final time in 1939. Since then, the arch has been a victim of vandalism. During the late 1980s, it had been significantly damaged by vandals attempting to cause the structure to collapse. However, an appeal allowed the arch to be reconstructed using old photographs. Another attempt of vandalism occurred in October 2003 and this attempt saw damage through the removal of stones to the north in the gully.
During 2011, plans to consolidate and repair the arch were put forward, and in July that year, Portland Town Council approved the work. The project, completed in 2012, involved the rebuilding of the parapet and the stabilising of the high walls within the gully. This work was combined with the opening of a previously bricked-up tunnel for use as a public right of way, running under Wide Street, on the opposite side of the quarry. This particular tunnel was also created by Jonathan Lano as the keystone records: "J.C. LANO 1862". The project was organised by Dorset Countryside, and involved master stonemason Alan Wolsey, engineer Mann Williams and architect Simon Cartlidge. It received a commendation at Weymouth Civic Society's 2012 "Planning Annual Awards".
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page. The primary sources are in italics.
1) Archaeology Data Service - Isle of Portland Industrial Archaeology Survey Report - PDF document
2) Exploring Portland - Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and West Weares - Geoff Kirby - website page
3) Historic England - The National Heritage List for England - Bridge in Touts Quarry at NGR SY 685 727 - website page
4) Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (Learningstone.org) - Tout Quarry Map - PDF document
5) Portland Town Council - Planning & Highways Advisory Committee Minutes - 24 August 2011 - PDF document
6) Portland: Tout Quarry - Where Sculpture & Environment Meet - Creative Studios/Portland Sculpture Trust/Weymouth & Portland Borough Council/Environmental Services Department - 1999 - leaflet
7) Roy St Pierre (roystpierre.com) - Gallery - Tout Quarry and Sculpture Park, Portland, Dorset - w38_datestone - website page
8) Weymouth Civic Society - Planning Annual Awards - Awards 2012 - website page
The arch was constructed using the drystone technique and is made up of thin-bedded Portland stone with ashlar dressings. An inscribed keystone reads: "J.C.LANO 1854", while a set of 27 concrete steps are attached alongside the south abutment. English Heritage, in their 1993 survey, noted: "This is a well-built structure with some design pretension in an abandoned quarry area."
The arch is one of a number of industrial reminders within Tout Quarry and around West Cliff. Aside from the arch, there are remaining signs of tramway tracks, tunnels, and quarrymen shelters, as well as the remains of tipping bridges at West Cliff. At the rear of the arch, a remaining quarryman shelter is still in existence.
History
Tout Quarry had been worked commercially since at least the 18th century. Initially most quarrying was undertaken on the clifftops of West Cliff, but moved inland throughout Tout as the 19th century progressed. The quarry was traditionally split into small segments as family quarry gangs would work stone from their own designated areas. In 1826, the horse drawn and cable operated incline railway known as the Merchant's Railway was opened, which allowed stone to be transported from Priory Corner, at the top of the island, down to sea level at Castletown where it would be shipped off to its destination. The railway's inception sparked a network of inland, horse-drawn tramways to be created throughout the northern quarries of Tophill. Those located near to West Cliff had their tramways built to allow two-way traffic, so that stone could be transported to Priory Corner for the Merchant's Railway, while waste stone and overburden could be taken to the cliff edge and tipped.
Lano's Arch was constructed in 1854 by Jonathan Lano, who operated some of the quarrying at Tout during that time. Lano was a respected local resident and a member of Portland's Local Board of Health from 1858. The arch was positioned between natural rock revetments where the track was cut through. This allowed the structure to act as a two-level railway, over the top, and under the bridge. The bottom track passed through one of the quarry's stone-walled gullies to reach West Cliff, allowing stone to be either transported to Priory Corner for the Merchant's Railway or discarded over West Cliff. The tramway running across the top of the arch was a tipping tramway, solely used for the disposal of waste stone.
Tout Quarry largely fell into disuse in the mid-20th century, while the Merchant's Railway closed for the final time in 1939. Since then, the arch has been a victim of vandalism. During the late 1980s, it had been significantly damaged by vandals attempting to cause the structure to collapse. However, an appeal allowed the arch to be reconstructed using old photographs. Another attempt of vandalism occurred in October 2003 and this attempt saw damage through the removal of stones to the north in the gully.
During 2011, plans to consolidate and repair the arch were put forward, and in July that year, Portland Town Council approved the work. The project, completed in 2012, involved the rebuilding of the parapet and the stabilising of the high walls within the gully. This work was combined with the opening of a previously bricked-up tunnel for use as a public right of way, running under Wide Street, on the opposite side of the quarry. This particular tunnel was also created by Jonathan Lano as the keystone records: "J.C. LANO 1862". The project was organised by Dorset Countryside, and involved master stonemason Alan Wolsey, engineer Mann Williams and architect Simon Cartlidge. It received a commendation at Weymouth Civic Society's 2012 "Planning Annual Awards".
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page. The primary sources are in italics.
1) Archaeology Data Service - Isle of Portland Industrial Archaeology Survey Report - PDF document
2) Exploring Portland - Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and West Weares - Geoff Kirby - website page
3) Historic England - The National Heritage List for England - Bridge in Touts Quarry at NGR SY 685 727 - website page
4) Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (Learningstone.org) - Tout Quarry Map - PDF document
5) Portland Town Council - Planning & Highways Advisory Committee Minutes - 24 August 2011 - PDF document
6) Portland: Tout Quarry - Where Sculpture & Environment Meet - Creative Studios/Portland Sculpture Trust/Weymouth & Portland Borough Council/Environmental Services Department - 1999 - leaflet
7) Roy St Pierre (roystpierre.com) - Gallery - Tout Quarry and Sculpture Park, Portland, Dorset - w38_datestone - website page
8) Weymouth Civic Society - Planning Annual Awards - Awards 2012 - website page
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