Longstone Ope Quarries
Longstone Ope Quarries is an area of disused quarry workings in the south-east region of Portland, south of Southwell and north-east of Portland Bill. It contains the area known as Sand Holes (or Sandholes) and has Cave Hole to the south and the former Breston Quarries to the north.
History
Traditionally the name Long Stone Ope applies to the fields spanning from the Lower Lighthouse at Portland Bill to Breston Field in the direction of Southwell. Industrial activity on the clifftops to the north of Cave Hole began in the mid-19th century, when the area which became known as Sand Holes was used for the excavation of sand, which was used to produce concrete for the government works in construction at the time, including the breakwaters forming Portland Harbour and the Verne Citadel.
In c. 1900, the Longstone Ope Quarries were established by Bath Stone Firms Ltd, who also began working stone in the area to the north-east, known as Breston Quarries. Due to their isolated location on the island, most of the stone from the quarries was loaded onto barges and transported by sea. A derrick for the shipping of stone at Longstone Ope was the idea of Henry Sansom, a manager and director of Bath Stone Firms Ltd. It was first used in August 1901 to load 145 tons of stone on the barge Challenge, with the Southern Times reporting of the event: "Now that the Bath Stone Firms have a wharf of their own at Portland, and one at Pimlico, they can send stone direct from the quarries to the London market. If the innovation continues a success the improved loading will relieve the traffic on the rails and will save the roads of the Island much wear and tear."
As the early part of the 20th century progressed, the workings expanded and moved inland towards Portland Bill Road. Proper tracks leading to the quarries were also laid for traction engines and when lorries were introduced. Some of the quarrying in the area was taken over by the South Western Stone Company around 1932. In May of that year, labourer Charles Paull, aged 28, was instantly killed when the jib of a crane fell on him. The quarries at Longstone Ope continued to be worked until around the time of the outbreak of World War II.
The surviving timber derrick on the clifftop is commonly known as Sandholes Crane which, after quarrying ceased, was taken over by fishermen for the launching of their boats. Its name plate, now removed, was attributed to Isles Ltd of Stanningley, and the crane itself was last used in the 1990s. Fishermen also used an iron derrick which was erected next to Sandholes Crane in the 1970s and removed by 2001. With the exception of the restored example at Priory Corner, Sandholes Crane is the last standing wooden crane on the island, following the loss of the one at Durdle Pier in 2014.
Within the former quarrying workings, a short distance north of Sandholes Crane, are the concrete foundations of a steam-powered frame saw, probably installed in the 1930s and used for cutting stone. Other features across the area include straight quarry faces cut by steam-powered channelling machines, backfilled workings, numerous overburden tips (both inland and on the shoreline) and some abandoned squared blocks of stone resting on the clifftops. The path which runs through Longstone Ope Quarries forms part of the South West Coast Path and the general area is also popular with rock climbers.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Archaeology Data Service - Isle of Portland Industrial Archaeology Survey: Phase 1 Assessment Report - Peter Stanier and Peter Cox (English Heritage) - 2007 - PDF document
2) Dorset's Industrial Heritage - Peter Stanier - Twelveheads Press - 1989 - ISBN: 9780906294178 - page 31 - book
3) Heritage Gateway - Longstone Ope Cliff Quarry, Portland - MDO19536 - website page
4) Heritage Gateway - Longstone Ope Quarries, Portland - MWX4394 - website page
5) Ordnance Survey - various maps, including 1864, 1903, 1930 and 1960 + Tithe map of 1841
6) The British Newspaper Archive - various contemporary newspaper articles - website page
History
Traditionally the name Long Stone Ope applies to the fields spanning from the Lower Lighthouse at Portland Bill to Breston Field in the direction of Southwell. Industrial activity on the clifftops to the north of Cave Hole began in the mid-19th century, when the area which became known as Sand Holes was used for the excavation of sand, which was used to produce concrete for the government works in construction at the time, including the breakwaters forming Portland Harbour and the Verne Citadel.
In c. 1900, the Longstone Ope Quarries were established by Bath Stone Firms Ltd, who also began working stone in the area to the north-east, known as Breston Quarries. Due to their isolated location on the island, most of the stone from the quarries was loaded onto barges and transported by sea. A derrick for the shipping of stone at Longstone Ope was the idea of Henry Sansom, a manager and director of Bath Stone Firms Ltd. It was first used in August 1901 to load 145 tons of stone on the barge Challenge, with the Southern Times reporting of the event: "Now that the Bath Stone Firms have a wharf of their own at Portland, and one at Pimlico, they can send stone direct from the quarries to the London market. If the innovation continues a success the improved loading will relieve the traffic on the rails and will save the roads of the Island much wear and tear."
As the early part of the 20th century progressed, the workings expanded and moved inland towards Portland Bill Road. Proper tracks leading to the quarries were also laid for traction engines and when lorries were introduced. Some of the quarrying in the area was taken over by the South Western Stone Company around 1932. In May of that year, labourer Charles Paull, aged 28, was instantly killed when the jib of a crane fell on him. The quarries at Longstone Ope continued to be worked until around the time of the outbreak of World War II.
The surviving timber derrick on the clifftop is commonly known as Sandholes Crane which, after quarrying ceased, was taken over by fishermen for the launching of their boats. Its name plate, now removed, was attributed to Isles Ltd of Stanningley, and the crane itself was last used in the 1990s. Fishermen also used an iron derrick which was erected next to Sandholes Crane in the 1970s and removed by 2001. With the exception of the restored example at Priory Corner, Sandholes Crane is the last standing wooden crane on the island, following the loss of the one at Durdle Pier in 2014.
Within the former quarrying workings, a short distance north of Sandholes Crane, are the concrete foundations of a steam-powered frame saw, probably installed in the 1930s and used for cutting stone. Other features across the area include straight quarry faces cut by steam-powered channelling machines, backfilled workings, numerous overburden tips (both inland and on the shoreline) and some abandoned squared blocks of stone resting on the clifftops. The path which runs through Longstone Ope Quarries forms part of the South West Coast Path and the general area is also popular with rock climbers.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Archaeology Data Service - Isle of Portland Industrial Archaeology Survey: Phase 1 Assessment Report - Peter Stanier and Peter Cox (English Heritage) - 2007 - PDF document
2) Dorset's Industrial Heritage - Peter Stanier - Twelveheads Press - 1989 - ISBN: 9780906294178 - page 31 - book
3) Heritage Gateway - Longstone Ope Cliff Quarry, Portland - MDO19536 - website page
4) Heritage Gateway - Longstone Ope Quarries, Portland - MWX4394 - website page
5) Ordnance Survey - various maps, including 1864, 1903, 1930 and 1960 + Tithe map of 1841
6) The British Newspaper Archive - various contemporary newspaper articles - website page
Gallery
These images can be enlarged by clicking on them. Some images have information attached to them, and to view this you can either enlarge the image or hover the mouse over each thumbnail.
