QUARRIES
THIS PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTIONS.
THE FIRST ILLUSTRATES THE PORTLAND CRANES. THE LANDSCAPE OF PORTLAND QUARRIES WAS DOMINATED BY CRANES. MANY OF THESE WERE HAND DRIVEN BEFORE STEAM AND ELECTRIC DRIVES WERE INTRODUCED. THIS SECTION SHOWS THE CRANES OF THE PRE-WORLD WAR 2 ERA WITH MODERN PICTURES OF THE REMAINS OF CRANES LYING DISCARDED IN QUARRIES. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CRANE PICTURES.
SOME QUARRIES WERE WORKED BY PRISONERS. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THESE PICTURES.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF THE QUARRY WORKERS.
THE REMAINING SECTION ON THIS PAGE SHOWS GENERAL QUARRYING PICTURES. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VISIT THAT SECTION.
PORTLAND CRANES
ABOVE WE SEE A TYPICAL QUARRY LANDSCAPE BRISTLING WITH CRANES.
![JC0224a JC0224a](../assets/images/JC0224a.jpg)
![JC0217a JC0217a](../assets/images/JC0217a.jpg)
ABOVE WE SEE A TYPICAL PORTLAND HAND-DRIVEN CRANE. AT ONE TIME THERE WERE DOZENS IN USE IN THE QUARRIES. HOWEVER ONLY ONE QUARRY CRANE SURVIVES PRESERVED AT PRIORY CORNER AS SEEN IN THE RECENT PICTURE BELOW. FOUR CRANES STILL SURVIVE ON THE EASTERN COAST FOR USE BY FISHERMEN.
![68572506A 68572506A](../assets/images/68572506A.jpg)
THE PICTURES BELOW SHOW A REMARKABLE SURVIVING CRANE IN SUCKTHUMB QUARRY WHICH I PHOTOGRAPHED IN 1989. I WORKED HARD TO HAVE THIS CRANE PRESERVED BUT TO NO AVAIL. OVER THE YEARS FROM 1989 I RECORDED ITS GRADUAL DECAY AND DESTRUCTION BY THE WEATHER AND VANDALS. BY 2013 NO SIGN WAS LEFT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CRANE.
![68570501 68570501](../assets/images/68570501.JPG)
![68570502 68570502](../assets/images/68570502.JPG)
![68570506 68570506](../assets/images/68570506.JPG)
![68570505 68570505](../assets/images/68570505.JPG)
![68570504 68570504](../assets/images/68570504.jpg)
THE CRANE BELOW LIES ABANDONED AND DECAYING OPPOSITE THE LIME KILN ON THE ROAD FROM THE PORTLAND HEIGHTS HOTEL TO EASTON.
![PB260022LoRes PB260022LoRes](../assets/images/PB260022LoRes.jpg)
![PB260021LoRes PB260021LoRes](../assets/images/PB260021LoRes.jpg)
![PB260020LoRes PB260020LoRes](../assets/images/PB260020LoRes.jpg)
![CH0211a CH0211a](../assets/images/CH0211a.jpg)
![JC12258b JC12258b](../assets/images/JC12258b.jpg)
![JC12251a JC12251a](../assets/images/JC12251a.jpg)
![GG1401a GG1401a](../assets/images/GG1401a.jpg)
No.32 RUSTON BUCYRUS EXCAVATOR, 1933. FIRST EXCAVATOR AT BATH STONE FIRM.
STANDING IS GEORGE PARFITT.
![JC03135a JC03135a](../assets/images/JC03135a.jpg)
BUCKET CRANE LOADING LORRY (RUSTON BUCYRUS)
A BATH & PORTLAND STONE FIRMS EXCAVATOR (RUSTON BUCYRUS). THE FIRST MECHANICAL EXCAVATOR WAS INTRODUCED INTO PORTLAND IN 1933 BY SOUTH WESTERN STONE CO. Ltd.
![JC03134 JC03134](../assets/images/JC03134.jpg)
ELECTRICALLY POWERED QUARRY CRANE, PORTLAND
![JC0227b JC0227b](../assets/images/JC0227b.jpg)
POSSIBLY A COMBEN IN DOORWAY OF ELECTRICALLY POWERED CRANE IN QUARRY.
![JH0137c JH0137c](../assets/images/JH0137c.jpg)
![DR04179b DR04179b](../assets/images/DR04179b.jpg)
PRISON QUARRY PICTURES
![JT0172 JT0172](../assets/images/JT0172.jpg)
NOTE THE RAILWAY LINES. THESE WERE FREQUENTLY DISMANTLED AND RELAID. FOR A ‘SNAPSHOT’ OF LINES IN THIS QUARRY SEE AN OLD MAP BY CLICKING HERE. THE MODERN PICTURE BELOW SHOWS SOME WOODEN SLEEPERS THAT WERE BRIEFLY EXPOSED BY HEAVY RAIN IN THE AREA OF THE ABOVE PHOTOGRAPH.
![JT0173a JT0173a](../assets/images/JT0173a.jpg)
![JT0174a JT0174a](../assets/images/JT0174a.jpg)
CONVICTS AT WORK 1907.
![JT0175a JT0175a](../assets/images/JT0175a.jpg)
CONVICTS AT WORK AT THE GROVE 1907.
![JT0177a JT0177a](../assets/images/JT0177a.jpg)
AN ‘OVER THE WALL’ VIEW. IN VICTORIAN TIMES SIGHTSEERS WOULD COME FROM AS FAR AS FROM LONDON TO PAY SIXPENCE TO SIT IN AN UPSTAIRS ROOM IN HOUSES IN THE GROVE AND WATCH PRISONERS WORKING.
![RF0126a RF0126a](../assets/images/RF0126a.jpg)
![RF0128a RF0128a](../assets/images/RF0128a.jpg)
STONE DRESSING YARD. CONVICTS AT WORK.
![DR04304a DR04304a](../assets/images/DR04304a.jpg)
![DR04309a DR04309a](../assets/images/DR04309a.jpg)
ST PETER’S CHURCH IS ON THE LEFT. THE UPSTAIRS ROOMS ON THE RIGHT ARE WHERE SIGHTSEERS WOULD SIT AND WATCH THE PRISONERS WORKING. THE FOOTBALL GROUND NOW OCCUPIES THIS SITE.
![DR04306a DR04306a](../assets/images/DR04306a.jpg)
THE ARCHED BUILDING ON THE LEFT MAY BE THE VICTORIAN LIME KILN SHOWN IN THE MODERN PICTURE BELOW. THIS IS A SCHEDULED BUILDING.
![69572504 69572504](../assets/images/69572504.jpg)
![DR04310a DR04310a](../assets/images/DR04310a.jpg)
![DR04312a DR04312a](../assets/images/DR04312a.jpg)
![DR04311b DR04311b](../assets/images/DR04311b.jpg)
QUARRY WORKERS’ PICTURES
![JH0438b JH0438b](../assets/images/JH0438b.jpg)
SPLITTING STONE. NOTE LARGE EIGHT WHEELER LORRY IN BACKGROUND.
![JH0411a JH0411a](../assets/images/JH0411a.jpg)
BILLY COOMBES QUARRY IN BUMPERS LANE. 2nd LEFT STEWART LYNHAM, 4th LEFT (BOY) LYNHAM. FRONT CHARLIE GOULD, REAR NORMAN COMBEN, 3rd LEFT JACK ELLIS (CRANE DRIVER).
![JH0409a JH0409a](../assets/images/JH0409a.jpg)
QUARRY GANG POSING IN FRONT OF CRANE - 1910? NOTE BLONDIN IN BACKGROUND. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR AN ARTICLE ON BLONDINS.
![JH0407 JH0407](../assets/images/JH0407.jpg)
QUARRY GANG USING FIRST STEAM POWERED CRANE 1920 - OPPOSITE THE MERMAID, WAKEHAM. 4th RIGHT WALT SLADE, 5th RIGHT GEORGE SLADE, TOP RIGHT BILL BUTT CRANE DRIVER. STONE QUARRIED FOR LONDON CENOTAPH.
![JH0406b JH0406b](../assets/images/JH0406b.jpg)
![JH0405a JH0405a](../assets/images/JH0405a.jpg)
MOVING STONE USING PORTLAND JACKS AT DURDLE. LEFT JOHN FLANN, 3rd RIGHT FOREMAN RIGGER NOBBY CLARKE.
![JH0223c JH0223c](../assets/images/JH0223c.jpg)
QUARRYMEN AT BACK OF GROVE. WILLIAM FLEW SAMSON HINDE (ON LEFT) WITH OTHERS UNKNOWN.
![JH0222b JH0222b](../assets/images/JH0222b.jpg)
QUARRYMEN. FROM L:- WILLIAM FLEW SAMSON HINDE, NEPHEW THOMAS (TOMMY) HINDE, WILLIAM JOSEPH HINDE, SON OF WILLIAM F.S. HINDE
![JC12257b JC12257b](../assets/images/JC12257b.jpg)
UNKNOWN MAN SHAPING A STONE BLOCK.
![JH0815a JH0815a](../assets/images/JH0815a.jpg)
QUARRY GANG WITH LADY. LIL WAGNER, WALLACE WHITE, WILLIAM HINDE, ROBERT JOHN HINDE, AND ROBERT SPENCER HINDE.
![JH0809a JH0809a](../assets/images/JH0809a.jpg)
QUARRY GANG. WALLACE WHITE, WILLIAM HINDE, ROBERT JOHN HINDE, AND ROBERT SPENCER HIND.
![JJH0437a JJH0437a](../assets/images/JJH0437a.jpg)
PREPARING TO LIFT BLOCK OF STONE.
![RF0140a RF0140a](../assets/images/RF0140a.jpg)
A NATURAL GULLY SHOWING THE TYPE OF CAVITY SOMETIMES FOUND THERE. MR. BERT SMITH, QUARRY FOREMAN AND MARKER.
![RF0149 RF0149](../assets/images/RF0149.jpg)
INSPECTION OF BLOCK BEFORE DESPATCH. BERT SMITH FOREMAN.
![JH04112a JH04112a](../assets/images/JH04112a.jpg)
QUARRY MEN MARKING STONE. UNKNOWN DATE.
![RF0186a RF0186a](../assets/images/RF0186a.jpg)
HILLS AND BOWERS MASONRY YARD, BEFORE 1931. HILLS AND BOWERS MASONRY YARD AT WINDMILLS, PRIOR TO 1931, WHEN IT CLOSED IN THAT YEAR OF THE "SLUMP". JACK READ THIRD MASON FROM LEFT
![RF0185a RF0185a](../assets/images/RF0185a.jpg)
BATH STONE FIRMS, 1933. BATH STONE FIRMS TOP YARD AT PARK ROAD, EASTON 1933 WHEN BEN SAUNDERS OPENED IT AFTER THE "SLUMP". RIP SAUNDERS, HIS FATHER, AND BILL FLAN STILL CLEARING UP THE STATION YARD OF BARNES - SO NOT IN PHOTO
![RF0520a1 RF0520a1](../assets/images/RF0520a1.jpg)
BOTTOMCOOMBE MASONRY WORKS 1931? GROUP IN MASONRY WORKS.
BACK ROW:- LEN ATTWOOLL, FORD BROWN, ? JOLLIFFE, EDWARD SHRIVES, REG ATTWOOLL, ?, RON PAVEY, ?, GEORGE STEWKESBURY, TOM MILLER, HAROLD RODENHURST, BOB PETERS, FRED GARDNER.
FRONT ROW:- EDWARD SHRIVES, ?, HARRY HIBBS .
![JC12253A1 JC12253A1](../assets/images/JC12253A1.jpg)
![JC12254b JC12254b](../assets/images/JC12254b.jpg)
![JC12256b JC12256b](../assets/images/JC12256b.jpg)
GROUP OF QUARRYMEN. FAR RIGHT; FRED (MOLLO) HANSFORD
![JC0225A JC0225A](../assets/images/JC0225A.jpg)
![JC0226 JC0226](../assets/images/JC0226.jpg)
![JC0228 JC0228](../assets/images/JC0228.jpg)
![JC0545a JC0545a](../assets/images/JC0545a.jpg)
FOSSIL PARK 1911. FRANCES PEARCE.
![JC1128a JC1128a](../assets/images/JC1128a.jpg)
QUARRY GROUP 1914. JOHN OTTER, JOHN RICHARD OTTER JNR., WILLIAM OTTER?
![JC1154a JC1154a](../assets/images/JC1154a.jpg)
STONE WORKERS 1915. HARRY SMITH SECOND FROM LEFT
![DR04277a DR04277a](../assets/images/DR04277a.jpg)
STONE TRAIN ON MERCHANTS RAILWAY
![DR04286A1 DR04286A1](../assets/images/DR04286A1.jpg)
LOADING STONE AT PRIORY CORNER.
![JC03170b JC03170b](../assets/images/JC03170b.jpg)
WITH THEIR HEADS IN THEIR NOSE BAGS, A FOUR HORSEPOWER TRAIN IS ABOUT TO DEPART FROM PRIORY CORNER ON ITS JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF THE INCLINE RAILWAY TO CASTLETOWN PIER.
![GG1402b GG1402b](../assets/images/GG1402b.jpg)
TRACTION ENGINE BRITANNIA, 1928. FRONT RIGHT IS GEORGE PARFITT.
![JC0212a JC0212a](../assets/images/JC0212a.jpg)
![JC0213a JC0213a](../assets/images/JC0213a.jpg)
![JC0214a JC0214a](../assets/images/JC0214a.jpg)
![JC0215a JC0215a](../assets/images/JC0215a.jpg)
![JC0216a JC0216a](../assets/images/JC0216a.jpg)
![JC0218A1 JC0218A1](../assets/images/JC0218A1.jpg)
GROUP PICTURE OF QUARRYMEN. NO DETAILS AVAILABLE
![JC0221a JC0221a](../assets/images/JC0221a.jpg)
![JC0222a1 JC0222a1](../assets/images/JC0222a1.jpg)
D COMBEN AND FRIENDS IN QUARRY
![DR04222a DR04222a](../assets/images/DR04222a.jpg)
UNKNOWN GANG POSING NEXT TO STEAM CRANE.
QUARRY CREW, FOUR MEN AND A DOG, DATE UNKNOWN.
GENERAL QUARRY PICTURES
![CH0210a1 CH0210a1](../assets/images/CH0210a1.jpg)
![DR04170a DR04170a](../assets/images/DR04170a.jpg)
THE ROSTONE BRIDGE NEAR CHURCH OPE COVE TO RIGHT OF PICTURE. SPOIL WAS TIPPED OVER THE CLIFF FROM THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE, AND A SMALL RAILWAY WENT BENEATH IT
![DR04172a DR04172a](../assets/images/DR04172a.jpg)
OLD QUARRY WORKS PORTLAND BILL
BELOW IS A RECENT PICTURE TAKEN IN THE ABOVE AREA.
![DR04174a DR04174a](../assets/images/autogen/DR04174a.jpg)
![DR04176e DR04176e](../assets/images/DR04176e.jpg)
BELOW WE SEE THE SCENE IN MODERN TIMES
![67568013 (1) 67568013 (1)](../assets/images/67568013_-1-.jpg)
![DR04177a DR04177a](../assets/images/DR04177a.jpg)
![DR04181b DR04181b](../assets/images/DR04181b.jpg)
![DR04191a DR04191a](../assets/images/DR04191a.jpg)
![JC03229a JC03229a](../assets/images/JC03229a.jpg)
![JH0186c JH0186c](../assets/images/JH0186c.jpg)
![JH0188a JH0188a](../assets/images/JH0188a.jpg)
![JH0190a JH0190a](../assets/images/JH0190a.jpg)
![JH0453 JH0453](../assets/images/JH0453.jpg)
![JH0472a JH0472a](../assets/images/JH0472a.jpg)
![JH0490a JH0490a](../assets/images/JH0490a.jpg)
![JH0668b JH0668b](../assets/images/JH0668b.jpg)
![JH04104a JH04104a](../assets/images/JH04104a.jpg)
COUPLE POSING WITH FOSSIL COLLECTION OUTSIDE QUARRY OFFICE, EASTON LANE.
![JH04176 JH04176](../assets/images/JH04176.jpg)
![JH06122a JH06122a](../assets/images/JH06122a.jpg)
![JH06145b JH06145b](../assets/images/JH06145b.jpg)
![JH06151b JH06151b](../assets/images/JH06151b.gif)
![JH06153b JH06153b](../assets/images/JH06153b.jpg)
WEST WEARES CLOSE TO BLACKNOR FORT. THE PICTURE BELOW SHOWS THE REMAINS OF THE WORKMEN’S HUT.
![IMG_1061a1 IMG_1061a1](../assets/images/IMG_1061a1.jpg)
THE ROUND OBJECT NEAR THE CLIFF EDGE IS THE REMAINS OF A WORLD WAR 2 ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN EMPLACEMENT.
![JT0136 JT0136](../assets/images/JT0136.jpg)
![LS0107c LS0107c](../assets/images/LS0107c.jpg)
![PT0308b PT0308b](../assets/images/PT0308b.jpg)
![PT0309a PT0309a](../assets/images/PT0309a.jpg)
![RF0184b RF0184b](../assets/images/RF0184b.jpg)
![JC12255b JC12255b](../assets/images/JC12255b.jpg)
|