Durdle Pier

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Durdle Pier Crane

Durdle Pier is an 18th-century stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found close by Yeolands Quarry, on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares and Penn's Weare.[1]

History

Cliff path above Durdle Pier (seen bottom left).

Durdle Pier dates back to the 18th century when the surrounding area was quarried.[2] It is the last remaining example of an 18th-century or earlier quay on the east side of Portland used in connection with the stone trade. It was also one of the main stone shipping places on the east side.[3] During the storms of early 2014, the crane was destroyed by the sea.

The limestone quarries of East and Penns Weares were the earliest to be quarried on the island, and were the location of Sir Christopher Wren's first workings. The quarries occupied a 200-300m wide strip along the east coast of the island between Church Ope Cove and King's Pier. At Penn's Weare the dressing process remains clear and evident from roughly dressed stone to finely square blocks, with dressing rough-out piles in situ. These remains continue northwards into East Weare, although 19th and 20th century development has caused significant damage.[4]

From the earliest days of the stone industry, the Islanders had the right to erect piers with cranes or sheers for shipping off stone 'from any part of the water mark'. The best piers in 1800 were King's Pier, east of the Verne, Durdle Pier, and three piers around Church Ope Cove, whilst others existed at Cheyne, Underbank (Southwell), Folly Pier and crude, short-lived loading platforms under West cliffs. Castletown provided the best facilities and sheltered water, but it was furthest from the quarries. The roads between the quarries and to the piers were poor, being prone to damage by heavy carts and land movement. If in working the cliff quarries a road or way was destroyed, the adjoining owner was expected to allow it to be diverted onto his land, on receipt of 'Road Dues'.[5] In the area the finished stone was shipped from the adjacent Durdle, Folly, and King's Piers, although only Durdle Pier remains well-preserved.[6]

The crane was one of the piers that architect Wren used to load Portland stone on to barges and sail to London for the rebuilding of the city after the Great Fire of 1666. It also rumoured that there are a couple of blocks of Portland stone lying around the area with Wren's 'wine glass' symbol engraving.[7] Around 1840-70, the original crane was replaced with a crane made by Galpin of Dorchester. The present crane is at least the third to ever be placed at the site. A small re-entrant is faced with two stone walls each about 50 ft long and forming a right angle.[3]

As quarries moved inland from the cliffs, fishermen became the pier's main users.[8] Some roughly shaped stone still lies in the area, once ready for shipping but now abandoned.[9] The crane was one of the few remaining cranes used for lifting boats from the water around Portland's coast, and the crane along with the isolated pier was still used in recent years by fishermen however the crane now remains broken and beyond repair.[10] The winding gear is badly rusted and pieces of it are scattered around the site, however the main timbers remain in good condition.[11] The shipping quay has an old hand winch Derrick Crane still intact and in place and also has fishermen's huts at the water's edge. Today the pier is a popular place for recreational fishing.[12]

The area is closely surrounded by an abandoned dilapidated hut.[1] There are also two World War 2 lookout posts, camouflaged by being built with Portland stone. These lookouts still remain in good condition without any major damage. The Grove Cliffs surrounding the pier are a sanctuary area for breeding birds, such as fulmars.[13] 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.[14]

The Dorset names Durlston Bay and Head (in Swanage) and Durdle Pier, again without early spellings, can be associated etymologically with Durdle Door.[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Yeolands Quarry and Durdle Pier, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 
  2. ↑ http://www.visitweymouth.co.uk/downloadForms/RailwayWalkleaflet.pdf
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Detailed Result: DURDLE PIER". Pastscape. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 
  4. ↑ http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1466569
  5. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0946159345. 
  6. ↑ http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1466569
  7. ↑ Filaos Prods (2007-04-28). "high and dry". Senegalaisement.com. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 
  8. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0946159345. 
  9. ↑ http://www.visit-dorset.com/dbimgs/Church%20Ope%20-%20Circular%20Walk.pdf
  10. ↑ By petervanallen Peter Allen+ Add Contact. "Durdle Pier | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 
  11. ↑ Anthony Houghton. "Church Ope Cove and Penn's Weare - Information & Photographs". Strolling Guides. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 
  12. ↑ Rhys (2009-08-03). "Chesil beach and Portland fishing: Durdle Pier ( Portland )". Fisheywishey.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 
  13. ↑ http://www.visit-dorset.com/dbimgs/Church%20Ope%20-%20Circular%20Walk.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.jurassiccoastline.com/jurassic_Info1b.asp?ID=153&AreaID=153
  15. ↑ "Durdle Door, Dorset, England". Thedorsetpage.com. Retrieved 2013-03-02. 

Coordinates: 50°32′39″N 2°25′04″W / 50.5441°N 2.4179°W / 50.5441; -2.4179

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