Verne Cistern

Verne Cistern

Verne Cistern is a water supply cistern on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated at the southern flank of the Verne Ramparts, on the slopes of Verne Hill, along the route of the horse drawn and cable operated Merchant's Railway - now a public footpath. It is on the edge of the Verne Citadel, a 19th-century fort, which is now HM Prison The Verne. The cistern became Grade II Listed in May 1993.[1]

History

Constructed circa 1880, the water supply cistern has a monumental entrance built into the hillside. This is made of heavy rusticated rock-faced Portland stone with drafted edges to blocks. The stone-vaulted chamber has a square opening with voussoirs and drafted edges, part blocked in lower half by concrete block wall. There are raking retaining walls on each side to the entrance, following the steep incline of the hill slope. The interior features a low segmental vault, a plinth, and 3 iron tie bars; at each end are shaped recesses cut into wall, which was to house former pumping machinery. This cistern evidently served, inter alia, a tank slightly lower on the slope, however this is now concealed by foliage and remains inaccessible.[1][2]

At the time of construction of the citadel, the southern face of Verne Hill went through remodeling, and this was when an existing fresh water spring head was housed in the cistern's stone retaining wall, cut into the outer wall of the Verne Ditch bank, midway along and adjacent to the upper track. The spring would also supply water to two large stone drinking troughs located below on the lower track.[3] Before the supply of piped water to Portland in the early 20th century, this storage cistern and its works would have been an important installation.[1][2]

In recent decades the entrance of the cistern has become overgrown and inaccessible, but is often cut back and cleared. The structure is not under care, and remains a victim of vandalism, particularly littering within the interior. It is located on common land, and can be viewed by the public.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "1206263 - The National Heritage List for England | English Heritage". List.english-heritage.org.uk. 1993-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Good Stuff IT Services. "Cistern on Slopes of the Verne at Ngr Sy 6907 7344 - Portland - Dorset - England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  3. ↑ "Portlandbill.co.uk". Portlandbill.co.uk. 1939-10-11. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  4. ↑ "New Ground and Tillycoombe, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-05-28.

Coordinates: 50°33′36″N 2°26′17″W / 50.5599°N 2.43798°W