Folly Pier
Folly Pier is a stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares - now abandoned.[1] Other features within the area includes King's Pier, East Weares Rifle Range, Folly Pier Waterworks, the two Salt Pans, Little Beach and Durdle Pier respectively.[2] Although Folly Pier, like many of the stone shipping quays on Portland, dates to the 17th century.[3] On the site of Folly Pier there is a tumbled pile of dressed stones at the edge of the sea.[3]
History
Folly Pier was once known as Old Pier. Folly Pier was one of the main stone shipping places on the east side. The pier, during 1745, was described as being useless, and subject to be destroyed by the sea. In 1765, a new pier on the site had been built, and in 1800 it was named as New or Folly Pier.[4]
The limestone quarries of East and Penn's Weares were the earliest to be quarried on the island, and were the location of Sir Christopher Wren's first workings for stone to rebuild London after the Great Fire of 1666.[5] The stone was shipped from the adjacent Durdle, Folly, and King's Piers.[6] Once quarrying in the area was reduced, and quarries moved inland from the cliffs, the pier fell out of use, and any cranes were removed.
The surrounding area was chosen for the site of Folly Pier Waterworks, which was built in 1855 by John Coode for the government, to supply the prison with water.[1][7] In addition to the pier and waterworks, a World War II pillbox is also located near the shoreline, next to pier.[8]
References
- 1 2 "East Weares Rifle Range and Waterworks, Portland, Dorset". geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ↑ Mazey, S. (2012). Brandy Row. Troubador Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781780882451. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- 1 2 "Portland | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ↑ http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-804-1/dissemination/pdf/Isle_Of_Portland_Industrial_Archaeology_Survey_Report.pdf
- ↑ Historic England. "EAST AND PENNS WEARES QUARRIES (1466569)". PastScape. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ↑ Historic England. "DURDLE PIER (453861)". PastScape. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ↑ Legg, D. R. G. (2000). Portland Prison Illustrated. Sprint Signs and Graphics, Weymouth. p. 46.
- ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1420397". PastScape. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
Gallery
Coordinates: 50°33′12″N 2°25′03″W / 50.5533°N 2.4175°W
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||