Portland Stone

The Isle of Portland is home to Portland Stone, probably the most famous building stone in the world.  Many of London's finest buildings have been, and continue to be, built using this fine white limestone.  The earliest known use was by the Romans.  Christopher Wren famously chose the stone for the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The stone was first worked from the landslides on the east coast.  Quarrying followed at Portland Bill and at the northern end of the island.  The quarrymen worked the stone along huge natural fractures known as gullies which criss-cross the Island.  They deposited the waste stone behind them, creating a unique landscape of drystone walls, tracks and quarry faces.

The story of the quarries is a unique and fascinating insight into the past and present stone industry.  It is worth devoting time to explore the geology, archaeology, art and wildlife of the Island as well as visiting Portland Bill Visitor Centre and the Portland Museum.

Wildlife

The thin limestone soils support a rich flora and fauna, particularly orchids and butterflies.  These are best seen in the late spring and early summer.

Tout Quarry

The older quarries such as Tout and Kingbarrow contain an intimate mix of geology, stone heritage and wildlife which can be explored through a maze of footpaths.  A wide range of sculptures have been carved in Tout Quarry which is open to the public.