What stone is quarried in Dorset?

Dorset’s Stone: More Than Just Rocks, It’s History Under Your Feet

Dorset. You probably think of that stunning Jurassic Coast, right? But there’s something else this county’s famous for: its incredible building stones. These aren’t just any old rocks; they’ve literally shaped the towns and villages around here, and even ended up in some of the most iconic buildings in the UK and beyond. We’re talking Portland Stone, of course, but also the more local Purbeck Stone and Marnhull Stone. For centuries, Dorset’s been digging up these geological treasures, and they’re a huge part of what makes this place special.

Portland Stone: The Star of the Show

Let’s start with the big one: Portland Stone. This stuff is practically a household name. It’s a limestone from the Isle of Portland, and it’s got this beautiful, almost luminous, white-grey color. What’s really cool is how well it stands up to the weather. That’s why architects and builders have been so keen on it for, well, ages.

Its story really took off in the 14th century – bits of it ended up in the Palace of Westminster and the Tower of London, which is pretty impressive. But the real game-changer was the Great Fire of London in 1666. Remember Sir Christopher Wren? He basically rebuilt the city, and he loved Portland Stone. St. Paul’s Cathedral? Yep, that’s Portland Stone. Exeter Cathedral and Christchurch Priory? You guessed it. Even Buckingham Palace, including that famous balcony where the royals wave from, is dressed in Portland Stone. And get this – it even made its way across the pond to the United Nations headquarters in New York City! Talk about being well-traveled.

They get the stone out of the ground in a couple of ways: sometimes it’s open-cast quarries, other times it’s more like mining. These days, they’re pretty clever about it. Companies like Albion Stone PLC use techniques like “room and pillar” mining and hydraulic fracturing to get the stone out with as little damage to the environment as possible. Some of the quarries, like Coombefield, are getting close to the end of their run, but others, like Perryfield Quarry, are still packed with stone.

Purbeck Stone: The Local Hero

Then there’s Purbeck Stone, another limestone that comes from the Isle of Purbeck. This stuff is tough as nails and has been used since Roman times. What I like about it is that it’s not all the same – you get different colors and it’s often full of fossils, which gives it a ton of character.

You’ll find Purbeck Stone in cathedrals all over Britain. It’s just so versatile – you can use it for walls, paths, roofs, even landscaping. There are still a few quarries knocking around, like Haysom Purbeck Stone and Suttle Stone Quarries, pulling out this high-quality limestone for all sorts of projects. And if you’re looking for a big supplier, Lovell Stone Group is the name to remember – they’re the biggest in the UK for Purbeck stone.

Marnhull Stone: A Jurassic Gem

Don’t forget Marnhull Stone, either. This one’s from the Corallian group of limestones, which means it’s been around for about 160 million years! It’s got this lovely cream to orange color and a sort of bubbly texture.

Marnhull Stone’s been used in Dorset and the surrounding areas for ages – possibly even since the Romans were here. It’s good for all sorts of things, from fancy walls to fireplaces and floors. Apparently, it’s a good match for the older Osmington Oolite beds, so it’s often used in new buildings and to fix up old ones.

More Than Just the Big Names

Of course, there are other stones around Dorset that have been used over the years. Blue Lias, a mix of limestone and mudstone, used to be dug up in the southwest of the county. And you might also hear about Thorncombe Sand, Beacon Limestone, and Fuller’s Earth Rock.

Dorset Stone: A Legacy Carved in Stone

The stone industry has really shaped Dorset, both the landscape and the buildings. Things have slowed down a bit since the 1800s, but there’s still a real push to use local stone whenever possible, both to keep the old buildings looking good and to build new ones.

Places like the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust and the Dorset Wildlife Trust reserves at King Barrow and Tout Quarries are doing their bit to keep the story of Dorset’s stone alive. It’s good to know that this incredible legacy will be around for a long time to come.