Coombefield Quarry

The entrance to Coombefield Quarry.

Coombefield Quarry is an active stone quarry located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated near the island's southernmost village Southwell. The large quarry has been worked over many years, and has two voids known as Coombefield North and Coombefield South. The quarry today incorporates the former Suckthumb Quarry, which is situated at the northwest part of the quarry, and is now filled in. The quarry is owned by Portland Stone Firms Ltd, along with Broadcroft and Perryfield Quarry. The firm is the largest landholder on the island.^[1]

History

Coombefield Quarry

Coombefield Quarry was first quarried during the 1890s, and has been open cast quarried over the last 80 years. It has good sections of Portland Freestone. The quarry has continued to expand through to the 21st century into neighbouring fields.^[2] Today a small reserve is located at Coombefield South, while Coombefield North has ceased economic quarrying. Coombefield South also holds a stock of dimension stone blocks.^[3] Coombefield is largely quarried for Coombefield Shelly Whitbed, Whitbed and XE.^[4]^[5]^[6]

In 2009 national news was made when a 135-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur footprint was stolen from the quarry. The print was chiselled out of a limestone slab, which had been unearthed by quarrying in 2002.^[7] The quarry is nearing the end of its working life and since 2006 the owners had looked at schemes for the quarry. In 2012 plans were unveiled for the quarry to be regenerated as a holiday caravan park to boost local tourism on the island. The £3-5million holiday park and leisure complex would include 250 static caravans, 110 holiday lodges and 35 camping pods, and the plans also include leisure facilities.^[8]^[9]

References

Coordinates: 50°32′02″N 2°26′18″W / 50.5340°N 2.4382°W / 50.5340; -2.4382

Isle of Portland

Settlements and areas	Castletown Chiswell Clay Ope Easton Ferry Bridge Fortuneswell The Grove Portland Bill Portland Harbour Southwell Tophill Underhill Victoria Square Wakeham West Cliff Weston

Beaches and coastal features	Balaclava Bay Cave Hole Chesil Beach Chesil Cove Church Ope Cove Freshwater Bay Hallelujah Bay Little Beach Mutton Cove Portland Raised Beach Pulpit Rock Salt Pans Wallsend Cove

Attractions	Broadcroft Quarry Nature Reserve Chiswell Earthworks Culverwell Mesolithic Site Fancy's Family Farm Grove Prison Museum John Penn's Bath Jurassica King Barrow Quarry Nature Reserve Nicodemus Knob Perryfield Quarry Nature Reserve Portland Museum Royal Manor Theatre Tout Quarry Sculpture Park Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

Military	Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Blacknor Fort East Weare Battery East Weare Camp East Weares Rifle Range HMS Osprey Inner Pierhead Fort Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range Mulberry Harbour Phoenix Units Portland Breakwater Fort Portland Naval Communication Headquarters RAF Portland RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) ROC Post Portland Bill Royal Naval Hospital Verne Citadel Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery Verne High Angle Battery

Castles	Pennsylvania Castle Portland Castle Rufus Castle

Lighthouses, Daymarks and NCI	NCI Portland Bill Old Higher Lighthouse Old Lower Lighthouse Portland Bill Lighthouse Portland Breakwater Lighthouse Trinity House Obelisk

Prisons	HM Prison Portland HM Prison Weare HM Prison The Verne

Gardens	Chiswell Walled Garden Easton Gardens Governor's Community Garden Victoria Gardens

Buildings and houses	The Captain's House The Cove House Inn The George Inn Queen Anne House The Regal Cinema St George's Centre

Churches	All Saints Church Avalanche Memorial Church Church of Our Lady and St. Andrew Conjurer's Lodge Easton Methodist Church Southwell Methodist Chapel St Andrew's Church St George's Church St. John's Church St. Peter's Church Underhill Methodist Church United Reformed Church

Memorials	Portland Cenotaph Royal Naval Cemetery

Industry	Durdle Pier Folly Pier Folly Pier Waterworks Grove Lime Kiln King's Pier Portland stone Portland Windmills Red Crane Southwell Business Park Sureline Verne Cistern

Working and disused Quarries	Bowers Quarry Broadcroft Quarry Coombefield Quarry King Barrow Quarry Perryfield Quarry Tout Quarry Yeolands Quarry

Railway	Merchant's Railway The Old Engine Shed Portland Branch Railway

Sports	Grove Sports Stadium Portland United F.C.

Events	Easton Massacre The Great Southwell Landslip

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