Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Jurassic. It is mined in quarries on the Isle of Portland. The rock was mostly used in Great Britain, especially after the great fire in London for reconstruction. It was also exported to many countries (for example, the rock was also used for the construction of the UN headquarters in New York ).
Quarries
In three large quarries of Portland stone is broken. In bed base and Whitbed the rock is finely structured and contains only a few fossils. Therefore, it is used for higher-quality works. From the quarry Roach bed coarser rock comes with many fossils. This example was also used for the famous harbor wall in Lyme Regis The Cobb.
Use
There are numerous famous buildings in London such as St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace from Portland limestone. Many grave stones of British soldiers who died in World War I and World War II were made of Portland stone.
Other monuments and buildings from Portland stone, for example,
- The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London
- The Banqueting House in Whitehall, London
- The Bush House in London
- The Cunard Building in Liverpool