Durdle Pier is a disused 17th-century stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found close by Yeolands Quarry, on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares and Penn's Weare.[1]
Durdle Pier dates back to the 17th century and became one of the main stone shipping places on the east side.[2] East and Penn's Weares were the location of Sir Christopher Wren's first workings of stone to rebuild London after the Great Fire of 1666.[3] During the mid-19th century, the original crane was replaced with one made by Galpin of Dorchester.[2]
Once quarrying in the area ended, fishermen became the pier's main users for lifting boats from the water. The crane became broken and beyond repair in the early 21st century.[4] During 2014 the pier's crane was destroyed by the sea. Close to the pier are two World War II pillboxes.[5][6]
The Great Southwell Landslip, Britain's second-largest recorded historical landslide, occurred in 1734, between Durdle Pier and Freshwater Bay.[7] The Dorset names Durlston Bay and Head (in Swanage) and Durdle Pier, again without early spellings, can be associated etymologically with Durdle Door.[8]
