An engineering perspective on the Industrial Archaeology of the Purbeck Stone Industry.

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the industrial archaeology of the Purbeck Stone Industry, set within the context of local social and economic history and informed especially by an engineering perspective on the quarrying and mining operations. A wide range of existing published sources and archive evidence has been evaluated, placing the work in the context of existing knowledge, and an extensive field survey of stone extraction and related industrial sites in the Purbeck area has been undertaken,including the creation of a large photographic archive. Major buildings in which Purbeck stone has been used as a constructional material have also been examined to illustrate the market for the material at various historical periods and to show how the various types of stone were able to be used, and the relationship of potential use to methods of extraction and working. The study examines all aspects of the extraction and working of the stone in Purbeck, illustrating how masons quarried, dressed and carved the stone before it was transported to its major markets, and examines the techniques of quarrying, mining, working, carving and transporting the stone providing a much improved understanding of this neglected area of the industry. In addition, the effect of the industry on the local community is examined, and the roles of the craft guild, landowners and stone merchants evaluated and explained. The importance of transport is also stressed, and the changing technical approaches to the movement of this heavy raw material are considered. Finally the thesis explores some important aspects of twentieth century stone production, noting the importance of changes in planning laws, apprentice training and stone conservation and how these relate to the future prospects for the industry.