The Old Engine Shed, Portland
The Old Engine Shed is a disused 19th-century shed, once used for a private quarry-industry railway that ran to Castletown, owned by Admiralty Quarries. The shed is located in The Grove village area, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, overlooking part of East Weares and the eastern coastline of Portland. It has been a Listed Grade II building since January 2001, and is owned by Portland Port Ltd.[1]
History
The shed was built for the use of the Admiralty Quarries private railway, housing the locomotives for the nearby quarry lines. However the shed was also used for various purposes over the span of 150 years, and at one point it provided stabling for quarry horses.[2] The locomotives would carry stone down to the harbour for use in building the breakwaters which were constructed between 1847-72.[3] The shed was in use until circa 1935.[1]
In late 2007, plans by Portland Gas Storage Ltd were announced to turn the shed into an interpretation centre for the island.[3] The project would cost £1.5 million, as part of a £350 million gas storage facility on the island.[4] However, the project has since come to a standstill. According to English Heritage, it is unusual for locomotive sheds from this period to survive in so unaltered a state.[1] In recent years it has suffered from vandalism and neglect.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389124)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ↑ "North of Grove Road, Portland". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 http://watershedpr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/PDF-of-brochure-outlining-project-for-the-Old-Engine-Shed.pdf
- ↑ "The Portland Gas Trust". The Portland Gas Trust. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
Coordinates: 50°33′14″N 2°25′29″W / 50.5538°N 2.4246°W