St Aldhelms Head
St Aldhelms Head, is located southwest of Swanage. The headland is an outcrop of Portland Stone from the overlying Lower Purbeck Stone and is the most southerly part of the Purbeck peninsular and has been heavily quarried - a defunct sea cliff quarry exists underneath the coast guard station and a still working quarry, called "St Aldhelms Quarry".
An un-quarried limestone pillar has been left on the cliff edge, by the 19th century quarrymen, presumably as a curiosity. The "Pond Freestone" which makes up the stem of the monolith was the main stone worked at the site.
An un-quarried limestone pillar has been left on the cliff edge, by the 19th century quarrymen, presumably as a curiosity. The "Pond Freestone" which makes up the stem of the monolith was the main stone worked at the site.
