Broadcroft Quarry, Limestone quarry on the Isle of Portland, England
The Eastern Quarry is an active limestone quarry on the Isle of Portland in England, extracting Portland Stone in grades such as whitbed, basebed, and roach. It covers a large area and is operated by Portland Stone Firms, which uses the material for construction.
The site began in the early 20th century as several small family quarries that gradually merged into a single large operation. This growth reflected the rising demand for Portland Stone in construction projects across England.
Part of the quarry has been turned into a nature reserve where many butterfly species live alongside local wildlife. Walking through this section, visitors can see how nature has reclaimed the old workings.
Portland Stone Firms runs active mining here, so parts of the site are not open to the public. The adjacent nature reserve section is accessible and offers a good vantage point over the workings.
This is the only place on the Isle of Portland where the complete stratigraphical column of limestone layers is visible in one spot. All the rock formations that made the area famous can be read from top to bottom in the exposed rock face.
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