To provide the stone needed to build the breakwaters, the extensive Admiralty Quarries were established around East Cliff and near Grove, while Portland Prison, opened in 1848, provided convict labour within them. Rigby of London, who were soon succeeded by John Towlerton Leather as the main contractor for the breakwater works. Preliminary work began in August 1847 by Messrs J. In 1847, John Coode was hired as the resident engineer and he later became engineer-in-chief for the works following Rendel's death in 1856.

After carrying out a survey of Portland Roads and the surrounding area, Rendel submitted his proposals in 1846 and these were approved the following year. The engineer James Meadows Rendel was commissioned to produce plans for the harbour scheme. Conveniently placed between Portsmouth and Plymouth on the south coast, Portland was deemed as being an important strategic position for use of the Royal Navy. The Portland Breakwater Act, which was approved by the British government in May 1847, was prompted by the fears of a French invasion, the development of Cherbourg Harbour and concerns over the security of the English Channel. However, it wasn't until 1845 when the idea of forming a harbour of refuge was approved, following recommendation by the Report of the Commissioners Upon the Subject of Harbours of Refuge.

The first suggestion of enclosing the anchorage with a breakwater was proposed by Weymouth postmaster John Harvey in 1794, followed by another from Alexander Lamb in 1812. Later in the 16th century, King Henry VIII had Portland Castle built in 1539-41, along with its sister Sandsfoot Castle, to protect the anchorage. The strategic importance and military use of Portland Roads, naturally sheltered on all sides except the east, stems back to Roman times. The harbour was sold to Portland Port Ltd and is now operated as a commercial port.Ĭreation of harbour of refuge and breakwaters (1844-1872) The base, having played an important role in World War II and peacetime, ceased operations in 1996 following defence budget cuts. As Portland's value as a naval station continued to grow into the early 20th century, it was officially designated HM Naval Base Portland (HMNB Portland) in 1923. The establishment of the harbour of refuge provided a new anchorage for the Royal Navy and was also used by merchant shipping. The port area contains an approximate 31.6 acres of operational land. Portland's four breakwater arms have a total length of 4.57 kilometres (2.84 miles) and enclose some 2,100 acres of water.

It is the fourth largest today, after Jebel Ali in Dubai, Ras Laffan Harbour in Qatar and Cherbourg Harbour in France. When the first arms were completed in 1872, Portland Harbour was the largest man-made harbour in the world. A second pair, built between 1896-1905, completed the harbour's enclosure. Originally it was a natural anchorage known as Portland Roads, protected by Portland to the south, Chesil Beach to the west and mainland Dorset to the north.įollowing the recommendations of the Report of the Commissioners Upon the Subject of Harbours of Refuge in 1845, two breakwater arms were constructed in 1849-72 to transform Portland Roads into a harbour of refuge.

Portland Harbour is a manmade harbour attached to the north of Portland.

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