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Portland stone

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 The Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, England, is made from Portland stone
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The Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, England, is made from Portland stone

Portland stone is limestone from the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. It has been used extensively throughout the UK, notably in the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. It is exported to many countries, for example the stone is used in the United Nations building in New York.

Three main "Portland Beds" are quarried. The Base and Whitbed beds are fine textured and contain few fossil remains, and so are popular for high quality work. The Roach bed is rougher with many fossils and its stone is notably used in the Cobb, at nearby Lyme Regis, Dorset.

The [Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust] was formed in 1983. The Trust is dedicated to preserving a knowledge and understanding of stone and the landscape from which it comes.

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