Top tree of the Fossil Forest
This is probably the most complete tree recovered from the Fossil Forest when it was quarried to reach the Portland Limestone below. The forest existed for a brief period of time before becoming drowned in a saline lagoon. Thick mats of algae grew over the floor of the forest and around the trees, many of which had fallen over. The algae attracted calcium-rich mud which hardened into limestone. As a result, most of the fossil wood is found lying in the soil under a cap of hard limestone. In order to rescue a whole tree, the quarrymen had to recover each piece as they dug through the Fossil Forest.
The tree was presented to Dorset County Museum by Mrs King Warry, the grand-daughter of Mr W White. He was the owner of ‘Trade’ quarry on Portland, where the tree was found, probably around 1825. It was displayed on a house in Main Street, Fortuneswell (now Portland Town Council offices) until 1914/15 (see lower photo).
