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Red Crane is a crane on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated on the cliff edge at Portland's southerly point, the promontory Portland Bill. The crane is part of the now-disused Portland Bill stone loading quay, which has become a scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
History
The area of Portland Bill had been quarried from the 19th-century or earlier, and continued until the early 20th-century. During its commercial years, stone shipping quays were created to transport the stone off the island. The stone shipping quay at Red Crane was Portland Bill's prime quay.
The hand-operated wooden crane known locally as Red Crane was originally designed for the same purpose, and after quarrying ceased in the area at the into the 20th century, Red Crane was mainly used to lower fisherman and their boats into the sea. The crane was later replaced by a steel crane, which has remained standing ever since. It continues to be used by fishermen, whilst the site has also become a popular spot for memorial plaques to loved ones who had an affection of the spot.
A similar crane, also steel, is the Broad Ope Crane (also known as Bob's Crane), and this one is located further east of Portland Bill, near Cave Hole. An original wooden crane exists further along the east of the island, named Sandholes Crane.