TODAY is the last week we're going to be looking at the history of Portland stone as part of our series inspired by a new book on the iconic rock.

In doing so we're also going to be looking at the present day use of the stone and tell you of some of the sites on Portland where you can learn more about the industry.

After the Second World War there were many opportunities to use the stone for new buildings and to repair existing buildings.

Gill Hackman in her book Stone to Build London writes about a new building completed in 1959.

She writes: "The Ministry of Defence was the last of the large, monumental Portland stone Government office blocks built along Whitehall.

"Two enormous Portland stone sculptures by Charles Wheeler representing Earth and Water stand either side of the entrance.

"Each was carved between 1949 and 1952 from 40 tons of Portland stone."

The Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank had its river front extended in Portland stone during the early 1960s from Portland stone.

The next door Shell Centre, built for the Festival of Britain between 1953 and 1963, was clad in reinforced concrete faced with Portland stone.

Paternoster Square, north of St Paul's Cathedral, is a good example of the use of Portland stone in the 21st century.

It was previously an unloved post Second World War precinct and has now been replaced with new shops and offices making much use of Portland stone.

The spectacular centrepiece, which is worth going to see, is a tall Portland stone column which was fully finished on Portland and delivered to the site ready for fixing.

The square is surrounded by six office blocks, once of which is the new Stock Exchange built in 2003.

More than 1,050 cubic metres of stone were used for these buildings.

On the Tube network, Green Park Underground Station was upgraded in 2012.

Portland stone was used to clad the surface of the station entrance by the park.

Hackman writes: "A wide variety of stone was used, including Whit Bed, Base Bed and Roach.

"Stone which is rich in fossils has been used, with an eye level band in which the sculptor, John Maine, has carved enlarged versions of the fossilised shapes.

"This small building, perhaps more than any other, shows that Portland stone can be both attractive and fun."

Hackman concludes that the greatest influence on the use of Portland stone in London has been national events.

"The desires of Kings and Queens; national political intrigue; events in London; fires; wars and the state of the national economy all help to explain the pattern of London's stone buildings and of development on the island."

She says it is still possible to get a good impression of the industry by visiting Portland.

Hackman recommends exploring the old quarries at Portland Bill and Tout Quarry.

West of the car park at Portland Bill is a small quarry face demonstrating the working methods that were used.

And the Pulpit Rock, which stands higher than the nearby shore, shows just how much stone has been quarried away.

The sculpture park Tout Quarry is also interesting to see and there is evidence of the tramways used to link quarries to the Merchants' Railway and the tunnel built in 1862 between Tout Quarry and Inmosthay Quarry has recently been reopened.

*Next week we’re looking at the new challenges the stone industry faced from 1945 up to the present day.

Stone to Build London is available from Folly Books for

£24.99.

See follybooks.co.uk It can also be bought in Books Afloat, 66 Park Street, Weymouth.