Mining of the Bluestone Quarry which also started in the 17th century was intensified when the Jan van Riebeeck’s Quarry was closed. This quarry is situated on the North West region of the Island. It was at this quarry that large numbers of political prisoners endured hard labour, and were forced to build a dyke or wall using stone, grit and sand, to protect the quarry from the sea. A maritime storm breached the wall in 2001 and the opening has since widened into a substantial gap in the wall.
