The Hardy Novel "The Well Beloved" is centred almost exclusively on the 'island' of Portland. Two wealthy and powerful families control the majority of the Portland stone quarrying and the heroine and hero come from each of the two families, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. Portland limestone has been favoured as a building material for countless centuries and has been used for signature buildings all over the world including the UN building in New York and St Paul's Cathedral in London.