116-706: The Bob Lucas Stadium (formerly named the Wessex Stadium ) is a football stadium in Weymouth , England . It has been the home ground of Weymouth F.C. since 1987. It was formerly a greyhound racing and speedway stadium. The ground, which was built to hold 10,000 with 900 seated in the stand, first saw a football kicked with the visit of Taunton Town in the Western Counties Floodlight Cup final on 18 August 1987 in front of 1,023 spectators. The league season opened on 26 August with
232-520: A floating dry dock was introduced in 1914, enabling Portland to function as a repair and refit facility, and by 1914 Portland was officially listed as a Naval Dockyard (remaining so until 1959). Onshore amenities included a range of storehouses, workshops and office buildings. Support facilities for the fleet were also added over time, including a canteen and recreation ground (opened in 1903). The nearby Royal Naval Hospital in Castletown served
348-463: A temperate climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ), with a small variation in daily and annual temperatures. The average annual mean temperature from 1991 to 2020 was 11.6 °C (52.9 °F). The warmest month is August, which has an average temperature range of 14.4 to 20.3 °C (57.9 to 68.5 °F), and the coolest is February, which has a range of 4.1 to 8.9 °C (39.4 to 48.0 °F). Maximum and minimum temperatures throughout
464-583: A biplane demonstrate the first British flight from a moving ship, and afterwards the king took the first ever royal trip in a submarine. In 1914, the Grand Fleet assembled in Portland Harbour before sailing to Scapa Flow. As a measure against submarine attack, the battleship HMS Hood was scuttled across the harbour's southern entrance in 1914. In 1917 the RNAS seaplane base at Portland
580-493: A centre for water sports and as a service facility for Channel shipping. Portland Port Ltd, formed in December 1994, took possession of the site immediately and their purchase was completed on 12 December 1996. The company aimed to develop the ship repair, leisure and tourism potential of the harbour. One of the first arrivals at the new set up was a prison ship HM Prison Weare , which remained in use until 2006. Renamed Jascon 27,
696-609: A decline in popularity. This was helped by a high-profile anti-Conservative campaign by musician Billy Bragg . The seat was gained from Labour by Richard Drax for the Conservatives at the 2010 General Election, and held by him in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Weymouth and Portland have been twinned with the town of Holzwickede in North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany, since 1986, and the French town of Louviers , in
812-545: A lifeboat at Weymouth for the first time on 26 January 1869. A boathouse was built with a slipway by the harbour and is still in use, although the lifeboat is now moored at a pontoon. In 1887, to mark the 50th year of Queen Victoria 's reign, a multi-coloured Jubilee Clock was erected on the esplanade . During World War I, about 120,000 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps personnel convalesced in Weymouth after being injured at Gallipoli or other theatres of
928-421: A long, continuous arc of buildings which face Weymouth Bay along the esplanade, which is home to statues of Victoria , George III and Sir Henry Edwards , Member of Parliament for the borough from 1867 to 1885, and two war memorials . In the centre of the town lies Weymouth Harbour, separating the two areas of Melcombe Regis (the main town centre) and Weymouth (the southern harbourside) from each other. Since
1044-442: A new borough called Weymouth and Portland . Further local government reforms in 2019 abolished the borough of Weymouth and Portland, with that council's functions passing to Dorset Council as the new unitary authority for the area. A new civil parish called Weymouth was created at the same time for the unparished part of Weymouth and Portland, corresponding to the pre-1974 borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. The Town Council
1160-661: A new marina and recreational boating facility. Some 250,000 tonnes of Portland stone was used in creating the 875m breakwater and associated reclaimed land. This facility was open by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in April 2009 and is situated directly adjacent to the National Sailing Academy. Apart from the usual freshwater, fuel, shore power and pump-out facilities the marina also has a bar/restaurant, 15 retail/business units and 5 larger commercial units. In addition to Hood , there are other dive wrecks around
1276-480: A restricted water exchange; this in turn leads to elevated water temperatures. Thus several marine species inhabit the harbour beyond the typical northern limits of their range. The harbour is designated as EU shellfish water and supports an important shellfish fishery and a marine ecosystem of high importance for biodiversity . The harbour was sold off by the Royal Navy in 1996, allowing it to be used both as
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#17327984769101392-557: A runway and landing area, and the old canteen building having been adapted to serve as a combined headquarters and control tower . It went on to become the largest naval helicopter airfield in Europe. The Ministry of Defence continued to invest in HMNB Portland until the late 1980s; however in 1991 the closure was announced of both the naval base and the research establishments on Portland as part of defence spending cuts following
1508-545: A shellfish specialist. The Portland Harbour Revision Order 2010 provides for the creation of new berths and hardstand areas at the port in order to allow increased commercial activities over the next 50 years. These new facilities have been identified as part of a master plan and business strategy developed by Portland Port. The development is designed to increase berthing opportunities and provide more operational land. The four identified areas for development are: The port also sees various cruise ship calls bringing visitors to
1624-474: A sports centre. With the advent of the helicopter and its importance as an anti-submarine weapon, an airfield was formed following World War II. In 1946, Hoverfly R-4Bs began operating from the base's playing fields, which were transformed into a landing ground. In 1959, RNAS Portland was officially established as part of HMS Osprey , further land having been reclaimed from the Mere the previous year to serve as
1740-526: A sub-Depot of HMS Victory in Portsmouth.) The 'Upper Osprey' site at East Weare was substantially rebuilt in the 1960s; subsequently much of it was given over to provide barracks accommodation for the base and its personnel. HM A/S Experimental Establishment also returned to Portland in 1946. Over the next few years its headquarters on Balaclava Bay were rebuilt and extended, and it was again renamed as HM Underwater Detection Establishment (HMUDE). At
1856-523: A total length of 4.57 km (2.84 mi) and enclose approximately 1,000 ha (2,500 acres) of water. Portland Harbour was built by the Admiralty as a facility for the Royal Navy (though access was also available to merchant ships); on 11 December 1923 it was formally designated HM Naval Base ( HMNB ) Portland , and continued to serve as such until closure in 1995. The original harbour
1972-474: A total population of 55,535 in 2021. A larger "greater Weymouth" area defined by CityPopulation.de, including Bincombe, Chickerell, Osmington and Portland, has a population of 72,802. The number of residents has grown steadily since the 1970s and there is an above average number of residents aged 60–84 (27.4%); however, this is less than the Dorset average of 30.2%, and the proportion of those between 18 and 59
2088-525: A visit from Lincoln City – who had just suffered relegation from the Football League – and the official attendance was 3,500. Ron Greenwood performed the official opening of the ground on 21 October 1987, prior to an exhibition match against Manchester United - which the Terras won 1–0. The attendance for this fixture was given as 4,904. In July 2010, the name of the stadium was changed from
2204-654: Is a Grade II listed building and contains artefacts from the Roman, Tudor and Georgian periods, which relate to the town and its surrounding area, including a collection of historic maps and documents. Nothe Fort was an operational coastal fort from 1872 to 1956. It is now a museum dedicated to its own history and that of coastal defence. Sited on the same promontory as the fort are Nothe Gardens , an informal garden of trees and established shrubberies. A large expanse of grass
2320-628: Is a gateway town to the Jurassic Coast . The 155 km (96 mi) of the Dorset and east Devon coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is important for its geology and landforms . The South West Coast Path has two routes around Weymouth and Portland—one around its coast, and one along the South Dorset Downs , which reduces the path's length by 31.0 km (19.3 mi). The steep ridge of chalk, locally known as The Ridgeway, separates Dorchester and Weymouth. Weymouth
2436-456: Is a popular place for ball games and picnics while other areas are used for a nature trail and orienteering . Orienteering also takes place at Lodmoor Country Park , which is close to the town centre and also the venue for a weekly 5 km fun run. Other facilities include an outdoor gym and children's play park. Adjacent is the RSPB salt marsh nature reserve. More formal gardens, in and around
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#17327984769102552-510: Is a seaside town and civil parish in the Dorset district , in the ceremonial county of Dorset , England . Situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey , 7 miles (11 km) south of the county town of Dorchester , Weymouth had a population of 53,416 in 2021. It is the third-largest settlement in Dorset after Bournemouth and Poole . The history of the town stretches back to
2668-516: Is also above the Dorset average. The population is 95.2% White British , slightly below the Dorset average of 95.6%, and well above the England and Wales average of 80.5%. The most common religious identity in Weymouth and Portland is Christianity, at 61.0%, which is slightly above the England and Wales average of 59.3%. The next-largest group is those with no religion, at 29.3%, slightly above
2784-558: Is based at the New Town Hall on Commercial Road. The borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis had been created in 1571, administratively uniting the two formerly separate boroughs. It was reformed in 1836 to become a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. The borough boundaries were significantly enlarged in 1933 when
2900-516: Is based at the New Town Hall, which had been built in 1860 as a school, then served as an arts centre from 1955 until 2007. It was then converted to become the offices of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, and transferred to the new Weymouth Town Council on the local government reorganisation in 2019. The following wards of Weymouth elect councillors to Dorset Council: Littlemoor and Preston , Melcombe Regis , Radipole , Rodwell and Wyke , Upwey and Broadwey and Westham . Weymouth, Portland and
3016-534: Is beside the Isle of Portland , Dorset , on the south coast of England . Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest human-made harbour in the world, and it remains one of the largest in the world today. It is naturally sheltered by Portland to the south, Chesil Beach to the west and mainland Dorset to the north. It consists of four breakwaters : two southern and two northern. These have
3132-500: Is relatively low, at just over 4%, much of the work is seasonal, part time, and low paid. A Government initiative to help reinvigorate seaside economies was announced in 2015 and in 2019, Weymouth was awarded £3.79 million from the Coastal Communities Fund. The money will help with refurbishment of the area around the town's quay; first proposed in 2006, the plans were abandoned in favour of other works prior to
3248-582: Is the largest town in the area, larger than the county town of Dorchester , which lies 11 km (7 mi) to the north, and hence is a centre of activity for the nearby population. Weymouth's esplanade is composed of Georgian terraces, which have been converted into apartments, shops, hotels and guest houses. The buildings were constructed in the Georgian and Regency periods between 1770 and 1855, designed by architects such as James Hamilton, and were commissioned by wealthy businessmen. These terraces form
3364-422: Is the location of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy , where the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games were held. The modern town of Weymouth originated as the two settlements of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis , on opposite sides of Weymouth Harbour in Dorset . The older of the two, on the south side, was referred to as Weymouth as early as the 10th century, as part of
3480-578: Is thought to be the first port at which the Black Death came into England in June or July 1348, possibly aboard either a spice ship or an army ship from Calais , where fighting was taking place in the Hundred Years' War . In their early history, the two towns were rivals for trade and industry, and many arguments broke out over use of the harbour. In 1571, Queen Elizabeth I became so tired of
3596-519: The 2012 Olympic Games , is located on the south-western shore of the harbour. The Royal Yachting Association had expressed interest in securing a suitable site locally for a number of decades, in order to make use of the harbour's natural advantages. However the opportunity did not develop until the end of the 20th century, with the withdrawal of the Royal Navy. The academy was established as a not-for-profit company in 1999, and originally operated from various disused military buildings and facilities. In 2003
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3712-518: The Art Deco , a tourist information centre and café was built (2020), along with repairs and painting to existing Victorian-style shelters and new cafe seasonal kiosks, a beach rescue centre (2020), and a sand art pavilion for the sculptures of Mark Anderson. Other alterations to the promenade were made, particularly around key areas such as the Jubilee Clock and the pier bandstand, with
3828-567: The Duke of Gloucester , built a country house named Gloucester Lodge there; the Duke spent the winter of 1780 at the house. George III made Weymouth his summer holiday residence on fourteen occasions between 1789 and 1805, even venturing into the sea in a bathing machine . In celebration of the king's patronage, in 1810, a painted statue was placed on the seafront. Known simply as the King's Statue , it
3944-523: The English Channel , the Royal Navy established a base at Portland in 1845; a scheme for the harbour to be transformed into a refuge had been granted parliamentary approval the year before. Portland was the first naval anchorage specifically designed for the new steam navy. Similar harbours of refuge would be built at Alderney , Dover , Holyhead , and later (in response to the increased naval threat from Germany) at Peterhead . Construction of
4060-672: The First Lord of the Admiralty that Portland Dockyard was to close the following year (though the naval base would be retained). At the time, the Dockyard employed 'some 1,600 industrial and non-industrial staff'. Within the same statement Sheerness Dockyard and a number of other naval establishments were also slated for closure. As planned, Portland's Royal Dockyard closed in 1959, but the Naval Base remained open 'in support of
4176-528: The Purbeck district are in the South Dorset parliamentary constituency , which elects one Member of Parliament: since 2024, Lloyd Hatton ( Labour ). Dorset South was the most marginal Labour seat in the 2001 general election , won by 153 votes. Jim Knight was expecting to have a difficult 2005 election, yet he won with a margin of 1,812 votes—this was in contrast to other areas, where Labour suffered
4292-479: The Purbeck district are in the South Dorset parliamentary constituency . A seaside resort , Weymouth and its economy depend on tourism. Visitors are attracted by its harbour and position, approximately halfway along the Jurassic Coast , a World Heritage Site , important for its geology and landforms. Once a port for cross-channel ferries, Weymouth Harbour is now home to a commercial fishing fleet, pleasure boats and private yachts, while nearby Portland Harbour
4408-594: The Red Barracks were constructed for cavalry troops stationed at Nothe. They were badly damaged in 1798 by a fire and work started on new buildings and a parade ground at Radipole. These premises could house 953 officers and men together with 986 horses. The Red Barracks were rebuilt in 1801 and given over to infantry. Militarisation of the town continued through the Victorian era , with work starting on Portland Harbour in 1849. Built specifically to accommodate
4524-529: The Reserve Fleet , and it also served as a depot for submarines. In the early years of the 20th century it served as base for the Navy's first Torpedo Boat Destroyers . In the 1850s it had been proposed that a full Royal Navy Dockyard be established, with three dry docks , three shipbuilding slips , a fitting-out basin and associated factory facilities. These plans were not carried through, however
4640-473: The River Wey before it flows into Weymouth Harbour, are important habitats for fish and migratory birds, and over 200 species of plants. Radipole is an important tourist attraction; it and Weymouth Beach are situated very close to the town centre. There are 11 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the borough, which cover an area of 1,979 acres (801 ha), and there are 37 other Nature Conservation Designations . Situated approximately midway, Weymouth
4756-504: The department of Eure in Normandy, since 1959. Weymouth is built on weak sand and clay rock which in most places along the Dorset coast, except for narrow bands at Lulworth Cove , Swanage and Durdle Door , has been eroded and transported away. This weak rock has been protected at Weymouth by Chesil Beach and the strong limestone Isle of Portland that lies offshore, 3 km (2 mi) south of Wyke Regis. The island affects
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4872-547: The sediment regime in Weymouth Bay, narrowing the beach at Greenhill and widening the sands in Weymouth. A study conducted as part of the redevelopment of the Pavilion complex showed that the proposed marina will contribute slightly to this effect, but sand dredged out of the marina could be used to make the beach up to 40 m (130 ft) wider. Due to its location on the south-west coast of England, Weymouth has
4988-565: The 12th century and includes roles in the spread of the Black Death , the settlement of the Americas and the development of Georgian architecture . It was a major departure point for the Normandy Landings during World War II . Prior to local government reorganisation in April 2019, Weymouth formed a borough with the neighbouring Isle of Portland . Since then the area has been governed by Dorset Council . Weymouth, Portland and
5104-411: The 18th century they have been linked by successive bridges over the narrowest part of the harbour. The present Town Bridge , built in 1930, is a lifting bascule bridge allowing boats to access the inner harbour . The sand and clay on which Weymouth is built is very low-lying—large areas are below sea level, which allowed the eastern areas of the town to flood during extreme low pressure storms. In
5220-594: The 1970s, cheap package holidays abroad caused a reduction in the town's tourist trade, and harbour trade also suffered a decline; but the number of ferry passengers continued to rise and in 1980 a new terminal with improved facilities was built. From 1990, the demand for bigger vessels forced the cross-channel ferry operators to transfer to larger ports, such as Poole; the last ferry left Weymouth in 2015. There are two tiers of local government covering Weymouth, at civil parish (town) and unitary authority level: Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council . The town council
5336-512: The 1980s and 1990s a sea wall was built around Weymouth Harbour and along the coast road in Preston; a rip rap groyne in Greenhill and beach nourishment up to Preston have created a wide and artificially graded pebble beach, to ensure that the low-lying land around Lodmoor does not flood. The defences at Preston, the extended ferry terminal and the widening of the esplanade have changed
5452-566: The 2012 Olympics. In addition to beautification and better access, aimed at attracting visitors, there will be improved facilities for fishermen, including secure compounds for equipment and increased cold storage for catches. The town was voted Number 1 in The Times and Sunday Times Best UK Beaches 2023, and best UK beach in the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Awards 2024. There are over two hundred events held throughout
5568-566: The Americas to bolster the population of Weymouth, Nova Scotia and Salem, Massachusetts , then called Naumking. During the English Civil War , control of Weymouth changed a number of times and the town was much damaged as a result. When conflict first broke out in 1642, Weymouth was peacefully occupied by Parliamentarians , but it was captured in August the following year by 2,000 Royalist cavalry and held until June 1644, when it
5684-502: The Britannia Passenger Terminal was opened by HRH Prince Philip on 14 July 1999. In April 2000 the contract was signed for a new bunkering jetty and berth, which came into service in 2005. However, despite published reports in 1996 revealing that Portland Port Ltd were interested in the renovation of historic coastal fortifications in the area, no restoration of any kind has taken place. Commercial activities on
5800-475: The Dorset area. The Britannia Cruise Terminal, which was opened in July 1999 and again refurbished in 2005, has seen the likes of Royal Caribbean, Azamara, Club Cruises, Saga and Crystal Cruises use it as a start point for excursions in the wider Dorset region and beyond. In recent years the number of cruise ship calls at the port have increased. In September 2022, a project costing £26m for a deep-water berth upgrade
5916-605: The Isle of Portland, Dorchester, Poole, Wool , Beaminster , Axminster , and to other villages and the town's holiday parks. Weymouth is connected to towns and villages along the Jurassic Coast by route X53 , which runs from Axminster to Weymouth, through Lyme Regis , Charmouth , Bridport and Abbotsbury . In addition, More Buses operate a summer only service to Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Wool, Dorchester, Wareham and Swanage. Portland Harbour Portland Harbour
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#17327984769106032-583: The Sea Life Trust. Weymouth railway station is the terminus of a route from London Waterloo , and a route from Westbury , Bristol and Gloucester . A station that handled summer tourist traffic was demolished in 1986 after this traffic declined. A smaller station took up part of the site and the rest was given over to commercial development. Services to London Waterloo began running every 30 minutes from December 2007, but services through Bristol to Cardiff were reduced. An unusual feature of
6148-582: The UK involved in researching and developing underwater weapons and detection systems (including HMUDE, which nevertheless remained in its Balaclava Bay premises). The latter was renamed AUWE (North), to distinguish it from the new building, AUWE (South), at Southwell. The AUWE later became infamous for espionage infiltration, known as the Portland spy ring . In February 1958 it was announced in Parliament by
6264-403: The UK, it is a business-led initiative supported by Government legislation that enables the local businesses to raise funding to improve the trading environment. The town has undergone considerable regeneration , much of it in anticipation of 2012 Summer Olympics . Work began in 2007 on improvements to the esplanade: a public square was constructed around the restored statue of King George III,
6380-628: The US 1st Division who embarked for Omaha Beach in June 1944. The King, Prime Minister Churchill and Free French leader General de Gaulle came to see the great D-Day preparations at Portland; activity in the harbour was continuous. After the war, Portland's role in the liberation of Europe was marked by a ceremony in August 1945, when the American Ambassador John G. Winant unveiled a stone in Victoria Gardens commemorating
6496-472: The United Kingdom average, and monthly rainfall totals throughout the year are less than the UK average, particularly in summer; this summer minimum of rainfall is not experienced away from the south coast of England. The average annual rainfall of 770.4 mm (30.3 in) is well below the UK average of 1,163.0 mm (45.8 in). The population of Weymouth civil parish at the 2021 census
6612-566: The United Kingdom, along with many south coast towns. The resort averaged 1904.4 hours of sunshine annually between 1991 and 2020, which is 44% of the maximum possible, and 42% above the United Kingdom average of 1402.7 hours. December is the cloudiest month (64.5 hours of sunshine), November the wettest (98.7 mm (3.9 in) of rain) and July is the sunniest and driest month (245.6 hours of sunshine, 40.7 mm (1.6 in) of rain). Sunshine totals in all months are well above
6728-648: The Wessex Stadium in homage to the long-serving club president and former goalkeeper Bob Lucas , during his fight against cancer. He died a month later, aged 85. The Wessex Stadium was built on the west side of the East Chickerell Court Lane opposite the East Chickerell Race Course in the early 1950s. Greyhound racing first took place at the stadium on 5 August 1954. The racing was independent (not affiliated to
6844-459: The academy was able to start redevelopment of the site. In 2005 WPNSA was selected to host the sailing events at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Additionally Osprey Quay became an 80 acres regeneration project commissioned by South West Regional Development Agency in 2001. By 2012 Osprey Quay had been transformed with huge investment, offering over 11 hectares, a total of 60,000 square metres of business space. In October 2007 work commenced on
6960-485: The area is in Melcombe Regis, consisting of two pedestrianised streets (St. Thomas's and St. Mary's Street), shops along the esplanade, and a new precinct stretching from St. Thomas's Street to the harbourside, built in the 1990s. There are shops and restaurants in the pedestrianised Hope Square and Brewers Quay, which are linked to the town centre by town bridge and a small passenger ferry service across
7076-412: The average of 25.1%. Tourism is important to the local economy, employing 17% of the local workforce. In 2019, over two million day trips and 469,600 longer stays, brought £209,560,000 of visitors money into the Weymouth and Portland area. Weymouth's coast and beaches, lakes, museums, aquarium, and two shopping centres are the main attractions for visitors. The visitor accommodation consists of hotels on
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#17327984769107192-569: The breakwaters and the harbour defences. Known as the Admiralty Quarries, they provided 10,000 tons of stone per week. The breakwaters were declared complete by HRH Edward the Prince of Wales on 10 August 1872. A major government project, the construction work had become Dorset's greatest tourist attraction of its time. The initial southern breakwaters were built between 1849 and 1872; meanwhile, various defences were created to defend
7308-501: The cruiser HMS Gibraltar , which became lead ship of a small anti-submarine flotilla, made up of R-class destroyers and P-class patrol boats, fitted with ASDIC for training and for experimental testing. In 1924, however, Portland's Anti-Submarine School (having been consolidated with similar units from HMS Vernon and HM Signal School , Portsmouth) was itself commissioned as HMS Osprey , becoming an independent shore command. ( HMS Icewhale initially served as
7424-475: The depot ship, and was duly renamed Osprey ; but in 1928 she was sold out of service and the name was transferred ashore). Its facilities included laboratories and workshops, a large water tank for conducting experiments and an inshore testing site for trials of ASDIC on the inner breakwater (by the late 1930s over 200 civilians were employed in Osprey' s ASDIC Research and Development Unit (ARDU)). From 1940,
7540-493: The design of the inner breakwater. A new coaling pier was built between 1890 and 1896, and expanded coaling facilities were still being added in 1906. During the 20th century the harbour increasingly became an naval oiling depot and, beginning in the early 1900s, the tidal creek the Mere began to be filled in for a vast tank farm. Over time, Portland was successively the base for the Channel and Home Fleets, as well as part of
7656-441: The dykes in 1953. The remaining two units now act as a wind-break, helping ships berth at Queen's Pier in the harbour. In 1946, the anti-submarine school returned to Portland, and re-established itself at East Weare. In 1948 the administrative command of HMS Osprey was extended to cover the Naval Base as a whole. (The depot had been designated HMS Boscawen from 1932 up until that point; previously Portland had been designated
7772-559: The end of the Cold War . There was opposition against the closure from the local economy, as well as all ranks of naval personnel, who felt Portland's surrounding coast was perfect for exercising ships. Royal Navy operations ceased on 21 July 1995 and the harbour was sold on 29 March 1996. FOST was relocated to Devonport . Following this, RNAS Portland also closed in October 1999. The combined closure of all Portland-based establishments
7888-531: The ground; low-lying coastal areas on the South Coast of England such as Weymouth experience milder winters than the rest of the United Kingdom. The lowest temperature of −9.8 °C (14.4 °F) was recorded on 13 January 1987. The growing season in Weymouth lasts for more than 310 days per year, and the borough is in Hardiness zone 9b. Weymouth and Portland has one of the sunniest climates in
8004-467: The harbour and the esplanade, after the Ritz Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1954. The Pavilion was owned and operated by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, providing a venue for local community groups and schools, and hosting seasonal 'end-of-the-pier' entertainment and year-round shows and events. A failed proposal to regenerate the area in 2006, led the council to announce the demolition of
8120-429: The harbour came under fierce German air attack, with Portland suffering 48 air attacks, in which 532 bombs were dropped, over the course of the war. In July 1940, the anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank was attacked by Stuka dive-bombers and sank in the harbour. The second of only two Victoria Crosses awarded for action in the United Kingdom was posthumously bestowed on Jack Foreman Mantle , who died at his post on
8236-418: The harbour's backwaters from Radipole Lake. For centuries the harbour was a passenger terminal and trade and cargo port: goods handled included wool and spices, and in the 20th century, fertiliser and cars. Cross-Channel ferry services ceased in 2015 but the harbour is still a working port with docks, unloading areas and a fishing fleet, which in 2004 had 82 boats, catching the largest mass of fish in England and
8352-632: The harbour's two northern breakwaters were built between 1893 and 1906. In 1902, additional defences were constructed, including Upton Fort at Osmington and Blacknor Fort on the western side of Portland. By 1903, the East Weares Rifle Range served the navy and other military on the eastern side of the island. In 1905, the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse was erected on the southern end of northeast breakwater, where it continues to operate today. The harbour
8468-548: The harbour. In 2005 the town centre had 292 shops and 37,500 m (404,000 sq ft) of floorspace, and there was 0.4 km (100 acres) of industrial estate in the area. Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell have been a Fairtrade Zone since 2007 and in May 2013 local businesses voted in favour of creating the Weymouth Business Improvement District (BID). Like other BIDs located around
8584-463: The harbour. The Verne Citadel , designed by Captain Crosman R.E., was built at Verne Hill between 1860 and 1881: the 56 acre (23 ha) fortress was designed for 1000 troops and had gun emplacements facing seawards on three sides. Below the eastern side of the citadel, East Weare Battery was built during the 1860s, along with the detention barracks East Weare Camp . On the end of the inner breakwater
8700-486: The harbour: The harbour and dockyard has various buildings and structures on the National Heritage List. The inner breakwater, with its jetty, former victualling store and Inner Pierhead Fort, are Grade II Listed. The victualling store was built around 1850. At the south-west end of Prince Consort Walk is a carved commemorative stone for the completion of the breakwaters in 1872. The outer breakwater
8816-540: The introduction of new cafes and bars, improved lighting and seating areas with planting, fountains and trees. Figures released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government , in 2014 and 2019, suggested that the ex-borough of Weymouth and Portland was in the top 10% of the most deprived districts in the UK. Central Weymouth and the Littlemoor estate were the town's worst areas. Although unemployment
8932-685: The local establishments and H.M. ships using the harbour'. From 1958, the base's main occupation was Flag Officer Sea Training , which was a major success, and the harbour soon became the world's premier work-up and training base. Aside from the training of Royal Navy ships, many ships of NATO countries also trained and frequented at the harbour. Part of the Falklands War task force sailed from Portland in 1982. In 1984, two large accommodation blocks, totalling £25-30 million, were built in Castletown as barracks for Royal Navy personnel, along with
9048-455: The naval base from 1904 (replacing an earlier Sick Quarters), until 1957 when it was handed over to the NHS. The development of both the torpedo and the submarine led to Portland Harbour becoming a centre for research into underwater warfare, beginning with the establishment of Robert Whitehead 's Torpedo Works at Wyke Regis in 1891. A purpose-built pier projecting into the harbour from the factory
9164-486: The neighbouring parishes of Broadwey , Preston , Radipole , Upwey and Wyke Regis were all abolished and their areas absorbed into the borough (with some adjustments to the boundaries with other neighbouring parishes). The borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . The area was merged with the neighbouring urban district of Portland to become
9280-406: The new steam navy, the project was completed in 1872. Between 1860 and 1872, Nothe Fort was constructed at the entrance of Weymouth Harbour, overlooking the new harbour at Portland. Weymouth's popularity, both as a trading port and as a holiday destination, also grew in this period and the arrival of the railway in 1857 boosted both industries. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution stationed
9396-485: The next two largest sectors with a 13.66% share each. Most businesses, 83.1%, had less than nine employees while only 0.5% were large, employing over 250 staff. Two of the area's largest employers are the aerospace parts manufacturer, FGP systems, and the retail clothing firm, New Look . Weymouth Harbour is long and narrow, and formed the estuary of the River Wey until the building of a dam in 1872, which separated
9512-418: The parish of Wyke Regis , and by 1252 had become a chartered borough and established seaport, trading in imported wine. Melcombe Regis, on the north side, was first noted in the 11th century. It developed separately from the mid 12th century onwards and in 1310 was a licensed wool port . However, French raiders found the port so accessible that in 1433 the staple was transferred to Poole . Melcombe Regis
9628-547: The passing by the spot of 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles the previous June. During both World Wars I and II, the bay was filled with neutral ships at anchor waiting to be searched for materials that might be useful to the enemy. After the war, in 1946, ten Phoenix caissons of the Mulberry Harbour were towed back to Portland, eight of which were later given to the Netherlands to repair storm breaches in
9744-440: The petitioning that she united the two towns in an Act of Parliament , to form a double borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis . Both towns have become known as Weymouth, despite Melcombe Regis being the main centre. The villages of Upwey , Broadwey , Preston , Wyke Regis, Chickerell , Southill , Radipole and Littlemoor have since become part of the built-up area. King Henry VIII had two Device Forts built to protect
9860-624: The railways in Weymouth was that, until 1987, main line trains ran through the streets and along the Weymouth Harbour Tramway to the Quay station at the eastern end of the harbour, to connect with ferries to mainland Europe . Due to declining business, goods traffic ceased in 1972 but passenger services continued until 1987. The line officially closed in 2016 and, in 2020, work began on its removal. Local bus services are provided by First Bus Wessex . Routes run from Weymouth to
9976-610: The same time, a new headquarters for the Admiralty Gunnery Establishment (AGE), which had transferred to Portland from Teddington , was built at Southwell between 1949 and 1952; it, however, transferred again in 1959 (to Portsdown Hill ), allowing the building to be taken over by the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE), formed from an amalgamation of different establishments from different parts of
10092-454: The seafront, guest houses around the town centre, and caravan and camping sites just out of town, including three sites owned by Haven and British Holidays : Littlesea, Seaview and Weymouth Bay. In 2019 there were 2,160 business units in the Weymouth and Portland area, employing 18,000 local residents. The largest sector was Wholesale, Retail and Repair at 17.66% of all local businesses. Construction and Accommodation and food services were
10208-652: The ship left Portland under tow in 2010, bound for Nigeria, to be refurbished for use as an oil industry accommodation vessel. Portland Port Group became Statutory Harbour Authority for Portland Harbour on 1 January 1998, replacing the Queen's Harbour Master . In 2004 changes led to Portland Harbour Authority Ltd becoming the Statutory and Competent Harbour Authority and Portland Port Ltd the Port Operator. The commercial port has expanded since its initial establishment;
10324-559: The ship. Although mortally wounded he continued to fire his gun against the attackers until he died. Mantle is buried in Portland's Royal Naval Cemetery , which overlooks the harbour. In 1940–41, the Portland Naval Communication Headquarters was constructed, built into the hillside at the rear of the dockyard. In January 1941 Osprey moved out of Portland to the relative safety of Dunoon on
10440-531: The south Dorset coast from invasion in the 1530s: Sandsfoot Castle in Wyke Regis and Portland Castle in Castletown . Coastal erosion forced the abandonment of Sandsfoot as early as 1665 and parts have since fallen into the sea. In 1635, around 100 emigrants from the town crossed the Atlantic Ocean on board the ship Charity and settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts . More townspeople emigrated to
10556-611: The sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club ). Racing was held on Thursday and Saturday evenings. The track was described as a fast galloping grass track with an inside Sumner hare system and race distances of 300, 525, 765 and 990 yards. The racing ended in 1985. Speedway took place between 1954 and 1985. 50°37′12″N 2°29′07″W / 50.62000°N 2.48528°W / 50.62000; -2.48528 Weymouth, Dorset Weymouth ( / ˈ w eɪ m ə θ / WAY -məth )
10672-421: The theatre and on 31 May 2013, it closed but following a formal tender process, the theatre was leased to a local businessman and reopened on 13 July 2013. Weymouth Pavilion is now operated by Weymouth Pavilion CIC as a not-for-profit organisation. The town has both a general and a specialist museum. Weymouth Museum , located in the older part of the town, is situated in a former brewery. The Victorian building
10788-446: The third largest in the United Kingdom. Fishing and cargo trading employ fewer people in the area since their peak in earlier centuries, the commercial fishing fleet has been reduced to 32 vessels but, together with the charter boats, was still worth £4 million per annum in 2018. Local boats offer fishing and diving trips, pleasure cruises along the Jurassic Coast, and thrill-rides to the Isle of Portland. The main shopping centre in
10904-553: The tides of the area, producing a double low tide in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. The maximum tidal range is small, at around 2 m (7 ft). There are two lakes in the borough, both designated Nature Reserves by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)– Radipole Lake in the town centre, and Lodmoor between the town centre and Preston. Radipole Lake, the largest nature reserve, and mouth of
11020-404: The town, include Radipole Park and Greenhill gardens. Weymouth's Sea Life centre , a zoo and adventure park on the outskirts of the town, has over 1,000 examples of aquatic and semi-aquatic life, including sharks, turtles, otters, frogs and penguins. The centre takes part in an extensive breeding programme and also helps protect marine environments across the world through its partnership with
11136-427: The two breakwaters began in 1849 when HRH Prince Albert laid the foundation stone on 25 July. Designed by engineer James Meadows Rendel , the work was carried out under civil engineer John Towlerton Leather , with Rendel as engineer in chief (until his death in 1856), and John Coode as resident engineer. During 1848, HM Prison Portland was established to provide convict labour to quarry the stone needed to construct
11252-483: The war was a difficult time for Weymouth which, in common with other seaside resorts, was not seen as a priority for government investment. In 1960, Southampton stopped services to the Channel Islands , leaving Weymouth as the UK's major link with the islands. A linkspan constructed in 1972 and the introduction of a passenger service to Cherbourg in 1974 helped to further revive the town's fortunes. During
11368-459: The war. In September 1942 the first full-scale testing of the bouncing bomb was carried out west of the town, on the lagoon behind Chesil Bank . Tens of thousands of Allied troops departed Weymouth and Portland for D-Day , bound for Omaha in Normandy . By the time the conflict in Europe had ended, 517,816 troops and 144,903 vehicles had been through the ports. The immediate aftermath of
11484-479: The war; the existing army camps and mild climate made it an ideal location. Most of the soldiers were repatriated in 1919; some stayed and married local women. Weymouth's military importance made it a target for German bombing during World War II. The air raids destroyed 1,200 civilian dwellings and killed 76 civilians, and the High Street was so badly damaged that much of it had to be demolished after
11600-444: The water include specialist diving services for vessels and repairs and maintenance, as well as a bunkering (fuelling) station. The port is used by all kinds of vessels, from commercial ships such as bulkers, tankers, container carriers car carriers, survey and reefers etc. to British and foreign naval vessels. Commercial activities on the land of the dock estate include fuel storage, natural gas storage, several engineering facilities and
11716-538: The west coast of Scotland; the experimental section operated as a sub-division of Osprey , known as HM Anti-Submarine Experimental Establishment, in Fairlie, North Ayrshire . In the meantime the Portland was redesignated to serve as a Coastal Forces base, commissioned under the name HMS Attack . On 1 May 1944, the harbour was commissioned as USNAAB Portland-Weymouth. Both Portland and Weymouth were major embarkation points for American troops during D-Day, particularly
11832-607: The year are above England's average, and Weymouth is in American Horticultural Society (AHS) Heat zone 1 . Mean sea surface temperatures range from 7.0 °C (44.6 °F) in February to 17.2 °C (63.0 °F) in August; the annual mean is 11.8 °C (53.2 °F). Days with snow lying are rare: on average zero to five days per year; Most winters have one day or less with snow lying. It may snow or sleet in winter, yet it rarely settles on
11948-415: The year in the borough, including firework festivals , dragon boat racing, beach volleyball, and motocross, and the annual carnival in mid-August. Weymouth is the only port in the world to have hosted the start of The Tall Ships' Races three times —in 1983, 1987 and 1994; the 1994 race attracting 300,000 spectators. The Pavilion Theatre was built in 1960 on a peninsula of reclaimed land between
12064-425: Was 53,416, making it the largest settlement in rural Dorset and third largest overall, after Bournemouth and Poole. A built-up area of 18.5 km (4,600 acres), gives the town a population density of 2,868 people per square kilometre, in 26,747 dwellings. The Office for National Statistics define a "Weymouth Built-up Area", which includes parts of the neighbouring parishes of Bincombe and Chickerell , having
12180-737: Was believed to have cost the area 4,500 jobs, along with a loss of £40 million in the area's economy, according to a study carried out for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in 1995. Langham Industries bought the site from the Ministry of Defence in 1996. As of 2016 , the harbour is the fourth largest human-made port in the world, after the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, Ras Laffan Harbour in Qatar and Cherbourg Harbour in France. The breakwaters lead to
12296-481: Was carried out within the dockyard itself: namely in a pair of sheds on the inner breakwater and in what had been the Admiralty Slaughter Houses (just to the south, at Balaclava Bay ), which were swiftly converted into workshops. The dockyard swimming pool was also put to use, as a testing tank. Sarepta was decommissioned in December 1919, but the anti-submarine work continued, overseen from
12412-411: Was commissioned as HMS Sarepta . Under its command, a 'listening school' was established to help develop hydrophone underwater listening devices and other anti-submarine measures, and to train personnel in their use. The school initially operated from temporary accommodation in Weymouth , before moving in 1918 to a site at East Weare, just south of the Dockyard. Meanwhile, the experimental work
12528-563: Was due to begin, intended to be completed by May 2023. In April 2023, the Government of the United Kingdom announced highly controversial plans to moor the Bibby Stockholm , on charter from Bibby Marine, at the port to accommodate 500 asylum seekers. The harbour is a popular location for Kiteboarding , wind surfing , wreck diving and sailing . Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which hosted sailing events in
12644-480: Was envisaged primarily as a coaling station for the Royal Navy, being conveniently equidistant from the Royal Navy's two principal bases at Portsmouth and Devonport ; however it was also where the Channel Squadron was based, newly re-formed in 1858. In the 20th century, Portland became increasingly renowned for its training and research facilities. Coaling facilities were initially integrated into
12760-537: Was extensively renovated in 2007–08. A second tribute to George III, completed two years earlier in 1808, is the mounted white horse at Osmington . Designed by local architect James Hamilton, and cut into the chalk hillside by soldiers under his direction, the figure measures 280 ft (85 m) long by 323 ft (98 m) high. During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars , Weymouth started to gain some military importance: in 1795,
12876-510: Was herself replaced in 1873 by HMS Trafalgar , which took on the same name. In 1882 an onshore training complex was built, above the dockyard on Portland Bill. As the Royal Navy grew in size towards the end of the 19th century, additional accommodation was required for boys' training, which saw the arrival of HMS Minotaur in 1898 and Agincourt in 1904; they were named Boscawen II and Boscawen III respectively. The training establishment closed in 1906; while Boscawen (ex- Trafalgar )
12992-425: Was naturally sheltered by the south coast of England, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland , providing refuge for ships against weather in all directions except east. The harbour had already been used by ships for centuries when, in the 16th century, King Henry VIII built Portland Castle and Sandsfoot Castle to defend the anchorage. Prompted by the expansion of the French naval port of Cherbourg , just across
13108-473: Was retaken. Around 250 people were killed in the local Crabchurch Conspiracy when sympathetic residents let Royalist soldiers into the town in February 1645. It was recaptured later that month and remained in Parliamentarian hands for the remainder of the war, despite enduring a protracted siege. The resort is among the first modern tourist destinations, after one of King George III 's brothers,
13224-530: Was sold, Boscawen II and Boscawen III were transferred to Harwich and subsequently attached to HMS Ganges . The increasing threat of conflict with Germany before the Great War erupted saw the arrival of the Dreadnoughts in Portland, while seaplanes began to operate in Portland's skies. King George V watched aerial displays from the royal yacht in the harbour in May 1912. This occasion saw
13340-746: Was the Inner Pierhead Fort , and on the outer breakwater the circular Breakwater Fort . On Weymouth 's side of the harbour, the Nothe Fort was built at the end of the Nothe Peninsula, and completed in 1872. In 1892, the Verne High Angle Battery was built in a disused quarry near the Verne Citadel, but was decommissioned in 1906. As part of further defence works against the threat of torpedo attack,
13456-444: Was used for torpedo testing and practice firing. The factory closed in 1997 and was cleared to make way for a housing development named Whitehead Drive, which includes a memorial stone and plaque to commemorate the factory. In 1862 HMS Britannia was moored at Portland to serve as a training ship for naval cadets. She was replaced by HMS Boscawen in 1866 (following Britannia ' s relocation to Dartmouth). Boscawen
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