Weymouth in Dorset

Weymouth originated as a settlement on a site to the south and west of Weymouth Harbour, an outlying part of Wyke Regis. On the other side of the harbour was Melcombe Regis.

Weymouth town developed from the mid 12th century onwards and by 1252 it was established as a seaport and become a chartered borough. Melcombe Regis developed separately. There was much fighting between the two boroughs in the early years as they were rivals for the same businesses of trade and industry. It wasn't until 1571 that Elizabeth I granted a Royal Charter to unite them as the Borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.

Melcombe Regis is recorded as the port where the bubonic plague, better known as the Black Death, entered England in June 1348. The Black Death is thought to have wiped out at least half the population of England over two years.

King Henry VIII had two Forts built in the 1530's to protect south Dorset coast from invasion; Sandsfoot Castle in Wyke Regis and Portland Castle in Castletown. During the English Civil War around 250 people were killed in the local Crabchurch Conspiracy in February 1645 when the King's mean attempted to bring Weymouth back under control of the King's army. In 1635, on board the ship Charity, around 100 emigrants from the Weymouth crossed the Atlantic Ocean and settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Sir Christopher Wren, the famous architect was the Member of Parliament for Weymouth in 1702, and controlled Portland's stone quarries from 1675 to 1717. When Wren built St Paul's Cathedral he used Portlans stone from the quarries. Sir James Thornhill, the painter, was born in the White Hart public house in Melcombe Regis and became the town's MP in 1722 and coincidentally decorated the interior of St Paul's Cathedral.

In 1751 an act was passed, theGin Act 1751, which dramatically increased the tax levied on spirits in an effort to reduce crime and drunkeness. This lead to a rise in smuggling as the common people could no longer afford to buy their spirits. Smuggling was rife along most of the England's South Coast including Weymouth. There is a pub just outside of Weymouth on the cliffs called The Smugglers Inn which was once a retreat and hiding place for smugglers. It also does a mighty fine pint and well wortha visit.

The resort of Weymouth became an early tourist destination. Among the first tourists was King George III who visited Weymouth fourteen times between 1789 and 1805. The King's statue can be seen on the seafront today. The statue was to commemorate his Golden Jubilee and also to show gratitude for all he had done for the town.As you enter Weymouth from Osmington you can see the famous carving in the chalk hills of Osmington; A mounted white horse representing the king. The horse faces away from the town, and a myth developed that the king took offence, believing it was a sign that the townspeople did not welcome him, and that the designer subsequently killed himself.

Weymouth's esplanade developed between 1770 and 1855 and is composed of Georgian terraces, which have been converted into apartments, shops, hotels and guest houses. These terraces form a long, continuous arc of buildings which look out onto Weymouth Bay. On the esplande the multi-coloured Jubilee Clock can be seen, erected in 1887 to mark the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign. A statue of Victoria stands on the the Esplanade at the opposite end to the King's statue.

The Nothe Fort at end of the harbour was built in 1860 as part of England's coastal defences.

Nothe Fort was built by the Royal Engineers with the help of inmates of Portland Prison. It was in active service until 1956 until the council took ownership in 1961 and it has since been restored and opened to the public and is a popular tourist attraction with fine views over the bay.

In the centre of the town lies Weymouth Harbour. The harbour separates the two areas of Melcombe Regis (the main town centre) and Weymouth (the southern harbourside) from each other. A bridge, the first errected in the 1600's spans the narrowest part of the harbour and has been replaced and updated over the years. The present Town Bridge, opened on the 4th of July 1930 and many tourists stop and watch the bridge lift several times during the day to let boats in and out of the harbour.

During the second world war Weymouth suffered heavy damage. The Bouncing bomb was tested in the Fleet lagoon to the west of town. Weymouth featured prominently in the participation of the D-Day landings in Normandy with many British and American soldiers having left the shores of England here. There is a memorial on the esplanade that records that 517,816 troops and 144,093 vehicles embarked at Weymouth between 6th June 1944 and 7th May 1945.

The Weymouth Pavilion opened in 1908, but was destroyed by fire in 1954. A new pavilion was built and opened in 1960. Currently discussions are underway about redeveloping the Weymouth Pavilion, Weymouth Pier and ferry terminal in time for the Olympic Games in 2012.

Today Weymouth hosts many national and international events and in 2005 it was announced that London was to be the venue for the 2012 Olympic Games with Weymouth and Portland hosting the sailing events.

As you would expect with any tourist resort there is a lot to see and do in Weymouth.

If you are a new visitor to weymouth then stop in at the Weymouth Tourist Information Centre, they are centrally located on the esplanade, just past the Jubilee clock. The staff will be able to help with enquiries and keep pamphlets and guides for local attractions.

A popular stop for children and adults alike is the The Lodmoor Country Park. At the Bowleaze end of the esplanade the aprk has many attractions including a large family-friendly pub/restaurant, gardens, bbq and picnic areas, nature reserve and the popular Sea Life Adventure Park & Marine Sanctuary. Opposite the Lodmoor Country Park you will find a large, beach-side walkway which stretches from Bowleaze, which is the Preston end of Weymouth, all the way to the esplanade. If the weather is good then it is a fine walk with refreshments available along the walkway and at either end.

In town there are two main shopping streets, St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street which you can't miss because the Kings Statue sits at the point where the two streets meet. Many side streets branch off from the two main walkways and you will find many interesting things to tempt you. There are also many places to get that much needed refreshment during your travels!

If you venture to the end of either of the main streets you will come to the bridge that will take you over to the quay. The bridge lifts several times during the day to let water traffic in and out. It is a great site on a sunny day to watch the boats gliding by but be warned if you are in a hurry and get your timing wrong you could be waiting to cross for ten minutes or more on a busy day in Summer.

Once over the bridge you can see the older shops and buildings. Follow the cobbled streets down to the end and you will come to the imposing Brewers Quay. In here you will find local craft shops, places to eat and attractions such as The Timewalk, which takes you back to Weymouth in the 14th century; The Museum and the Discovery interactive centre.

Just behind Brewers Quay you will find the wonderful Nothe Fort and the surrounding gardens. On a nice day there is no better place to be. It is peaceful sceneic and a chance to getaway from the hustle and bustle.

If the weather is fine why not jump on an open top double-decker bus and take the ride up to Portland Bill and visit the lighthouse, take in the views and have afternoon tea. The bus will take you past the Jurassic Coast and wind up through the Portland Stone quarries. A good afternoon out with spectacular views.

Of course you may be a sun worshipper in which case our sandy beaches are a sight for sore eyes. There really is something for eveyone here in Weymouth. I hope you visit and enjoy!