This is the area on the south side of Weymouth's Old Harbour. Many of these buildings date from the early 1800s after part of the original wider harbour had been infilled and land reclaimed. Keen competition subsequently developed between the local inns to see who could attract the most visitors. The Old Rooms Inn is a most attractive Georgian building.
Behind the inn is Brewers Quay, where the site had been used for brewing since at least 1252. There was good access to spring water from Chapelhay, while barley fields were located at Radipole. By the 18th century, there were three separate breweries on the site; each being under the ownership of the Flew family, William Devenish and the Davis Brewery. In the early 19th century, the Flew family sold their brewery to Devenish, and in 1960, Groves also sold theirs to Devenish. Devenish continued to produce beer from Brewers Quay until 1985.
Tags: Dorset Weymouth Old Harbour, Weymouth Old Rooms Inn Georgian buildings harbours Old Rooms Inn, Weymouth pubs
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This somewhat garish and rather tasteless monument to King George III, celebrating his 50 years on England's throne, was erected in 1810 at the junction of the two main streets of Weymouth in Dorset. It remains to this day on an island in the middle of the road along the seafront.
The King made his first visit to Weymouth in 1789. Using one of the first bathing machines, George took a dip in the bay. As he emerged from the water, a band apparently played "God Save the King".
Weymouth was much enjoyed by the King and after a few vacations taken here, he purchased a holiday home on the Esplanade from his brother the Duke of Gloucester.
King George established Weymouth as a major seaside resort, so I suppose he deserved his statue. With its soft, golden sands and sheltered bay, Weymouth became George's favourite place to be. Before long, it had rich and famous visitors flocking to the resort and others along the Dorset coast.
Tags: Dorset Weymouth Statue of King George III monuments
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These inshore fishermen's sheds are just a couple of hundred yards from the lighthouse at Portland Bill. As their small boats are sitting on a low cliff I wondered how they get into and out of the water. But then I noticed an old crane by a little inlet, and this seems to be how they do it (see below).
Tags: Dorset Portland Bill fishermen's sheds small boats
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Lulworth Cove is on the Jurassic Coast in east Dorset. It is one of the world's finest examples of such a landform, and is close to the rock arch of Durdle Door and other Jurassic Coast sites. The cove has formed due to erosion of the different types of rock in the area. There is extremely hard Portland limestone on either side of the narrow entrance, but behind this much less resistant clays and greensands have been worn away to form an almost perfectly circular lagoon. At the back of the cove (out of shot to the left) is a steep chalk cliff, which is considerably more resistant than the clays and sands.
Tags: Dorset Lulworth Cove Jurassic Coast
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Lulworth Cove is on the Jurassic Coast in east Dorset. It is one of the world's finest examples of such a landform, and is close to the rock arch of Durdle Door and other Jurassic Coast sites. The cove has formed due to erosion of the different types of rock in the area. There is extremely hard Portland limestone on either side of the narrow entrance, but behind this much less resistant clays and greensands have been worn away to form an almost perfectly circular lagoon. At the back of the cove is a steep chalk cliff, which is considerably more resistant than the clays and sands, but less resistant than the limestone.
Tags: Dorset Lulworth Cove cliffs coves bays coast Jurassic Coast
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