One example is July of 1870, almost the entire factory of the Great Western Railway’s carriage and locomotive works set off on their hols on the same day. Nearly 6,000 of them left Swindon station for their various destinations.
Some headed for the bright lights of London, some for the bustling city of Bristol, a few even ventured to Swansea.
An unlucky few were left behind at the works to keep things ticking over at the factory.
That week nigh on 1,500 men, women and children swarmed into Weymouth on the special trains that were run to carry them.
Tag: weymouth
Victorian Firework Night 1866
On the 5th November 1866, the annual ‘Protestant’ fete was celebrated with great gusto by the folks of Weymouth.
Most of the activity was confined to the sands, with two large bonfires burning down by the shore. For some strange reason a large hulk was described as being well ablaze in the water, with reflections of the flames rippling in the swell.
Portlands own Jurassic finds 1837
One day, while quarrymen were hard at work, a large block of stone was removed from its bed some 40 odd foot below the surface. To everyones amazement it’s removal revealed a hidden and secret world, for beneath was the opening to a huge cavern.
Reluctant Weymouth Voters of 1835
But despite the committee’s numerous efforts to rouse any interest in what should have been a grand occasion, out of the 600 people eligible to vote in the town, only 53 of those could be persuaded to attend to meal…and they even had to give the tickets away to entice them to the event.
Opening of New Weymouth & Melcombe Regis Town Bridge 1824.
Anyone interested in the long history of our town will know of it’s somewhat turbulent beginnings. The harbour was the dividing line…at times literally the front line of the ‘war zone.’ Modern day Weymouth started life as two completely separate towns very much at odds with each other. Old Weymouth straggled along the harbourside of the…
Introduction to my blogging world.
Well, here I am at last…I’m a silver surfer blogger! Why? A multitude of reasons really. I was born and have lived In Weymouth, Dorset for most of my life, and have always been fascinated by the history of the town. A few years ago my hubby brought me a super camera, which made me…
VICTORIAN TALES FROM WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND 