The striking Jubilee Clock is an iconic image of Weymouth, it adorns thousands of postcards and holiday brochures and what local hasn’t stood under there at some stage of their life to meet someone? The year 1887 was a milestone in the reign of Queen Victoria. It marked the 50th year of her ruling over the kingdom….
Tag: weymouth
1869; Battery, Assault and Burial on Weymouth Beach!
In 1869 a little incident occurred on Weymouth sands, it really shouldn’t have been a problem, but it was, and one that ended up in the national papers much to the local council’s horror! William Wynn, a well-educated gent from London had been residing in Weymouth with his family for a much welcomed holiday. The…
1870; The Queens Own Regiment of Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry week at Weymouth.
Weymouth down through it’s past history has quite a link with the military. In the late 1700’s The famous Red Barracks that sits up on the Nothe, its Georgian built accommodation blocks towering above the quayside cottages below, were built, first to house the cavalry troops, but then later converted to house infantry troops. The Nothe…
1868, Weymouth mayor in court!
We are going through a bad recession at the moment (as if I had to tell you that!) and when things get tough financial wise, somethings have to go. Such is the present day council’s dilemma…what to cut, what to keep. Well, it appears to have been the old harbour area and piers that seems to be…
1861; World Famous Tightrope Walker Charles Blondin at Belfield Park, Weymouth.
In the Victorian era, there was actually a little known public park in Weymouth, the first to be created in the town. It was part of the grand Belfield estate. A 13 acre site, mainly parkland that surrounded a magnificent house built approx 1780’s for the Buxton family. Thomas Fowell Buxton became Weymouth’s MP between…
1897; Smugglers on the Great Western Channel Steamer the Ibex.
Weymouth has enjoyed trade with the Channel islands for many decades. Ships have been plying their trade between the three ports, Weymouth, Jersey, and Gurnsey ever since the the end of the 18thc, transferring anything and everything from tomatoes, potatoes, cut flowers, passengers…oh, and of course illegal goods! ! Many a ships crew member was thwarted in their…
1871; Digging Through Weymouth History; The Old Rectory, Magic, Musicals and Movies.
If you do a little digging you can uncover some fantastic history about your local buildings. Such was the case with one of Weymouth’s top attractions (well…as I knew it in my time anyway). This building has endured a somewhat chequered history. On the 22nd October 1886 a grand scheme was set before the council…
1873; Weymouth, violence in the classroom.
For children, life at school can be pretty rough and tough. Even during the Victorian period, with their propensity for strict discipline, the class room wasn’t always the safest place to be. In December of 1879, at the Borough petty sessions a case was brought before the three officials of the court, Mr W Talbot,…
1834; Weymouth’s Grand Park.
Isn’t it odd, you grow up somewhere, and the place names of streets, areas, and houses just trip off the tongue. You’ve always called them that, never known them as anything different. But have you ever stopped and wondered why they were so named in the first place? I was born in Weymouth more than…
1888; Chesil swallows up another wreck.
Chesil beach in Dorset is world renown. It is part of the World Heritage Jurassic coastline. A more stunning place for scenery is hard to find…but it does have it’s dark side, as anyone who’s witnessed it in storms will realise. Many a ship has fallen foul of the weather and tides here, the sea…
VICTORIAN TALES FROM WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND 