Weymouth ...past
Weymouth partly owed the revival in its fortunes in the late 19th century to ‘Swindon Weeks’ – the annual July closure of the Great Western Railway works in Swindon. By the mid-1880s, and on one day alone, 6,000 workers and their families disembarked at Weymouth Station on special ‘Trip Day’ trains. Some stayed for a week in the hundreds of family run ‘B&B’s that sprang up to cater to their needs.
Until the arrival of the railway in 1857 Weymouth’s reputation rested on its fame as ‘Royal Weymouth’, the fashionable resort where George III had spent his summers. The lack of a railway had led to a decline in both visitors and trade. Its population was under 10,000, most of whom lived in the narrow-crowded streets either side of the harbour and to the rear of the Esplanade. The coming of the railway (which in 1865 was extended to Portland) led to a gradual expansion which saw the population double by 1914. The first area to be developed was roads of terraces near the station. Beyond St John’s Church, large villas for the well to do sprang up along the Dorchester road, their generous gardens with views over Lodmoors marshes. By the end of the century, apart from the new Football Ground, any lingering green spaces were built over. The elegant Georgian buildings forming the Esplanade were remodelled or replaced, trading old-fashioned comfort for ornate splendour.
In 1865 the railway had been extended to Custom House Quay, leading to a revival in trade, mainly of coal, timber and cement. Facing the main shipping quay was the Nothe headland, where a great fort had been built to guard the entrance to Portland Harbour. The arrival of soldiers, and then the thousands of sailors manning the ships based in nearby Portland had a substantial impact on life in the town.
The Esplanade and the long curve Weymouth sands formed the heart of the holiday town. All life was here, from the Punch & Judy shows to the carefully segregated bathing machines on the beach. For children there were donkey rides, and wide flat sands for building sandcastles. Indeed, it was the hustle and bustle of the summer season that breathed new life into Weymouth.
Weymouth ...present
Nothe Fort: Visit England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2021/22, this historic Victorian sea fort features a maze of underground passages, museum, parade ground, and panoramic coastal views from its ramparts. nothefort.org.uk
Sandworld: This award-winning seasonal attraction at Lodmoor Country Park showcases work by some of the best sand artists from around the globe in its Sand Sculpture Festival, open from Easter. sandworld.co.uk
Wild Side: RSPB Weymouth Wetlands comprises two reserves, Radipole Lake, a wild reedbed heart in the centre of Weymouth, and Lodmoor with saltmarsh and grassland, both attract a dazzling array of birds. rspb.org.uk
