If you’ve got a trip to the town planned for your holidays, you’re probably a little curious about the history of Weymouth. Dorset may seem like a sleepy and quaint place to call home, but it has a fascinating history all of its own. Today we’re going to peel back a few layers of the past and take a peek into what makes this unique holiday destination tick.
Iron Age Infamy
Anyone familiar with the history of Weymouth and the surrounding area knows that the story starts at Maiden’s Castle. Contrary to the romantic medieval name, this is a spectacular Iron Age hillfort nestled into the gorgeous surrounding countryside. It shows signs of occupation from as early as 6000 years ago. It’s thought these very early traces were signs of a ceremonial or religious space, and the ‘bank barrow’ dates from this time. As we slide into the Iron Age properly, we see a large and well-planned fort spring up, and it would come to dominate the local landscape. It seems this original population may have been lost to the Romans in AD 43, as the gruesome discovery of the ‘war graves’, containing the mangled skeletons of many men, seem to suggest. All the same, historian’s opinions on the graves are mixed, and some argue against this theory. Regardless, the area fell into disuse until the 4th century, when the Romans built an arresting temple complex on the same area, proudly indicating the fusion of Roman and British tradition into a unique pagan religion. That would be Weymouth’s only claim to fame for many years after the fall of the empire,, however.
The Twin Towns
Weymouth as we know it today actually sprung up as 2 separate destinations, one on either side of the Whey river. It’s possible there may even have been a Roman settlement and port here at one time, although the history is a little difficult to trace. Nevertheless, by the medieval era, the towns had developed into the Weymouth you’d recognise today, and Melcombe Regis. Wine would come in through Weymouth, and Wool typically left the country at Melcombe Regis. Far more sinisterly, it’s also said to be one of the ports the Black Death entered through in 1348!
Two Forts were built by royal decree to protect the South Dorset coast- Sandsfoot Castle and Portland Castle. Regrettably, due to coastal erosion, large parts of Sandsfoot Castle have now plunged into the sea. By 1635, a group of intrepid settlers left Weymouth, arriving in Massachusetts and founding a town of the same name on that side. You’ll find memorials to their journey at Weymouth Pavillion and at the Harbour.
While this shared harbour arrangement between Melcombe Regis and Weymouth seems cosy on paper, and persisted for centuries it was always a little uneasy because both towns relied so heavily on it and quarrels were common. Sick of the endless bickering, Queen Elizabeth I would eventually combine the towns into one borough through an Act of Parliament. This wasn’t the end of the woes for the area, however- the Civil War was rough on the area, and it took a long time to recover. If you happen to notice the cannonball lodged in the wall of the buildings at the corner of Maiden and St Osmond Street, don’t forget to snap a shot- it’s highly likely this unfortunate artillery is a legacy from the fierce battle that raged here.
A Seaside Resort
In fact, it wasn’t until the era of Austen that we see the history of Weymouth truly begin to flourish once more. When King George III came to Weymouth in 1789 to soak for his health, it became one of the most famous spa towns in the country. It’s here, in fact, he would have his notorious ‘floating baths’ created, so he could soak in luxury and privacy. Don’t forget to give his statue a wave if you visit the seafront! Despite the king’s history with Weymouth, he took offence to a portrait representing him which was carved into the white chalk hills of Osmington. As the creators had opted to turn his horse away from the town, he believed it meant he wasn’t welcome there.
Despite this offence, the town would continue to flourish as a tourist destination through the Victorian era, with the town being a popular resort and the harbour flourishing as the sea trade boomed. When the railway arrived in 1857, it made everything 100 times easier, and the town continued to flourish. Nothe Fort was built in 1860 to help protect Britain’s South Coast, and remained in active service until 1956, a proud part of the history of Weymouth. The ‘Pavilion’ was built in 1908 to add extra joy to a seaside visit, but the original would be destroyed by raging fire in 1954, with the replacement reopening in 1960.
Alas, the two World Wars would take a heavy toll on the area, with World War II bombings hitting the town terribly because of the thriving port. On a more patriotic note, it’s also where American soldiers on their way to the Normandy landings would embark from. The infamous ‘bouncing bomb’ was also tested near here. As the century developed, however, we’d see harbour trade decline throughout Britain, and cross-Channel shipping would also dry up. Sadly, so would the tourists, now favouring cheap foreign holidays over local travel. Yet Weymouth would once again adapt- despite the now infamous blowing up of the pier bandstand for safety concerns in 1986! Today the history of Weymouth is still written by tourists and travellers, and it’s become known as an exciting destination for watersports and fun. It’s most especially known as a sailing destination, and is the only port to have hosted the start of the Tall Ships race not once, but three times. The town would also play host to all the sailing events for the Olympic Season in 2012, and the village created for attendees has netted the town a lot of architectural attention.
But that’s enough about the history of Weymouth! This thriving harbour town has always been a welcoming place for visitors to enjoy- so why not come and explore for yourself? We’re happy to provide you with the perfect holiday cottage to act as home for your stay, so why not plan your trip away today?
