Weston, Dorset

Human settlement in England

Weston

Weston

Location within Dorset

OS grid reference| SY690721
Unitary authority|

* Dorset

Shire county|

* Dorset

Region|

* South West

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| PORTLAND
Postcode district| DT5 1
Dialling code| 01305
Police| Dorset
Fire| Dorset and Wiltshire
Ambulance| South Western
UK Parliament|

* South Dorset

List of places

England
Dorset

50°32′23″N 2°26′50″W﻿ / ﻿50.53971°N 2.44729°W﻿ / 50.53971; -2.44729

Weston is a village in Tophill on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It abuts the main village Easton. As with the rest of Portland's villages and settlements, Weston has been designated as a conservation area, as it is a place of special architectural and historic interest. The village was designated in 1994.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

The village grew up through the industry of agriculture, with Weston being surrounded by strip fields, also known as lawnsheds.[2] It is likely that Roman occupation saw the development of Weston as a village, by establishing the various ponds and wells.[2] Weston remained a small settlement for many centuries.[3] From the 19th century, housing had caused the large expansion of many of Portland's villages, although Weston remained a small settlement. The early 20th century saw inland quarrying beginning to destroy some of Weston's surrounding fields.[2]

The second half of the 20th century saw Weston undergo extensive changes, with the major expansion of the village. During the 1960s, large housing estates were placed on either side of the village, towards the western cliffs, and Easton village. The building of the Haylands housing estate commenced during the late 1960s. The construction of the Weston Estate at West Cliff was originally for the Admiralty, but was later sold as private housing. This estate continued to expand throughout the 1970s.[4] Despite the expansion, Weston is still set amongst expansive fields to the east and south.[5]

## Features

[edit]

Part of Weston Road

The village features a small number of commercial business based along the main Weston Road. The top of Weston Road has the Royal Manor Arts College, which is Portland's only secondary school. It became a campus of the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy in 2012, and closed in 2016, along with other schools on the island, to be replaced by a new school situated at Southwell Business Park. On this side of the road is a restored stone-walled Sheep Pound, once used by the Court Leet to impound straying sheep and cattle.[6]

Along West Cliff, near the Weston Estate, Blacknor Fort was built around 1902 and the stronghold was equipped during both World Wars.[7] The fort is now converted into a private clifftop residence.[8] Further south, on the edge of the estate once stood ROC Post Portland Bill, which was operational from 1960 to 1991, and was demolished circa 2008.[9]

To the north is Reforne, Easton, which holds St George's Church and St George's Centre \- the former which can be seen from Weston. Close to the church, within Weston, is Portland's only public cemetery. To the east of the village, and near Easton, are the two Portland Windmills. The disused and historic stone towers date from as early as 1608. Both windmills have been separate Grade II Listed monuments since September 1978, and are the only historic windmill remains to survive in Dorset.[10][11]

On the west side of Weston Road, opposite the Royal Manor School, is one of the few archaeological sites on the Isle of Portland. Remains of what is likely to be a Roman villa and high quality medieval building remains have been discovered.[6] The ruins dating from the Iron Age, Roman and Medieval periods were unearthed during the topsoil clearance.[12]

## Grade listed features

[edit]

Weston has a wide array of architecture and buildings, a number of which are Grade Listed. High Croft Cottage (51 Providence Place), 53 Providence Place, Wanganui Cottage (71 Weston Road), 82-84 Weston Road, along with its attached wall, 64 Weston Road and its attached wall, and 72 Weston Road have all become Grade II listed.[13][14][15][16][17][18] The row of houses consisting of 44, 44A, 46, and 48 Weston Street all make up what was once a farmhouse, and have become Grade II Listed.[19]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Appraisal of the Conservation Areas of Portland". dorsetforyou.com. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
2. ^ a b c d "Appraisal of the Conversation Areas of Portland" (PDF). Dorsetforyou.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
3. ^ "Portland - Chronology of the Island of Portland 700 - 1905 AD". Pbenyon.plus.com. 1 December 1903. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
4. ^ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 146\. ISBN 978-0946159345.
5. ^ "Weston Estate, Portland". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
6. ^ a b "Royal Manor School, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
7. ^ "Quick facts about the Jurassic Coast". Jurassiccoastline.com. 27 April 1944. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
8. ^ "Blacknor, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
9. ^ "Portland Bill Dorset". Subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
10. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203067)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
11. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1281885)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
12. ^ The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map. "More prehistoric discoveries on Portland : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map". Megalithic.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
13. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203107)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
14. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203108)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
15. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203133)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
16. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203134)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
17. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1206477)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
18. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1206490)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
19. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1206525)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.

* v
* t
* e

Isle of Portland

Settlements and areas|

* Castletown
* Chiswell
* Clay Ope
* Easton
* Ferry Bridge
* Fortuneswell
* The Grove
* Portland Bill
* Portland Harbour
* Southwell
* Tophill
* Underhill
* Victoria Square
* Wakeham
* West Cliff
* Weston

Beaches and coastal features|

* Balaclava Bay
* Cave Hole
* Chesil Beach
* Chesil Cove
* Church Ope Cove
* Freshwater Bay
* Hallelujah Bay
* Little Beach
* Mutton Cove
* Portland Raised Beach
* Pulpit Rock
* Salt Pans
* Wallsend Cove

Attractions|

* Broadcroft Quarry Nature Reserve
* Chiswell Earthworks
* Culverwell Mesolithic Site
* Fancy's Family Farm
* Jurassica
* King Barrow Quarry Nature Reserve
* Nicodemus Knob
* Perryfield Quarry Nature Reserve
* Portland Museum
* Royal Manor Theatre
* Tout Quarry Sculpture Park
* Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

Military|

* Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
* Blacknor Fort
* East Weare Battery
* East Weare Camp
* East Weare Rifle Range
* HMS Osprey
* Inner Pierhead Fort
* Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range
* Portland Breakwater Fort
* RAF Portland
* RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey)
* Royal Naval Hospital
* Verne Citadel
* Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
* Verne High Angle Battery

Castles|

* Pennsylvania Castle
* Portland Castle
* Rufus Castle

Lighthouses, daymarks and NCI|

* NCI Portland Bill
* Old Higher Lighthouse
* Old Lower Lighthouse
* Portland Bill Lighthouse
* Portland Breakwater Lighthouse
* Trinity House Obelisk

Prisons|

* HM Prison Portland
* HM Prison Weare
* HM Prison The Verne

Gardens|

* Chiswell Walled Garden
* Easton Gardens
* Governor's Community Garden
* Victoria Gardens

Buildings and houses|

* The Captain's House
* The Cove House Inn
* The George Inn
* Queen Anne House
* St George's Centre

Churches|

* All Saints Church
* Avalanche Memorial Church
* Church of Our Lady and St. Andrew
* Conjurer's Lodge
* Easton Methodist Church
* Southwell Methodist Chapel
* St Andrew's Church
* St George's Church
* St. John's Church
* St. Peter's Church
* Underhill Methodist Church
* United Reformed Church

Memorials|

* Portland Cenotaph
* Royal Naval Cemetery

Industry|

* Durdle Pier
* Folly Pier
* Folly Pier Waterworks
* Grove Lime Kiln
* King's Pier
* Portland stone
* Portland Windmills
* Red Crane
* Southwell Business Park
* Sureline
* Verne Cistern

Working and disused quarries|

* Bowers Quarry
* Broadcroft Quarry
* Coombefield Quarry
* King Barrow Quarry
* Perryfield Quarry
* Tout Quarry
* Yeolands Quarry

Railway|

* Merchant's Railway
* The Old Engine Shed
* Portland Branch Railway

Sports|

* Portland United F.C.

Events|

* Easton Massacre
* Great Southwell Landslip

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