Weymouth Promenade in 1993

Weymouth is a coastal town in Dorset, England. The town is five miles south of Dorchester, and just north of the Isle of Portland. The district of Weymouth and Portland has a population of 63,648 (2001 UK census data). The town has a long sand beach and is one of the most popular British holiday towns.

The town is acknowledged as being amongst the first ever tourist destinations, after King George III made Weymouth his summer holiday residence on fourteen occasions between 1789 and 1805, sparking a trend of sea bathing and health tourism. The seafront is entirely Georgian architecture, and a mounted white horse representing King George is carved into the chalk hills to the east of the town. The horse is facing away from the town and legend has it that the King took offense, believing it was a sign that the townspeople did not welcome him, and that the designer subsequently hanged himself. Today tourism is the largest industry in the town, which is also a gateway town on the Jurassic Coast world heritage site.

Weymouth and Portland were extremely important in World War II, as Portland harbour was home to a large naval base, and Weymouth was home to Nothe Fort, together an important part of the D-Day preparations and Bouncing bomb development.

Weymouth is thought to be the first Port at which the Black Death plague came into England, aboard a visiting spice ship in 1348.

Radipole lake, an RSPB Nature Reserve and mouth of the River Wey is an important habitat for birds and fish. The lake flows into the historical Weymouth harbour, where ferries to France and the Channel Islands dock.

External links

• Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/home.asp?svid=1)
• Census data (http://www1.dorsetcc.gov.uk/LIVING/FACTS/Census2001.nsf/6cadf4da179fc19500256663004afece/2bab49242b88786080256d41003356b6?OpenDocument)
• Weymouth Residents Discussion Forums And Gallery (http://www.weymouthspeaks.co.uk)