computerguy

Webmaster is Geoff Kirby

Title
PortlandPicturesBanner4

Please click here to go to the ‘Home’ page and here to go to the ‘Navigation’ page

CHISWELL

CHISWELL IS THE OLDEST SETTLEMENT IN UNDERHILL HAVING BEEN A FISHING VILLAGE FOR MANY CENTURIES BECAUSE OF ITS ACCESS TO THE SEA. IT SUFFERED TERRIBLE DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIVE IN THE ‘GREAT TEMPEST’ OF 1824 WHEN MANY COTTAGE COLLAPSED WHEN THE SEA BROKE OVER CHESIL BANK AND LOCALS WERE KILLED. THE REMAINS OF SOME OF THESE COTTAGES SURVIVE IF ONLY AS LOW FOUNDATION WALLS.

IN VICTORIAN TIMES THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAILWAY AND THE EXTENSTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF NEARBY FORTUNESWELL TO HOUSE THE PRISON GUARDS AND ROYAL NAVY OVERSHADOWED CHISWELL BUT IT STILL RETAINS A CHARM AND OBVIOUS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEA. PICTURES ARE INCLUDED BELOW SHOWING FLOODING IN CHISWELL AND IN JANUARY 2014 FLOOD ALERTS AND EVACUATIONS WERE MADE.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE A VICTORIAN MAP OF THIS AREA.

JC0748b

A VIEW OF CHISWELL SHOWING THE MERE AND THE CHESIL BANK

JC1240

 

jc1255a

 

jc1246a

 

DR0414A

PORTLAND FAIR c1905  VICTORIA SQUARE

img014

THIS OBSERVATORY WAS SET UP ADJACENT TO THE VICTORIA SQUARE GAS WORKS IN MID-VICTORIAN TIMES. IT WAS BUILT AND USED BY REV. WILLIAM ROBERT MORRIS WAUGH (1818 - 1906) WHO WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS DETAILED OBSERVATIONS OF THE CLOUD STRUCTURES ON THE PLANET JUPITER. AN INTERESTING LETTER ABOUT THIS OBSERVATORY APPEARED IN THE FREE PORTLAND NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 1989.

RF0187b

F. J. BARNES FIRST MASONRY WORKS AT VICTORIA SQUARE (1891) IN THE STATION AREA.  THIS IS JUST AFTER BARNES BOUGHT IT FROM THE PORTLAND STONE Co. THE OBSERVATORY WAS IN THIS AREA AT THIS TIME BUT PROBABLY HIDDEN BEHIND THE SAWMILLS BUILDING.

THE VIEW BELOW SHOWS THE MODERN SITE OF THE OBSERVATORY.

PA220032LoRes1

 

DR0450

VICTORIA GARDENS. NOTE MAN RIDING SIDE SADDLE UP VICTORY ROAD.  A MODERN VIEW IS SHOWN BELOW.

IMG_1578_copy

 

DR04199

 

DR0457

 

DR04198b

TRACTION ENGINE ENTERING VICTORIA SQUARE. FOWLER No. 15319, FX7850 "NELLIE" ENTERS VICTORIA SQUARE WITH TWO TRAILERS LOADED WITH STONE DESTINED FOR MESSRS F. J. BARNES SAW MILLS ALONGSIDE THE STATION YARD.

DR0451

OPENING OF VICTORIA GARDENS MAY 25TH 1904. BELOW IS A MODERN VIEW OF THIS PART OF THE GARDENS.

IMG_1581

 

DR0454

THE HARBOUR FROM VICTORIA GARDENS.

DR0455A

VICTORIA GARDENS.  NOTE THE RAILWAY STATION AND GAS WORKS IN BACK GROUND
 

DR0460

BELOW IS A MODERN VIEW OF THIS PART OF VICTORIA GARDENS.

IMG_1582

 

DR0491b

GARAGE IN VICTORIA SQUARE. OWNER AND DATE UNKNOWN.

DR04227a

VICTORIA SQUARE STATION AND GOODS YARD.

DR04269a

SEA FLOODED VICTORIA SQUARE AND CHISWELL 1924. BELOW IS A MODERN VIEW OF THE SCENE IN HAPPIER TIMES.

PB260001LoRes1

 

DR04270a

1924 FLOODS AT CHISWELL.

JH1101

 

JC03137a

 

DR04271a

CHISWELL FLOODING IN 1924 AT THE WESTERN END OF CLEMENTS LANE. BELOW IS A MODERN VIEW OF THE SAME SCENE.

PB260006LoRes1

 

DR04273a

FLOODING IN CHISWELL COINCIDED WITH THE KING’S VISIT TO PORTLAND 1936 ON HIS WAY TO HMS COURAGEOUS. THERE WAS A SCHOOL VISIT BY CHILDREN FROM ST JOHNS SCHOOL.

DR04274a

FLOODING NEAR BRANDY ROW 1924.

GP01125

#

JC0315

CHISWELL ABOUT 1920. BELOW IS A MODERN VIEW OF THE SCENE.

IMG_1591_copy

 

JC0360a

HOUSE ON CHESIL, NOW DEMOLISHED.  SEE BELOW FOR A MODERN VIEW OF THIS SCENE.

IMG_1166a

 

JC03142

BELOW IS A RECENT PICTURE OF THIS SCENE.

IMG_1576_copy

 

JC03160

CHISWELL, PORTLAND WITH WELL ON LEFT

JH0465

CHISWELL.  NOTE PUMP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. THE MODERN SCENE IS SEEN BELOW.

IMG_1589

 

JC03205

HIGH STREET, PORTLAND. JUNCTION WITH CLOVENS ROAD. THE PICTURE BELOW SHOWS A MODERN VIEW OF THIS SCENE.

IMG_1586

#

JC12110a

FLOODS IN VICTORIA SQUARE.

JH0463

COTTAGES AT CHISWELL.

68073030

 

Chiswell 1

THIS COTTAGE SURVIVES ONLY AS A DERELICT HUT AS SEEN BELOW. THE DOOR SEEN BELOW IS THE ONE ABOVE WHERE THE BOY IS STANDING.

Chiswell 2

 

JH04145

 

JH06167a

 

JH06170

 

JH06175

 

JT0140a

 

RF0182

MALLAMS WAS ONCE A TINY HAMLET CLINGING TO THE HILLSIDE ABOVE CHISWELL. BELOW WE SEE THE ROAD NAMED MALLAMS ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THIS TINY COMMUNITY.

Mallams

 

RF0504a

BUILDING GANG 1920'S WORKING IN CHISWELL. BUILDING GANG POSSIBLY ALFRED JOLIFFE STANDING ON GROUND SECOND FROM LEFT WITHOUT HAT BORN 1867 DIED OF LEAD POISONING FROM PAINT 1927

RF0606a

COTTAGE THAT ONCE STOOD OPPOSITE 90 CHISWELL. THE HOUSE WAS OCCUPIED BY GEORGE ANTHONY WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. THE MODERN SCENE IS SHOWN BELOW.

IMG_0439A