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COASTLINE

THE PICTURES OF PORTLAND’S COASTLINE FOLLOWS A TOUR STARTING IN THE FERRYBRIDGE AREA AND GOES IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION VIA PORTLAND BILL TO CHISWELL. PLEASE CLICK ON A NAME IN THE TABLE TO GO STRAIGHT TO THAT LOCATION.

Ferrybridge

The Mere

Naval Dockyard

East Weares

Church Ope Cove

Godnor Point

Portland Bill

Wallsend Cove

Blacknor Point

West Cliff

Chiswell

Shambles Lightship

FERRYBRIDGE

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THIS WEBSITE.

LC0407a

AERIAL VIEW OF THE VICKERS/WHITEHEAD TORPEDO WORKS. ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY NOT ON PORTLAND THIS FACTORY SUPPLIED EMPLOYMENT FOR MANY PORTLANDERS. NOTE HOW RURAL THE AREA NORTH OF THE FACTORY WAS.

JC0501

A VIEW OF PORTLAND.  LOOKING TOWARDS THE FERRY WHICH PRECEDED THE BUILDING OF A BRIDGE IN 1839. THE HISTORY OF THE BRIDGES CAN BE READ HERE.

DR04224

PORTLAND HARBOUR. HMS BOSCAWEN, LEFT AND HMS MINOTAUR. VERNE CITADEL RIGHT

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PORTLAND HARBOUR VIEWED FROM NEAR FERRYBRIDGE IN ABOUT 1900.

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THE VIEW ACROSS PORTLAND HARBOUR FROM ABOVE BINCLEAVES

JC0406a

THE RAILWAY LINK BETWEEN PORTLAND AND THE MAINLAND. THIS WAS OPENED IN 1865 AND CLOSED IN 1965. THE WRITER WAS ON THE LAST TRAIN TO CROSS THIS BRIDGE.

THE MERE

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THIS WEBSITE.

THE MERE WAS A SALT MARSH AREA WHICH WAS LATER RECLAIMED. IT LIES IN THE CENTRE OF THE PICTURE BELOW.

JC0748a

NOTE THE MANY FISHING BOATS ON CHESIL BEACH.

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THE MERE WAS USED FOR SHEEP WASHING AS SHOWN BELOW BEFORE BEING RECLAIMED FOR USE BY THE ROYAL NAVY.

DR0442

    SHEEP  WASHING AT THE MERE. DATE UNKNOWN.

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SHEEP  WASHING AT THE MERE. DATE UNKNOWN.

JH0641

IN THIS PICTURE THE MERE IS PARTIALLY RECLAIMED AND THE FIRST OIL STORAGE TANKS HAVE BEEN ERECTED. THE NEXT FOUR PICTURES SHOW THE MERE BEING IN-FILLED AND THE OIL STORAGE TANKS BEING BUILT.

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JH1115a

 

JH1117a

 

JH1118a

 

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JH01129

VIEW LOOKING TOWARD VERNE CITADEL WITH RAILWAY STATION IN FOREGROUND.

CASTLETOWN AND NAVAL DOCKYARD

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THIS WEBSITE.

JC0530

CASTLETOWN WITH VERNE RAMPARTS IN BACKGROUND. DATED 1908

ch0222a

LOADING STONE AT CASTLETOWN BEACH BEFORE THE DOCKYARD GATE

JC0304b

AREA LATER OCCUPIED BY THE ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD EXTENSION TO HOUSE THE ASDIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT AT PORTLAND (1927-1940). THE BRIDGE CARRIED THE MAIN WEYMOUTH TO PORTLAND RAILWAY LINE WHICH CLOSED IN 1965. THE INCLINED ROAD IN THE BACKGROUND WAS ORIGINALLY AN INCLINED RAILWAY SYSTEM. THE BUILDINGS ON THE WATER’S EDGE WERE THE ADMIRALTY SLAUGHTER HOUSES.

69574005A

THE ABOVE PICTURE AND THE ONE BELOW SHOW RECENT PICTURES OF THE AREA AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE INCLINE ROAD. THE GIRDER BRIDGE SEEN IN THE ABOVE OLD PICTURE STRADDLED THE ROAD.

69574002A

LC0201

BUILDING THE FINAL ARM OF THE PORTLAND BREAKWATER.

JC0751a

A VIEW OF THE NEWLY COMPLETED FINAL ARM OF THE PORTLAND BREAKWATER.

THE NEXT 23 PICTURES SHOW THE ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD IN THE PERIOD 1880 - 1910

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DR06142a

 

JC0374a

 

DR0637

 

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DR0659a

 

DR0639a

 

DR0641a

 

DR0640a

 

DR0638a

 

DR0635b

 

DR0657a

 

DR0644a

 

DR0646

 

DR0647a

 

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DR0648a

 

DR0649a

 

DR0655a

 

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DR0656a

EAST WEARES

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THIS WEBSITE.

JH01100a

THE RECENT PICTURE BELOW SHOWS THIS AREA FROM A SLIGHTLY MORE NORTHERN VIEW POINT

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EAST WEARES, BALACLAVA BAY (RIFLE RANGE) AND PORTLAND HARBOUR c. 1925

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VIEW OF EAST WEARES, TAKEN FROM THE VERNE. THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING MIDDLE LEFT IS UNKNOWN.

JC0523

EAST CLIFF WITH RAILWAY LINE IN 1900.  THE “GOAT PATH” WAS - AND STILL IS - A PRECARIOUS TRACK ENABLING FISHERMEN TO GET TO DURDLE PIER WHERE THEIR BOATS WERE KEPT.

DR04231a

EAST WEARES AND RAILWAY. COASTGUARD AND PRISON WARDERS HOUSES AT TOP LEFT (CHARMOUTH PLACE) NOW DEMOLISHED

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CHURCH OPE RAILWAY.  LOWER LEFT IS DURDLE PIER.

JH0666a

GROVE POINT WITH THE GROVE PRISON (LATER THE BORSTAL AND YOUTH OFFENDERS’ INSTITUTE) ON THE CLIFFTOP.

CHURCH OPE COVE

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THAT WEBSITE. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A DESCRIPTION OF CHURCH OPE COVE. THERE ARE MANY RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE COVE AND ADJACENT AREA HERE.

FOR A RECENT VIEW OF THIS SCENE PLEASE SEE BELOW.

IMG_0642LoRes1

A RECENT PICTURE OF CHURCH OPE COVE.

69571033

A RECENT PICTURE OF THE RUINED ST ANDREW’S CHURCH IN THE FOREGROUND. THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH CAN BE READ HERE.  CURIOUSLY THIS CHURCH WAS DESTROYED BY AN EARTHQUAKE IN ABOUT THE YEAR 1000 AND IN 1735 THE GRAVES OF KING ETHELRED'S TWIN DAUGHTERS WHO HAD DIED AT BIRTH AROUND THE YEAR 990 SLID DOWN TO THE BEACH IN A LANDSLIDE..

RUFUS CASTLE IS IN THE BACKGROUND. THE HISTORY OF RUFUS CASTLE CAN BE READ HERE.

THE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA CASTLE CAN BE READ HERE.

69571051

THE CURIOUS STORY OF PENN’S BATH WHICH EXISTS ABOVE CHURCH OPE COVE CAN BE READ HERE. THE PICTURES ON THAT WEBSITE ARE THUMBNAILS WHICH CAN BE CLICKED TO GIVE A FULL SCREEN PICTURE. ALSO SEE  HERE.

69571010

THE LAST REMNANT OF A ONCE FLOURISHING FISHING ERA  RUSTS AWAY ON THE BEACH..

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RUFUS CASTLE FROM CHURCH OPE COVE. THE PICTURE BELOW SHOWS THE CASTLE AS IT MAY HAVE LOOKED 300 YEARS AGO.

rUFUS cASTLE

 

JC12159

 

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JT0186

CHURCH OPE IN 1930.

LC0225

BATHER AT CHURCH OPE COVE 1901.

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JH04108

PENNSYLVANIA CASTLE AND ST. ANDREWS CHURCHYARD, FROM CHURCH OPE COVE.

JH0133

 

JH0137b

CRANE AT CHURCH OPE EXTRACTING STONE

JT0134

CHURCH OPE COVE. ONCE A THRIVING FISHING AREA.

JT0133

 

JC0538

CHURCH OPE COVE 1900, LOOKING TOWARD THE GIRLS' SIDE - GIRLS AND BOYS WERE SEPARATED.

DN0502a

 

JC0547

RUFUS CASTLE, 1903. MR. DOBSON, CHIEF WARDEN OF PRISON IN FOREGROUND. NOTE THE FISSURE IN THE ROCK FACE. THIS IS TYPICAL OF THE SYSTEM OF CRACKS THAT CRISSCROSS PORTLAND.

JC0552

CHURCH OPE COVE AND PENNSYLVANIA CASTLE 1900.

JC0577

CHURCH OPE COVE, 1900.  HUT BELONGING TO GEORGE ERNEST FULLEYLOVE.

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CHURCH OPE COVE 1900, LOOKING TOWARD GIRLS' SIDE - GIRLS AND BOYS WERE SEGREGATED.

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CHURCH OPE COVE. TEA CABIN ON THE BEACH, RUFUS CASTLE TOP CENTRE. PICTURE TAKEN FROM BOYS' SIDE.

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SS VICTORIA AT CHURCH OPE COVE.  PASSENGERS RETURNING TO BOAT AFTER VISITING

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PADDLE STEAMER IN CHURCH OPE COVE

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CHURCH OPE AND ST. ANDREWS RUINED CHURCH IN 1900.

JC0535

THE FISHERMEN'S HUTS, CHURCH OPE COVE

GODNOR POINT

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THIS WEBSITE.

GODNOR POINT IS A SHORT DISTANCE NORTH-EAST FROM CAVE HOLE AND SOUTH OF CHURCH OPE COVE.

dr04195a

UNKNOWN GROUP OF PEOPLE POSING FOR PICTURE AT GODNOR POINT.

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VIEW LOOKING NORTH TOWARD RED CRANE, GODNOR POINT AND CAVE HOLE.

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CAVE HOLE AND CRANE. BELOW IS A MODERN PICTURE OF THIS SCENE.

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PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL DRAMATIC STORY BEHIND THE ACCIDENT SHOWN BELOW WHICH OCCURRED ON 4TH  JUNE 1949 AT CAVE HOLE.

JT0228

POM POM ROCK STACK

THERE WAS A SOLITARY ROCK STACK ABOUT 500 METRES NORTH-EAST OF PORTLAND BILL WHICH HAD PROVIDED A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE COASTAL EROSION AT WORK ON THIS RELATIVELY STABLE COASTLINE. THE STACK WAS ABOUT 20 FEET HIGH.

THE FOLLOWING PICTURES FROM 1988 UNTIL 2014 RECORD ITS DEMISE.

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68068504

 

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68068503

POM POM STACK FINALLY FELL IN EARLY JANUARY 2014 UNDER THE FORCE OF GIANT WAVES. ITS FALL WAS REPORTED ON BBC RADIO 2 NATIONAL NEWS - PLEASE CLICK HERE.

PORTLAND BILL

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VICTORIAN SIX INCHES TO A MILE SCALE (1:10560) MAP OF THIS AREA. OTHER OLD MAPS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THIS WEBSITE.

THERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE PORTLAND BILL AREA HERE. SEE ALSO MY WEBSITE HERE FOR MANY RECENT PICTURES OF THIS AREA.

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JH0477

LARGE WAVES AT PORTLAND BILL

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LC1204a

PORTLAND BILL BLOW HOLE - LOCATION UNKNOWN

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STONE QUARRY CRANE NEAR PULPIT ROCK.

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THIS PICTURE AND THE ONE BELOW FORM A “SPOT THE DIFFERENCE” PAIR.

CH0210a

VIEW FROM POWELL JAR OF PULPIT ROCK AND LIGHTHOUSE.  ALSO IN PHOTO IS THE RAISED BEACH, CENTRE LEFT. A RECENT VIEW IS BELOW. THE ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS ON THE LEFT ARE THE DEGAUSSING ESTABLISHMENT.

67568013a

 

dr04191

ANOTHER OLD PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE AREA COVERED IN THE RECENT PICTURE ABOVE.

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JH0919

THE SEA AT PORTLAND BILL TAKEN FROM MARSHALL’S RANCH.

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DR04181a

 

DR04182

 

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RF0184a

 

JH0471a

PULPIT ROCK AND PADDLE STEAMER, 1921

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JC0532

PORTLAND BILL FROM AIR.

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VIEW FROM LIGHTHOUSE OF OUTING TO PORTLAND BILL 1936

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WALLSEND COVE

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JH01120a  67569005a

BLACKNORE GORGE LIES TO THE WEST OF THE SOUTHWELL BUSINESS PARK. THESE PICTURES ARE SEPARATED BY ABOUT A CENTURY.

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JC0506

BLACKNOR POINT

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BLACKNOR FORT SITS HIGH ON THE PROMONTORY. THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING CAN BE READ HERE.

WEST CLIFF

JH06163

 

PT0308a

 

JH06153

CHESIL COVE AND WESTCLIFF.  NOTE OLD QUARRYMAN'S BUILDING, SINCE DEMOLISHED. FOR A RECENT VIEW OF THIS SCENE PLEASE SEE BELOW.

IMG_1061a

A RECENT PICTURE FROM NORTH OF BLACKNOR FORT SHOWING THE REMAINS OF THE STONE WORKERS’ HUT IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURE. NOTE ALSO THE REMAINS OF A WORLD WAR 2 GUN MOUNTING ON THE CLIFF EDGE.

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ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE STONE WORKERS’ HUT IN MODERN TIMES

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DR04174

BELOW IS A RECENT PICTURE TAKEN FROM THE SAME PLACE.

IMG_1058LoRes

CHISWELL

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CHESIL COVE BEFORE THE ESPLANADE WAS BUILT. NOTE THE YOUNG BOY PADDLING WHILST WEARING A CAP. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!

JH06164a

WEST WEARES. NOTE THE SMALL CAFÉ.

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DR0469

CHESIL COVE c1920s.  BATHERS RELAXING.

JH0473

THE NEW MARINE WALK, CHESIL COVE

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JT0151

CHESIL BEACH AND FORTUNESWELL 1920.

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JC03237

UNDERHILL BEFORE THE PROMENADE AND AIR STATION WERE BUILT.

JT0154

CHESIL COVE 1929.

JT0140

CHESIL COVE 1929.

JT0142

 

JH0617

SHAMBLES LIGHTSHIP

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Keywords Portland Dorset Coast Coastline Dockyards Mere Castletown East Weares Church Ope Cove Godnor Wallsend Cove Portland Bill Lighthouse Shambles West Weares Chiswell  Chesil Beach Ferrybridge SITIP Steps In Time GJK01305