Villages of Portland
Encyclopedia
The Isle of Portland
, Dorset, contains eight settlements, the largest being Fortuneswell in Underhill and Easton in Tophill. Castletown and Chiswell are the other villages in Underhill, and Weston, Southwell, Wakeham and the Grove occupy Tophill.
on the Isle of Portland
, Dorset
, between Portland Bill
and the village of Easton. Unlike many of the other villages on Portland, Southwell has no commercial industry (discounting Southwell Business Park). The village has one Primary School, Southwell County Primary School.
Easton 50°33′N 2°26′W is the second largest of eight villages on the Isle of Portland
in Dorset
, England
. The village is situated on the top of the island or Tophill
, in the English Channel
, and was where the Easton Massacre
took place. The village has a small square with many shops and shopping arcade, a Secondary school, four churches, a small park, and other amenities. Easton is also the location of Portland Young Offenders Institution
. At the south end of Easton is Portland Museum
.
Along with Fortuneswell, Easton is the main hub of the Isle of Portland's activities.
Fortuneswell is the largest of eight villages on the Isle of Portland
, just off the coast of Dorset
in the English Channel
. The village lies on steeply sloping land on the northern edge of the island (Underhill
), where Chesil Beach
, the tombolo
which connects the island to the mainland, joins the island.
The village has a main shopping street with several shops.
The nearby villages of Chiswell and Castletown almost merge into Fortuneswell, as they share the limited space on the northern slopes of the island. However, Fortuneswell occupies the steepest land far above sea level, whereas Castletown and Chiswell occupy flat land close to sea level, next to Portland Harbour
and Chesil Beach
respectively.
Weston is a village in Tophill
on the Isle of Portland
, Dorset
, England
. It is on the outskirts of the main village Easton, and near also to the village of Southwell. Weston contains a Roman Villa - one of the few archaeological sites on the Isle of Portland
, which is opposite the Royal Manor
Arts College.
in Underhill
on the Isle of Portland
in Dorset
. It has a sandy beach
and has a working port
, Portland Port. The village itself is on the shores of Portland Harbour
, and includes Portland Castle
and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
. The village has a long naval history, and the Royal Navy
had a base in the harbour until 1999. Now Portland Port is commercial, whilst still servicing and berthing Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.
at the southern end of Chesil Beach
, in Underhill
. The small bay at Chiswell is called Chesil Cove
.
The village itself is indistinguishable from Fortuneswell, the largest village on the island
, as the two settlements are very close. However this distinction can be made: Chiswell occupies flat land close to sea level, whereas Fortuneswell's streets wind up and down the steep hills.
Over the centuries Chiswell has battled with the sea and has been regularly flooded during rough winter storms which can over top the 15 metres (49 ft) high Chesil Beach which protects the village. Flood defences installed during the 1980s have alleviated the problems and there has not been widescale flooding since.
on the Isle of Portland
in Dorset
, England
.
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, Dorset, contains eight settlements, the largest being Fortuneswell in Underhill and Easton in Tophill. Castletown and Chiswell are the other villages in Underhill, and Weston, Southwell, Wakeham and the Grove occupy Tophill.
Southwell
Southwell 50°32′N 2°27′W is a small coastal village in TophillTophill
Tophill is a gently sloping area of land on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. Rising from sea level at Portland Bill to near The Verne at its northern end, Tophill contains the villages of Easton, Weston, Southwell, the Grove and Wakeham....
on the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, between Portland Bill
Portland Bill
Portland Bill is a narrow promontory of Portland stone, which forms the most southerly part of Isle of Portland, and therefore also the county of Dorset, England....
and the village of Easton. Unlike many of the other villages on Portland, Southwell has no commercial industry (discounting Southwell Business Park). The village has one Primary School, Southwell County Primary School.
Easton
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The village is situated on the top of the island or Tophill
Tophill
Tophill is a gently sloping area of land on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. Rising from sea level at Portland Bill to near The Verne at its northern end, Tophill contains the villages of Easton, Weston, Southwell, the Grove and Wakeham....
, in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, and was where the Easton Massacre
Easton Massacre
The Easton Massacre was an incident in which the British armed forces shot and killed three citizens of Easton, Dorset during an attempt to press male members of the town into service. April 1, 1803 saw the first of several landings carried out by the frigate Eagle, commanded by George Wolfe to...
took place. The village has a small square with many shops and shopping arcade, a Secondary school, four churches, a small park, and other amenities. Easton is also the location of Portland Young Offenders Institution
Portland (HM Prison)
HM Prison Portland is a male Young Offenders Institution, located in the village of The Grove , in Dorset, England. Portland YOI prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
. At the south end of Easton is Portland Museum
Portland Museum, Dorset
Portland Museum is a local museum on the Isle of Portland, located on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, southern England. It is at the southern end of the village of Easton, close to Church Ope Cove.The museum was founded by Marie Stopes and opened in 1930...
.
Along with Fortuneswell, Easton is the main hub of the Isle of Portland's activities.
Fortuneswell
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, just off the coast of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. The village lies on steeply sloping land on the northern edge of the island (Underhill
Underhill, Dorset
Underhill is the name given to the area of land at the northern end of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England, which is very steep and contains the villages of Chiswell, Castletown and Fortuneswell. The rest of the island is known as Tophill....
), where Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, in Dorset, southern England is one of three major shingle structures in Britain. Its toponym is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle"....
, the tombolo
Tombolo
A tombolo, from the Italian tombolo, derived from the Latin tumulus, meaning 'mound,' and sometimes translated as ayre , is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island...
which connects the island to the mainland, joins the island.
The village has a main shopping street with several shops.
The nearby villages of Chiswell and Castletown almost merge into Fortuneswell, as they share the limited space on the northern slopes of the island. However, Fortuneswell occupies the steepest land far above sea level, whereas Castletown and Chiswell occupy flat land close to sea level, next to Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
and Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, in Dorset, southern England is one of three major shingle structures in Britain. Its toponym is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle"....
respectively.
Weston
50°32′22.96"N 2°26′50.24"WWeston is a village in Tophill
Tophill
Tophill is a gently sloping area of land on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. Rising from sea level at Portland Bill to near The Verne at its northern end, Tophill contains the villages of Easton, Weston, Southwell, the Grove and Wakeham....
on the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is on the outskirts of the main village Easton, and near also to the village of Southwell. Weston contains a Roman Villa - one of the few archaeological sites on the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
, which is opposite the Royal Manor
Royal Manor
A royal manor is an area of land in the United Kingdom owned by the Crown, such as the Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the Prince of Wales, a Duke/Duchess, or a Lord. One such example is the Isle of Portland in Dorset....
Arts College.
Castletown
Castletown is a small villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Underhill
Underhill, Dorset
Underhill is the name given to the area of land at the northern end of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England, which is very steep and contains the villages of Chiswell, Castletown and Fortuneswell. The rest of the island is known as Tophill....
on the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. It has a sandy beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
and has a working port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
, Portland Port. The village itself is on the shores of Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
, and includes Portland Castle
Portland Castle
Portland Castle is one of the Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built in 1539 by Henry VIII on the Isle of Portland to guard the natural Portland anchorage known as the Portland Roads. The castle lies in the far north of the island, in the village now called Castletown, near Fortuneswell...
and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is a centre for the sport of sailing on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England, United Kingdom. The academy building is located in Osprey Quay on the northern tip of the island, and the waters of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay,...
. The village has a long naval history, and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
had a base in the harbour until 1999. Now Portland Port is commercial, whilst still servicing and berthing Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.
Chiswell
Chiswell is a small fishing villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
at the southern end of Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, in Dorset, southern England is one of three major shingle structures in Britain. Its toponym is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle"....
, in Underhill
Underhill, Dorset
Underhill is the name given to the area of land at the northern end of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England, which is very steep and contains the villages of Chiswell, Castletown and Fortuneswell. The rest of the island is known as Tophill....
. The small bay at Chiswell is called Chesil Cove
Chesil Cove
Chesil Cove is a beach which is the most southerly part of the long Chesil Beach in Dorset, England.The beach protects the low lying village of Chiswell in Underhill on the Isle of Portland from flooding.-Diving:...
.
The village itself is indistinguishable from Fortuneswell, the largest village on the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
, as the two settlements are very close. However this distinction can be made: Chiswell occupies flat land close to sea level, whereas Fortuneswell's streets wind up and down the steep hills.
Over the centuries Chiswell has battled with the sea and has been regularly flooded during rough winter storms which can over top the 15 metres (49 ft) high Chesil Beach which protects the village. Flood defences installed during the 1980s have alleviated the problems and there has not been widescale flooding since.
Wakeham
Wakeham is a small village near the village of Easton, in TophillTophill
Tophill is a gently sloping area of land on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. Rising from sea level at Portland Bill to near The Verne at its northern end, Tophill contains the villages of Easton, Weston, Southwell, the Grove and Wakeham....
on the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.