Portland's first parish church, St Andrews Church.

A great little surprise to find an old ruin of a church, there was little info of the place but it was great just to have a look around.
Sep 28th, 2020

May 31st, 2020

The day I visited Portland Bill was on the 15th October 2017. Sadly it was not a very clear day and fairly dull. Hence I did not manage to get the sunny, spectacular views you can normally get from the very top of this Bill. I did, however, return on the 1st May and on the 24th May 2018. Portland is thought of as an island although this isnt wholly correct in the true sense of the word as its reached over a causeway along, what is known as Chesil Beach. Just 4 miles long by a mile and a half wide at its broadest point, this plate of Jurassic limestone is tilted from north to south. This means that if you are on the elevated northern side of the island you are rewarded with stunning views across the Chesil, Portland Harbour & Weymouth. Portland Bill is a narrow piece of land ( or bill ) at the southern end of the Isle of Portland, and the southernmost point of Dorset. One of Portland's most popular destinations, the popular attraction Portland Bill Lighthouse is found here. The surrounding coast of Portland, namely Portland Bill and Chesil Beach, have been notorious for the many vessels that became shipwrecked in the area over the centuries. The dangerous coastline, which features shallow reefs and the Shambles sandbank, was proven more hazardous due to the strong tidal race is known as the Portland Race. The Bill is still an important way point for coastal traffic, and three lighthouses have been built to protect shipping, in particular from its strong tidal race and shallow reef. The original two lighthouses guided vessels around the coast from 1716, until they were replaced in 1906 by the current lighthouse. Overlooking Portland Harbour in Dorset stands one of Henry VIIIs finest coastal forts, built in the early 1540s to protect against the French and Spanish invasion. Portland Castle was built as a consequence of international tensions between England, France and the Holy Roman Empire in the final years of the reign of King Henry VIII. Traditionally the Crown had left coastal defences to the local lords and communities, only taking a modest role in building and maintaining fortifications, and while France and the Empire remained in conflict with one another, maritime raids were common but an actual invasion of England seemed unlikely. Today it provides a great day out for visitors and its audio tour, included in the admission price, tells of the castles 450-year history and the part it played in the First and Second World Wars. Portland Castle offers lots to do for families and couples alike, and only four miles from Weymouth, this historic adventure can easily be combined with some more contemporary seaside fun. Church Ope Cove is located on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. The beach consists of soft limestone pebbles ( although they do feel pretty hard to walk on ) and is surrounded by cliffs on three sides which provide shelter from the often strong breeze in the area. As the beach faces south, it is also something of a sun trap throughout the day. Here, it is first recorded in 789 AD the first Viking raid on the British Isles happened. This cove was believed to be the place they landed. The exposed location was later defended by a Norman 12th Century Rufus Castle, built on the cliff-top overlooking the beach. This remaining castle which can be seen today dates from the late 15th-century. The cove's area was also used for the building of Portland's first parish church, St Andrews Church, which was probably first established above the cove by the Saxons. St Andrews churchyard, where the ruins stand right on the edge of the east cliffs, has long been the infamous Pirates Graveyard. Built in 1475 on the site of an earlier building, St Andrews was destroyed by fire during a raid. Its rather dubious reputation as a pirates graveyard is based entirely on the fact that some of the headstones and table tombs, both inside and outside the church, have skulls and crossbones carved on them.
Jun 7th, 2018