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Weymouth in the 12th century, there
were two settlements on Weymouth Bay,
Melcombe-Regis situated on the north side, and Weymouth
situated on the south side of the Bay. But the Weymouth we know
to-day is only recorded in the 16th century. The two separate town's of
Weymouth, and
Melcombe-Regis, bickered for years about who had the actual right to
use
the harbour. This was only resolved when the two places were finally
joined together by
a Royal Charter granted by Queen
Elizabeth 1st in
1571, to form the Borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.
Melcombe-Regis claim to fame, or should that be infamy,
was: It was believed to be the entry point for one of the
greatest disaster ever to hit this country, for in the mid 14th
century the "Great Bubonic Plague,"
know to history as the "Black Death"entered
the country through Melcombe-Regis. It is believed that the plague
was caused by fleas from black rats that had left a spice
ship after it had docked, these fleas quickly infested the people of
Melcombe-Regis, and before long the plague spread to engulf the whole
county, and cause over 2 million deaths, it is only when one realizes
that the
population of England at the time was only 5-6 million, can the truly
devastating
effect it had on the Country be seen .
Weymouth has a long tradition of
involvement with the navy: In 1558 six
Weymouth ships sailed, to join Sir Francis Drake and helped
defeat the Spanish Armada. Weymouth also played a
large part in colonization of The
New World, for the Town of Weymouth
New England was
founded in 1623 by Robert Gorges, the son of Sir Ferdinando Gorges; and
later
on June 1628, a John Endicott sailed from Weymouth in the Abigail
with
an expedition to found another new colony in North America. Endicot and
his party arrived at Naumking (Salem)
on
6th
September, 1628, and they founded the Colony of Massachusetts.
Endicott duly became the first governor of the Colony. Then yet another
Weymouth ship, the Delight captained by Richard
Clark a native of
Weymouth accompanied Sir Humphrey Gilbert on his voyage of discovery to
Newfoundland, Clark was shipwrecked, but luckily he survived the
ordeal. So one can see just what an important part
Weymouth played in founding the United States of America. In
the English Civil War men from Weymouth
fought on
both sides, and Weymouth was to suffered badly as both sides bitterly
fought to gain control of this strategic port. It is rightly said that
the English Civil War pitched farther, against son
and brother against
brother and tore the country asunder and no-where was this terrible
event depicted more than in the savage
battles to control Weymouth.
King George111 visited Weymouth in 1798 to partake the waters
of the English Channel. The King took a dip in Weymouth Bay,
using one
of the
new quaint bathing machines: These machines were towed in-to
the water allowing the bather to emerge with his, or her,
modesty intact.
The
King enjoyed himself so much he became a regular visitor to Weymouth,
and this helped to establish the town as a holiday resort: frequented
by the
gentry. The chalk figure of the White Horse and its rider was
carved in the hillside in 1808, above Osmington. It is supposed to
represent George III whose last visit to Weymouth was in 1805.
In 1857 the wonder of the Victorian age arrived in Weymouth the
railway, Two companies realizing Weymouth's potential, ran
lines in to
Weymouth. The finest Railway company in the country, The Great
Western and
the London
and South Western, the railway
station however was
designed by the Great Western's engineer who just happens also to
be Britain's greatest engineer Isambard Kingdom-Brunel.
With
the arrival of the railway, Weymouth really took off as a holiday
resort
for the coming of the railway meant that ordinary working class people
could travel to Weymouth, and they did in their thousands it was no
longer an exclusive resort for the gentry.
Building on it's success from Victorian times Weymouth has continued to
flourish as one of Dorset,s most popular holiday resorts. And has
numerous holiday related activities to please the
holiday maker. Historical attractions include the huge Saxon earthworks
fort known as Maiden Castle, Corfu Castle dating
from the
time of the Normans, a museum dedicated to the Torpuddle
martyrs, and the near-by Cerne Abbas giant. Weymouth beach
with it's vast expanse of
golden sand, is believed to be one of the finest in Dorset, if
not the whole of the West Country, Children take a delight
in riding the donkeys, building sand-castles with a bucket and
spade purchased from one of the many kiosks, or having a go
on the swing-boats. the helterskelter, and various types of carousels,
while worn-out parents, can relax in a deckchair, or the more energetic
one's can indulge in a game of beach-volleyball or take out a pedalo.
The water is ideal for bathing, and parents can relax knowing that
there
is a lifeguard always on hand. With all that Weymouth it's-self has to
offer plus the added bonus of its location Weymouth is indeed
a holiday resort for all seasons.!
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