​Walking the Railways of Weymouth and Portland

 

 

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This book takes the reader on four illustrated walks in Weymouth and Portland in Dorset. They all happen to be, in part, on disused railway tracks.  The text describes these railways and the role they played in the local economy, viz. Weymouth Harbour’s trade with the Channel Islands; the stone quarries on Portland. It also includes discussions of historic events that took place at various locations along the walks.  For example: the 1645 siege of Melcombe Regis in the Civil War; the emergence of Weymouth as a resort following George III’s spending the summer there from 1789-1805; the use of convict labour to build the breakwaters forming Portland Harbour and various forts to protect it; the manufacture of torpedoes in Wyke Regis in both world wars.

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The book has over 80 colour plates (including some from the late nineteenth century); 80 pp text, 4 pp cover.

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