•  Portland, Dorset

          Click on the map for other historical maps of this place

In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Portland like this:

Portland, Isle of, peninsula, in S. of Dorset, 4 mile S. of Weymouth and 50 miles SW. of Southampton by rail, 2890 ac., pop. 10,061; P.O., T.O. (at Castletown, Easton, and Fortuneswell). Portland is 4½ miles long by 1½ mile broad, is connected with the mainland by a long narrow ridge of shingle called the Chesil Bank, and is surrounded by high inaccessible cliffs, the only landing-place being on the N. ...

---

side, opposite to Weymouth. The inhabitants are employed in agriculture, sheep-farming, fishing, and especially quarrying, Portland having extensive quarries of oolitic limestone, called Portland stone, which is widely famed as building stone, and is exported in large quantities. Portland Prison, erected in 1848, has cells for 1500 convicts. Portland Castle, built by Henry VIII. in 1520, is occupied by the lieutenant of the island. Portland Harbour, formed by the construction (1849-1872) of a breakwater 1½ mile long, has a sheltered anchorage of 6745 ac., and is defended by two strong forts mounted with heavy ordnance. Between the Bill of Portland, a bold projection of rock forming the 8. extremity of the island, and a bank called the Shambles, is the Race of Portland, a dangerous current. Near the Bill are 2 lighthouses 50 and 85 ft. high, with fixed lights (Portland) 210 and 136 ft. above high water and seen 21 and 18 miles. Portland is a liberty, a par., and a local government district.

Portland through time

Portland is now part of Weymouth and Portland district. Click here for graphs and data of how Weymouth and Portland has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Portland itself, go to Units and Statistics.

---

Not where you were looking for?

Click here for more detailed advice on finding places within A Vision of Britain through Time, and maybe some references to other places called "Portland".