h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Weymouth, Dorset, UK - A30625562
Author: Big Al - Keeper of the Glowing Pickle, 'Saboteur of boring and banal conversation' Keeper of Monobrows; Keeper of Mnemonics, Patron Saint of Left Handers - U723247

As I live in Weymouth during the week, and we're now in the holiday season, I thought it timely to write an Entry about Weymouth.

I';ve cobbled together some unedited stuff by two Researchers who have long-since Elvised. I've found some out-dated material which I've corrected, but I'm sure there's more.

Also the 'shopping' bit is a bit bland and dsoesn't do justice at all. That's simply coz I hate shopping and therefore know virtually nothing about shops.

I'm sure other Researchers will be able to help me 'polish' this.

Ooh, my brother has lived in Wyke Regis, just outside Weymouth since 1989 so I was poised to pounce on anything in this and had my eye on a couple of factoids if they were missed out.

I found nothing wrong

A fine entry sir!

A couple of possible mentions of things nearby of interest are Maiden Castle an iron age hillfort destroyed during the Roman invasion and the Cerne Abbas giant is nearby too

Strictly speaking, according to my brother anyhow, Grockles is a derogatory term for tourists on Portland, not Weymouth but it's not important - I've certainly heard the term from him.

Oh sorry, I missed the fact that you live there - I'm sure you're well aware of where Maiden Castle and Cerne Abbas are!

Well, I only live (and work) there during the week. I leave for home as early as I can on Friday afternoon,so, regrettably, I don't get to see as much of it as I'd like.

The term 'grockles' is a derogatory term for tourists in the West Country in general, but particularly Cornwall. You'll have noted that I have hyperlinked to a hhotto Entry on Grockles.

Ref Cerne Abbas and Maiden Castle; I considered mentioning them but I felt that the Entry was already rather large. I could put a Header at the end, ' Nearby Places of Interest; ...

Ah I didn't click on the link, sorry. That was something my brother told me once.

I've added a para about Maiden Castle and the Cerne Abbas Giant nowq ..
My flat is very close to Wyke Regis - practically in it, in fact

Wyke is where all the select people live

Ooooh, i used to live in Wyke-regis; i went to school there too. I havent been back there since 1999, when my dad passed away.
I've just scanned the entry quickly, but i'll have a proper read tomorrow.

Venus

I've had a read and i wonder if there are one or two bits you could add?
There is no mention of the famous 'Moonfleet' novel, which if i remember rightly (it was a long time ago when i read) was set around the Fleet.
No mention of Sandsfoot Castle, which is a tourist attraction.
Portland was home to a naval air base until the early 90's i think. Prince Andrew was based there for a couple of years, flying Sea-kings and Lynx helicopters. He and his wife at the time lived on Portland.
The original Ferry Bridge at the beginning of the causeway leading to Portland was built by the Victorians. It had to be demolished at it was no longer safe. The new birdge was built a little further on and the tidal flow which feeds into the Fleet had to be re-directed. The original Ferry Bridge was fairly short, which meant the tidal surge flowing through it was extremely fast and dangerous.
Chesil Beach and The Fleet have been declared sites of special scientific interest, due to the diversity of wild and marine life that lives there.
Radipole lakes is a great place for birdwatchers, i think it is a nature reserve.
Portland stone is famous worldwide, i'm sure one of our stately homes, it could be Hampton Court was built from it.

Many years ago, the Channel Island Ferry train used to go through the town on special tracks once a day. It came from the station, round the place where the boats are moored, under town bridge to the ferry. It was a nuisance as it held up everything for about 20 minutes as it crept along.....Happy days
I hope you don't mind me mentioning these things, some of it is a little sketchy as it's been so long since i've lived there.

My brother and I once drove to Moonfleet.

It's not a place now, it's a health spa


One thing I should mention is that Weymouth beach is one of the top venues in the UK for Beach Volleyball. It's got just the right type of sand for it apparently, not too hard, not too soft.

Chesil Beach and The Fleet have been declared sites of special scientific interest, due to the diversity of wild and marine life that lives there.
Radipole lakes is a great place for birdwatchers, i think it is a nature reserve.
Portland stone is famous worldwide, i'm sure one of our stately homes, it could be Hampton Court was built from it.

Many years ago, the Channel Island Ferry train used to go through the town on special tracks once a day. It came from the station, round the place where the boats are moored, under town bridge to the ferry. It was a nuisance as it held up everything for about 20 minutes as it crept along.....Happy days
I hope you don't mind me mentioning these things, some of it is a little sketchy as it's been so long since i've lived there.

Reply

Hi Venus,

I've deliberately left out much mention of Portland as I felt that the Entry was getting too large, and that Portland could probably have an Entry to itself. I did, however, mention St Paul's Cathedral as having been built from Portland Stone.
I live 5' walk from Sandsfoot Castle, which is close to the Rodwell Trail, now a walking route from the Ferry Bridge to the centre of Weymouth, following the line of the old railway line. I mat try and fit that in. Also the Moonfleet novel. I'd forgotten about that, but it's set against the backdrop of Sandsfoot Castle. I'd wondered about getting in mention of the novel, 'On Chesil Beach', which was recently dramatised on BBC R4. Perhaps I'll have a Header for 'Lieterary Connections' and mention these two.
I remember the Channel Ferry Train. Perhaps I'll try to fit that in.
I'll add a bit abut Radipole Lakes and The Fleewt as being SSSI's.

Orcus. The Moonfleet Hotel is now a hotel, for conferences etc.

A

Well, I've added sectionms on Birdwatching and Literary Connections.

Haven't yet managed to include Sandsfoot Castle, except as a tenuous link from 'Moonfleet'.

Still thinking about what to put about the Rodwell Trail.

There's loads of interest along it. However, I've already mentioned 'walking' as an activity in various places. If I make a Header of 'Walking' I'll have to put in far more stuff than the Rodwell Trail ...

Added Rodwell Trail and Sandsfoot Castle now.

There is also Monkey World at Wareham A21605348

Well, I've added MW but I don't know how many of these sorts of places to add as there's already too much to write about Weymouth itself. For example I've missed out Brewer's Quay, the Sea Life Centre...

My original intention was to write about Weymouth itself. Other attractions should really be under a county Entry of 'Dorset

Oh Hunny, if you feel pressured, you don't have to use it

Back to the holidays of youth Al.

My parents holidayed at Sandbanks and Studland for years - before it was a nudist beach - and eventually bought a house on the penninsula at Sandbanks.

I think Brewer's Quay should be mentioned it's a good stroll round and the museums are a good place to spend a (rare) wet day.

I recall meeting an old buy in the Golden Lion, who was telling me that Hoagey Carmichael used to drink there.

I awash on nostalgia now.

I enjoyed the and so I've left it in

It's looking good Al

Brewers Quay is a nice place to vist, i have been there at found it interesting as well as hard on my purse.....those handmade gifts are great.
I went on a school visit there when it was still a brewery, we had the grand tour, but they would'nt let us sample any of the ale
We also went on a visit to one of the stone quarries That was awesome, but also quite scary. Do they still quarry stone there? I had visions of Portland becoming just a hollow shell and filling with water once all the stone had been removed