Back to the Dorset Page
- The Royal Connection
- Dorset Eats
- Dorset VIPs
- Richard Remembers
- Owlbut's Birdwatch
In November 1788 George III, King of
Great Britain, had a mental breakdown. Plans were made for his son, also called George and later George IV, to rule in his place as Prince Regent. However
by March 1789 George III had made an amazing recovery. One of the King's many doctors, a Doctor Crane, was one of several people who at that time felt that
bathing in the sea was a cure for many illnesses. One of George's younger brothers, the Duke of Gloucester, had a house in Weymouth in Dorset and offered
to lend it to his brother for a seaside visit.
King George III first dipped his toe in the sea
at Weymouth on the 7th of July 1789. He made use of a bathing machine just like the one in the picture.
The King would climb into the machine and undress while the machine was drawn by horses into the sea Then he would emerge and helped by a group of lady
bathing attendants would duck his head under the water. Apparently a band hidden in a neighbouring machine struck up God Save the King as he ducked his
head under.
The visit was a great success. The Queen stating that the King was much better and stronger for sea bathing although, it is said, she had no
interest in doing it herself. The King and his entourage returned to Weymouth in 1791 and every year until 1805, excluding 1793 and 1803. While he was
there his government came to visit him and it was in Weymouth in 1796 that George signed the papers making Admiral Nelson a Lord. The King's routine at
Weymouth was usually the same. An early morning bathe followed by a bit of riding, sailing or walking. He also used to talk to the locals, particularly
farmers, which earned him the nickname "Farmer George."
Although George III left Weymouth for the last time in 1805 there are still two monuments to the King in the area. The first is a statue of
George III, showing him in his coronation robes, on the sea front. It was unveiled in 1810. Since 1949 it has been painted in heraldic colours and is
situated just above the replica bathing machine. The second monument is the Osmington white horse. This is a carving of George on horseback in the
hillside overlooking Weymouth Bay. It was reports of the King's visits which made Weymouth a popular seaside resort and also increased the popularity of
sea bathing.
Back to the top
Dorset has adopted the Apple Cake
as being typical food of the county and who am I to disagree. However everyone, excluding me, has their own version and so it was difficult to decide
which one to use. Even Mary Berry has one.
Basically it is just a cake with apples and brown sugar. It would appear that the apples, and you can choose
any variety, can be in the cake, on top the cake, both on top and in the cake; it's entirely up to you! Although called a cake it also makes a great pudding,
served with custard, cream or even ice cream.
We made ours with the apples inside and it was really good.
Back to the top
Seven random people who were born in Dorset in the last 100 years:-
Serena Scott Thomas (Actor), Zara Dampney (Beach Volleyball Player), Alan Carr (Comedian), P J Harvey (Singer), Virginia Wade (Tennis Player ‐
Wimbledon Champion), Alex James (musician ‐ Bassist With Blur) and Annie Dalton (Children's Author).
Back to the top
The Dorset coast was the genuine end of my
first trip around the British coastline. I started in June 1985 in Norfolk, went all the way up the east coast, across the top of Scotland, all the way down the
west coast of Scotland, England, Wales and England again before travelling east along the south coast. We reached Dorset in April 1986 and, as I had a job
waiting for me back in Essex with a mid-April start date, that was the end of the journey. However we covered the rest of the coastline during weekend camping
trips through till July 1986.
On each of my long trips we went anti-clockwise so, on that basis,
Dorset begins near Lyme Regis and I remember the cliffs around
Golden Gap. Next came Chesil Beach which I wrote about above and then Weymouth, also written about earlier. The Isle of Portland, which is actually connected
by the eastern end of Chesil Beach to the mainland is famous for Portland stone, quarried on the non-island. Portland harbour lies behind the Isle and has a
long history with the Royal Navy. The tip of the island is known as Portland Bill and has a lighthouse, which I have visited. I seem to remember driving up a
winding road, with houses either side, in order to get there.
Further east are two places that certainly made an impression on
me, not just that first time but on each subsequent visit. Durdle Door is as natural arch made by the sea eating into the relatively soft rocks and leaving
the harder Portland stone. It is certainly one of England's coastal wonders and I have seen it both from the sea and from the beach, reached after a long walk
down the cliffs. I didn't walk across the sea but went out on a boat. Seemed more sensible.
Just before you reach Durdle Door, if you're coming from the west,
there was a very small hole in another rocky outcrop, called Bat's Head which by now may be even bigger and one day might approach the size of Durdle Door.
This is one of the many reasons I want to journey again around a coast I first saw nearly 40 years ago. How much will I notice has changed and how many of those
changes will have been caused by nature and how many by humans? By the way, Durdle Door is said to have got it's name from the Anglo-Saxon word "'thirl",
which means to pierce.
The power of nature is seen again a little further along this
coast at Lulworth Cove. Here nature has carved out an almost circular bay. The bay was formed by waves attacking the joints in the rocky shore, creating
arches similar to the one at Durdle Door but in this case then breaking right through to attack the softer rocks behind. It was from here, on my third trip in
2001, that I took a 3 hour boat trip out from the Bay and along the coast.
Further east and you reach Swanage which I have not only visited
on my coastal trips but also had a week-long holiday in 1976. The land Swanage is on is called the Isle of Purbeck and this is an even bigger lie than the
Isle of Portland as it is just part of England, no causeway, nothing. My biggest memory of Swanage is the Great Globe. It is one of the largest stone spheres
in the world, being 3 metres in diameter and weighs 40 tonnes. Needless to say it is made of Portland stone. It was, however, made in London in 1887 and
brought by ship to Swanage and placed on a platform cut into the solid rock of the landscape. It is actually in the grounds of Durlston Country Park.
Around the globe are a set of plaques with quotations that were put there in 1891. I don't remember a fence around it when I visited.
Before we reach the end of the county of Dorset we travel through Poole, look out into Poole harbour and see Brownsea Island where the first boy
scout camp was held in1907 and reach Bournemouth. Bournemouth has a reputation for being the place people go to when they have retired, or it did when I was
there, and I was greatly concerned at the long zig-zag walk up from the beach at the west cliff. My worries were removed when I found that there was a lift,
which may or may not still be there.
Back to the top
The Fulmar is related to the albatross and is an almost gull-like seabird. It is always offshore except when breeding. The
fulmar can be seen flying low over the sea with stiff wings. Fulmars are at their breeding sites nearly all year, although young birds leave in late summer. At
its breeding sites it will fly high up the cliff face, riding the updraughts. They defend their nests from intruders by spitting out a foul-smelling oil.
They eat fish waste, crustaceans (shell fish) and sand eels. They will feed in flocks out at sea. There are about 500,000 pairs in the UK but over
1½ million birds breeding here. Their feathers are grey and white and their legs are grey. Their beak is black and yellow, of medium length and thickness and
hooked.
Fulmars are between 45 and 50 cms in length, have a wingspan of just over 1 metre and can weigh between 610 and 1,000 grams.
Back to the top
Two extra sections, "It Happened Here" and "Now That's Weird", will appear on 11 November 2024
