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Portland Bill

December 18, 2023

For the children's television series, see The Adventures of Portland Bill.

Portland Bill is a narrow promontory (or bill) at the southern end of the Isle of Portland, and the southernmost point of Dorset, England. One of Portland's most popular destinations is Portland Bill Lighthouse. Portland's coast has been notorious for the number of shipwrecked vessels over the centuries. The dangerous coastline features shallow reefs and the Shambles sandbank, made more hazardous due to the strong Portland tidal race.[1]

Portland Bill
from the south
from the north

The Bill is an important way-point for coastal traffic, and three lighthouses have been built to protect shipping. The original two worked as a pair from 1716, and they were replaced in 1906 by the current one.[1]

History edit

 
Portland Bill Lighthouse
 
Piles of stone at Portland Bill from quarrying in the area

From Roman times, beacon fires were lit to warn ships of the danger of the Bill.[2][3] A petition to Trinity House was put forward for a lighthouse in the early 18th century, but Trinity House opposed it. They later conceded that a lighthouse was needed and George I granted the patent on 26 May 1716.[2][1][3] Trinity House issued a lease to William Barrett and Francis Browne to build and maintain one or more lighthouses.[4]

One lighthouse was built at Branscombe Hill, while the other was situated on lower land nearer the coast.[2][3] The two lighthouses were lit for the first time on 29 September 1716. The lights were poorly maintained, and Trinity House terminated the lease after an inspection in 1752.[2][1][5] In 1789, the Old Lower Lighthouse was demolished and rebuilt. In 1844, Trinity House erected a stone obelisk at the southern tip of the Bill as a daymark, and the first lightship was placed at the Shambles sandbank in 1859.[2][6] In 1869, Trinity House had both lighthouses rebuilt.[1][5]

Pulpit Rock is an artificial stack of rock that was formed in the 1870s by quarrying operations at the Bill.[2][7] At the turn of the 20th-century, Trinity House put forward plans for a new lighthouse[5][1] which was completed in 1905 and first shone on 11 January 1906.[3] The original two lighthouses were decommissioned and sold.[3][8] The Old Lower Lighthouse later became a bird observatory in 1961.[9] The Old Higher Lighthouse was owned by Marie Stopes from 1923 to 1958 and is now a holiday let.[10] A proper road to Portland Bill was laid in 1922 and this helped the Bill become a tourist destination.[2][11]

A coastguard lookout at Portland Bill was built in 1934. It closed in the 1990s but was taken over by the National Coastwatch Institution, which rebuilt the station in the 21st century.[12] During the 1960s, the Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range was built at the Bill. Farther up the hill at Branscombe was a Royal Navy Wireless telegraphy station which was established in the early 20th century and closed in the 1990s.[13] The Shambles lightship was permanently withdrawn in 1976 and replaced by automatic buoys.[14] The current lighthouse was unmanned in 1996 and all monitoring and control transferred to the Trinity House Operations & Planning Centre in Harwich. The lighthouse has a visitor centre, while tours are conducted to take visitors to the top of the lighthouse.[15]

LB&SCR H1 class 4-4-2 no. 38 (later no. B38, 2038, and 32038) was named Portland Bill after this landmark.

Features edit

The lighthouses, Pulpit Rock and the Trinity House Obelisk are Portland Bill's key attractions. Close to the Ministry of Defence range at the Bill is Portland's main Raised Beach,[16] and close to the Old Higher Lighthouse is NCI Portland Bill, a National Coastwatch Institution lookout station.

A fishing crane, known as Red Crane, is situated on the cliff edge at Portland Bill.[17] The area holds many beach huts.[18] There are a few commercial businesses in the area, including a restaurant - The Lobster Pot - and a pub - The Pulpit Inn.[16]

Portland Bill has a number of listed buildings. The current lighthouse, along with its boundary walls, is Grade II Listed.[19] The Old Lower Lighthouse, including its boundary walls and coastguard house, is also Grade II Listed,[20] as is the Old Higher Lighthouse, its four cottages and boundary walls.[21] A 19th-century Fisherman's hut is Grade II Listed,[22] while Red Crane, part of a disused stone loading quay, which is protected as a scheduled monument.[23]

The surrounding fields between the Bill and Southwell are made up of an ancient strip field system, once found all over the island, dating from Anglo-Saxon times.[2] The nearby Culverwell Mesolithic Site is a Mesolithic settlement, located along the Portland Bill Road. The site is said to be circa 7500–8500 years old and has also become a scheduled monument. This includes surrounding fields, also relating to the Mesolithic period, and these fields lead across to the coastline.[24][25]

Gallery edit

  •  
    Portland Bill
  •  
    Pulpit Rock at Portland Bill
  •  
    The Trinity House Obelisk
  •  
    Portland Bill's Steel Crane
  •  
    The settlement of Portland Bill
  •  
    Beach Huts at Portland Bill
  •  
    Pulpit Inn
  •  
    Lobster Pot Restaurant
  •  
    Portland Bill and Chesil Beach from the air

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Portland Bill Lighthouse". Trinity House. 18 March 1996. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Morris, Stuart (2016). Portland: an Illustrated History (revised and updated colour ed.). Wimborne Minster, Dorset: the Dovecote Press. ISBN 9780995546202. OCLC 985760298.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Portland – Three Lighthouses Walk". dorsetlife.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  4. ^ Legg, Rodney (1999). Portland Encyclopaedia. Dorset Publishing Company. p. 68. ISBN 978-0948699566.
  5. ^ a b c "Portland Year Book". ancestry.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Portland Year Book". ancestry.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Portland Bill". www.geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  8. ^ Mackenzie, Roy (1999). Portland: A Topographical and Historical Gazetteer. p. 23.
  9. ^ Keith Pritchard. . Portlandbirdobs.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  10. ^ . www.oldhigherlighthouse.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  11. ^ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  12. ^ "Geograph:: Coastguard station, Portland Bill (C) Hugh Venables". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  13. ^ "g4usb Resources and Information". G4usb.net. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Portland Churches, Buildings and Views". www.pbenyon.plus.com. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  15. ^ . TrinityHouse.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  16. ^ a b "North of Portland Bill, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Portland Bill". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Lower Lighthouse, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  19. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1280498)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  20. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1280466)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  21. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203104)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  22. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1280495)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  23. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1002388)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  24. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1002406)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  25. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1002729)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 June 2014.

External links edit

  Media related to Portland Bill at Wikimedia Commons

  • at Trinity House
  • Portland Bill photographs 5 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  • National Coastwatch Institution, Portland Bill
  • Exploring Portland

50°30′52″N 2°27′26″W / 50.51444°N 2.45722°W / 50.51444; -2.45722

December 18, 2023
portland, bill, children, television, series, adventures, narrow, promontory, bill, southern, isle, portland, southernmost, point, dorset, england, portland, most, popular, destinations, lighthouse, portland, coast, been, notorious, number, shipwrecked, vessel. For the children s television series see The Adventures of Portland Bill Portland Bill is a narrow promontory or bill at the southern end of the Isle of Portland and the southernmost point of Dorset England One of Portland s most popular destinations is Portland Bill Lighthouse Portland s coast has been notorious for the number of shipwrecked vessels over the centuries The dangerous coastline features shallow reefs and the Shambles sandbank made more hazardous due to the strong Portland tidal race 1 Portland Billfrom the southfrom the north The Bill is an important way point for coastal traffic and three lighthouses have been built to protect shipping The original two worked as a pair from 1716 and they were replaced in 1906 by the current one 1 Contents 1 History 2 Features 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Portland Bill Lighthouse nbsp Piles of stone at Portland Bill from quarrying in the areaFrom Roman times beacon fires were lit to warn ships of the danger of the Bill 2 3 A petition to Trinity House was put forward for a lighthouse in the early 18th century but Trinity House opposed it They later conceded that a lighthouse was needed and George I granted the patent on 26 May 1716 2 1 3 Trinity House issued a lease to William Barrett and Francis Browne to build and maintain one or more lighthouses 4 One lighthouse was built at Branscombe Hill while the other was situated on lower land nearer the coast 2 3 The two lighthouses were lit for the first time on 29 September 1716 The lights were poorly maintained and Trinity House terminated the lease after an inspection in 1752 2 1 5 In 1789 the Old Lower Lighthouse was demolished and rebuilt In 1844 Trinity House erected a stone obelisk at the southern tip of the Bill as a daymark and the first lightship was placed at the Shambles sandbank in 1859 2 6 In 1869 Trinity House had both lighthouses rebuilt 1 5 Pulpit Rock is an artificial stack of rock that was formed in the 1870s by quarrying operations at the Bill 2 7 At the turn of the 20th century Trinity House put forward plans for a new lighthouse 5 1 which was completed in 1905 and first shone on 11 January 1906 3 The original two lighthouses were decommissioned and sold 3 8 The Old Lower Lighthouse later became a bird observatory in 1961 9 The Old Higher Lighthouse was owned by Marie Stopes from 1923 to 1958 and is now a holiday let 10 A proper road to Portland Bill was laid in 1922 and this helped the Bill become a tourist destination 2 11 A coastguard lookout at Portland Bill was built in 1934 It closed in the 1990s but was taken over by the National Coastwatch Institution which rebuilt the station in the 21st century 12 During the 1960s the Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range was built at the Bill Farther up the hill at Branscombe was a Royal Navy Wireless telegraphy station which was established in the early 20th century and closed in the 1990s 13 The Shambles lightship was permanently withdrawn in 1976 and replaced by automatic buoys 14 The current lighthouse was unmanned in 1996 and all monitoring and control transferred to the Trinity House Operations amp Planning Centre in Harwich The lighthouse has a visitor centre while tours are conducted to take visitors to the top of the lighthouse 15 LB amp SCR H1 class 4 4 2 no 38 later no B38 2038 and 32038 was named Portland Bill after this landmark Features editThe lighthouses Pulpit Rock and the Trinity House Obelisk are Portland Bill s key attractions Close to the Ministry of Defence range at the Bill is Portland s main Raised Beach 16 and close to the Old Higher Lighthouse is NCI Portland Bill a National Coastwatch Institution lookout station A fishing crane known as Red Crane is situated on the cliff edge at Portland Bill 17 The area holds many beach huts 18 There are a few commercial businesses in the area including a restaurant The Lobster Pot and a pub The Pulpit Inn 16 Portland Bill has a number of listed buildings The current lighthouse along with its boundary walls is Grade II Listed 19 The Old Lower Lighthouse including its boundary walls and coastguard house is also Grade II Listed 20 as is the Old Higher Lighthouse its four cottages and boundary walls 21 A 19th century Fisherman s hut is Grade II Listed 22 while Red Crane part of a disused stone loading quay which is protected as a scheduled monument 23 The surrounding fields between the Bill and Southwell are made up of an ancient strip field system once found all over the island dating from Anglo Saxon times 2 The nearby Culverwell Mesolithic Site is a Mesolithic settlement located along the Portland Bill Road The site is said to be circa 7500 8500 years old and has also become a scheduled monument This includes surrounding fields also relating to the Mesolithic period and these fields lead across to the coastline 24 25 Gallery edit nbsp Portland Bill nbsp Pulpit Rock at Portland Bill nbsp The Trinity House Obelisk nbsp Portland Bill s Steel Crane nbsp The settlement of Portland Bill nbsp Beach Huts at Portland Bill nbsp Pulpit Inn nbsp Lobster Pot Restaurant nbsp Portland Bill and Chesil Beach from the airSee also editChesil Beach Jurassic CoastReferences edit a b c d e f Portland Bill Lighthouse Trinity House 18 March 1996 Retrieved 5 March 2018 a b c d e f g h Morris Stuart 2016 Portland an Illustrated History revised and updated colour ed Wimborne Minster Dorset the Dovecote Press ISBN 9780995546202 OCLC 985760298 a b c d e Portland Three Lighthouses Walk dorsetlife co uk Retrieved 13 June 2015 Legg Rodney 1999 Portland Encyclopaedia Dorset Publishing Company p 68 ISBN 978 0948699566 a b c Portland Year Book ancestry com Retrieved 13 June 2015 Portland Year Book ancestry com Retrieved 13 June 2015 Portland Bill www geoffkirby co uk Retrieved 9 April 2016 Mackenzie Roy 1999 Portland A Topographical and Historical Gazetteer p 23 Keith Pritchard Portland Bird Observatory index Portlandbirdobs org uk Archived from the original on 30 November 2012 Retrieved 24 November 2012 History of the Old Higher Lighthouse Old Higher Lighthouse Portland Bill Dorset www oldhigherlighthouse com Archived from the original on 14 May 2008 Retrieved 9 April 2016 Morris Stuart 1985 Portland An Illustrated History Dovecote Press p 121 ISBN 978 0946159345 Geograph Coastguard station Portland Bill C Hugh Venables www geograph org uk Retrieved 9 April 2016 g4usb Resources and Information G4usb net Retrieved 5 March 2018 Portland Churches Buildings and Views www pbenyon plus com Retrieved 9 April 2016 Portland Bill Lighthouse TrinityHouse co uk Archived from the original on 27 June 2015 Retrieved 27 June 2015 a b North of Portland Bill Portland Dorset Geoffkirby co uk Retrieved 25 November 2012 Portland Bill Geoffkirby co uk Retrieved 5 March 2018 Lower Lighthouse Portland Dorset Geoffkirby co uk Retrieved 25 November 2012 Historic England Details from listed building database 1280498 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 Historic England Details from listed building database 1280466 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 Historic England Details from listed building database 1203104 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 Historic England Details from listed building database 1280495 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 Historic England Details from listed building database 1002388 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 Historic England Details from listed building database 1002406 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 Historic England Details from listed building database 1002729 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 26 June 2014 External links edit nbsp Media related to Portland Bill at Wikimedia Commons Portland Bill Lighthouse at Trinity House Portland Bill photographs Archived 5 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine National Coastwatch Institution Portland Bill Portland Bill Lighthouse Exploring Portland50 30 52 N 2 27 26 W 50 51444 N 2 45722 W 50 51444 2 45722 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Portland Bill amp oldid 1179179860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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