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| Nothe Fort entrance, Weymouth No Panorama? you may not have 'JAVA' enabled on your browser. CLICK, HOLD and DRAG on the image to PAN around, use your CONTROL and SHIFT keys to ZOOM in and out. |
THE NOTHE FORT WEYMOUTH MUSEUM OF COASTAL DEFENCE OPEN DAILY May - September 10.30 am to 5.30 pm (Last Admission 4.30 pm) REST OF THE YEAR OPEN SUNDAYS and BANK HOLIDAYS from 2.30 pm THE DISPLAYS THE VICTORIAN SOLDIER: At gun drill, in his barrack room, and at his ablutions. THE 20th CENTURY SOLDIER: In his barrack room, NAAFI, Cookhouse, and on guard. In the Officer's Mess, Quartermaster's store, and Tailor's shop. In the Blacksmiths shop and Signals Department. At gun drill and ammunition handling. THE NOTHE AS A HISTORICAL GRANDSTAND: The Roman Invasion of Dorset. The Spanish Armada, The Civil War, The building of Portland Harbour, Contraband Control, Medieval embarkation and D-Day Panoramas including U.S. Forces embarkation. WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT: On display are massive 12.5 inch and 6 inch coastal guns, 3.7 inch and 40mm anti-aircraft guns, cannons, rifles, side arms, military vehicles and searchlights. FOR THE CHILDREN: Children can play on the vehicles and many of the big guns. There is a Junior Assault Course and the very popular "Great Mouse Trail" with free Certificate on completion. WEYMOUTH AT WAR: The Blitz, The Civilian Services- Air Raid Wardens, The Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance and the Red Cross, The WVS, the Land Army and the Home Guard, and the Royal Observer Corps. THE ROYAL NAVY AT WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND: Ships and craft associated with the area. The development of the torpedo at Weymouth. PARTIES: Parties are welcome throughout the year. Special rates are available. SCHOOLS: Discover the 2000 year history of this site from the Romans to World War Two. On a general visit, or come and spend the day as a 1941 evacuee on a full day "evacuee experience" - curriculum oriented. Pre visit tickets for teachers available. Phone the Curator (01305) 787243. FOR THE CONNOISSEUR: The views of Portland and Weymouth Harbours and the Dorset Coastlines are magnificent; the architecture is superb; the refreshments in the Tea room are delicious (some say the best value in Weymouth), and there is a very pleasant picnic area. There are facilities for the disabled and over two thirds of the Fort is readily accessible. THE FORT: which comprises over 70 rooms on three levels (Ramparts, Courtyard and Magazines) was built in 1860 as part of the defence of Portland Harbour and was designed and constructed by the Royal Engineers to house a 12 gun battery of massive cannons. Later adapted for modern guns, it remained in active service until 1956 when coastal Defence was abandoned. It was sold in 1961 to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and has been restored and opened to the public by Weymouth Civic Society, assisted by the Council. Today the Nothe Fort attracts between 50 and 60,000 visitors a year. There are some 30 large displays (many activated and complete with sound and smell) with over 150 life size dummy figures, 11 dioramas and a multitude of ship, aircraft and tank models and photographs and exhibits, all of which illustrate service life in the Fort in the past, history as seen from the Nothe headland, and the part played by the people of Weymouth in the Second World War.There are many outstanding coastal walks around Weymouth and Portland or just a short drive into the surrounding countryside to visit some of the many memorable locations, visit TE Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia's House or the frequently written and filmed about Thomas Hardy Countryside with the beautiful scenery as seen in the much acclaimed film "Far From The Madding Crowd". With Weymouth being centrally placed on the sout coast there are many opportunities to explore some of the wonders of the Dorset countryside, home to the great writers such as William Barnes, Thomas Hardy and more recently Jane Austin. The County is proud of its rich and varied history with places like Corfe Castle dating back to the Norman settlements after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, damaged beyond repair by the Roundheads during the Civil War of 1643. Visit the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum or the incredible Maiden Castle - a vast earth hill fort built by the Ancient Britons and one of the most important sites of its kind in Europe or visit the Celtic God of fertility, Nodens, an awesome carving in the chalk hills of Cerne. Joined to the mainland of Weymouth, by the south-east tip of Chesil Beach and a public road bridge, the "Island" of Portland provides a most dramatic coastal landscape. An explorer's Island with `curiosities' of history and folklore just waiting to be discovered. Places of interest include: Portland Bill, Pulpit Rock and Lighthouse overlooking the English Channel; Portland Castle, one of the best preserved of Henry VIII's Coastal forts; the mighty sweep of Chesil Beach; Portland Museum and Shipwreck Exhibition; Church Ope Cove, with the ruins of Rufus Castle and St Andrew's Church. There are also Gardens, Churches, a Sculpture Park and Cliff Walks offering spectacular views and as evening falls the most breath taking sunset you may ever see!. From Roman times the strategic value of this channel port has been exploited to its advantage and for nearly 2000 years, the twin Boroughs of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis have been major import/export centres. Fierce rivalry between the boroughs over trade, smuggling and even piracy led Elizabeth I to combine them to form the basis of the modern town, now over 400 hundred years old. In 1588 many local ships fought the Spanish Armada in a major battle off Portland, and successfully captured the San Salvador which was brought into port and looted. The Mayor is reputed to have run away with the pay chest! Today the Weymouth and Portland Musuems record these significant historical events, whilst the Deep Sea Adventure, Victorian Nothe Fort and Tudor House atttractions depict our local and maritime heritage. Weymouth's fame as a seaside town goes back over 200 years to the times when King George III and the Royal family spent their holidays in the resort, making Weymouth "The First Resort". VR Photography Rohan Perera © Red Door VR Limited.
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