Statues and Memorials
Weymouth and Portland have had their fair share of famous people. We have gathered together a selection of famous statues and memorials to be found in the area.
Jubilee Clock – The Esplanade
Erected in 1887 to mark the 50th year of the reign of the Granddaughter of King George III, Queen Victoria. The clock was originally placed on a stone base on the golden sands of Weymouth beach, and has never been moved. However, as the Esplanade has grown, the footpath and road have widened and the beach has become narrower, so that the clock now stands proud on the Esplanade itself.
King George III Statue – The Esplanade
Unveiled by the citizens of Weymouth & Melcombe Regis in 1810 to mark the 50th year of the reign of King George III, who had put the resort “on the map” after his visits here between 1789 and 1805. The King believed that bathing in the waters was healthy thus making Weymouth a fashionable holiday destination. The statue was presented to the Borough and erected on the site and a foundation stone was laid at the entrance to Weymouth’s main streets, St Thomas Street and St Mary Street. However this had become weathered in recent years and a small replacement stone plaque was placed at the base of the statue. It does however contain the wording of the original inscription.
White Horse – Osmington
The White Horse is carved into Osmington Hill, to the east of the town, overlooking Weymouth Bay and the Isle of Portland. This chalk horse, at 260 feet long is the only example of a horse with a rider. There are several stories as to why the horse was created. The most common is that it was cut to commemorate the visits of King George III. Another story says that the work was done by a group of engineers stationed in Weymouth when the fear of Napoleonic invasion was at its height. This is linked to the mention of the horse in Thomas Hardy’s “The Trumpet Major” where it is said to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar.
Sir Henry Edwards, Alexandra Gardens – The Esplanade
Most famous for his gifts to the Borough whilst he was M.P. from 1867 to 1885, which included ten cottage homes known as Edwards Avenue, just off Boot Hill and Edwardsville in Rodwell. These properties were designed for elderly residents in the Borough to live. Sir Edwards did much for the people of Weymouth and held an annual dinner for the elderly as well as providing new and furnished premises for the Working Men’s Club in Mitchell Street.
The Tempest Stone – The Esplanade
In November 1824 a violent storm ripped apart Weymouth’s Esplanade. The sea came over the esplanade and engulfed the seafront properties. It cut off the whole of Melcombe Regis turning the area into an island. After the damage the esplanade was rebuilt. Portland Stone posts were placed along the seafront and two of them were engraved; one to commemorate the tempest and one which paid tribute to the builder Robert Vining. Unfortunately the rebuilding stone has since been lost and the tempest stone eroded and was buried. However a replica was unveiled in 1998 and can be found on the beach side of the Tourist Information Centre.
War Memorials
Weymouth’s cenotaph, unveiled in 1921 was erected near the pleasure pier as a memorial to the dead of World War I. On 8 May 1949, a plaque was added and unveiled on the memorial to commemorate the Weymouth dead of World War II.
The American Memorial was presented to Weymouth, in the form of a plaque, by the 14th Major Port, US Army and was mounted on a commemorative stone placed in Victoria Gardens, presented by the American Ambassador, John G Winant on 22 August 1945. Portland’s cenotaph at the lookout at Yeates was unveiled in 1926. It is now inscribed with the Portlanders who lost their lives in both World Wars.
John Endicott & Captain Richard Clark – Alexandra Gardens
In June 1628 John Endicott sailed from Weymouth in the Abigail with an expedition to found another new colony in North America. From this, and other similar adventures, many of which originated from Dorset, grew the colony of Massachusetts of which Endicott became the first governor. Another Dorset seaman, Capt. Richard Clark (born in Weymouth) accompanied Sir Humphrey Gilbert as Master of the Delight on his voyage to Newfoundland in 1583. They were shipwrecked, but survived. These memorials are placed to commemorate the work of the two men.
Stainforth Weather Vane – Greenhill Gardens
Originally presented to Weymouth College in 1932 as a memorial to former pupil, Flight Lieutenant (later Wing Commander) George Stainforth, who set a world record air speed of 406.92 mph in a Schneider supermarine S6B seaplane in 1931. Lt. Stainforth, holder of the Air Force Cross, went to break another record of flying upside down for 12 minutes after he became and experimental pilot at Farnborough. He died in a plane crash in 1942 while serving in the RAF in the Western Desert. He was 43 years of age – the oldest fighter pilot in the Middle East at the time. The original weather vane was erected above Weymouth College Chapel but was taken down for safety reason during the Second World War. It was presented to the borough and placed in Greenhill gardens in 1952. After the toll of years of sea spray and coastal winds, the vane had to be taken down and it has now been restored by Jim Avery and returned to its home in the gardens.