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The Royal Resort: How George III Made Weymouth Fashionable

Weymouth's history as a seaside resort began in 1789 when King George III first came here for treatment. Doctors recommended sea bathing for a serious illness that modern researchers often identify as porphyria. The mild climate, privacy away from courtly London, and the therapeutic effect of salty air made the town his favourite holiday destination.

The king returned almost every year until 1805, skipping only 1793 and 1803. He bought Gloucester Lodge on the esplanade from the Duke of Gloucester's brother, and it became his country residence. Ministers visited him there on important state affairs — for example, signing documents to elevate Admiral Nelson to the peerage. The Royal family attended the Assembly Rooms, where balls were held twice a week, and George III himself often swam and cruised on the Southampton warship.

In 1809, King's Statue — a Grade I listed monument was erected on the waterfront to honour the king's golden jubilee. It was fully restored in 2007/8 after two centuries of accumulated dirt and acts of vandalism. Today, the statue remains the city's symbol and a reminder of its royal past.

The Jurassic Coast: 185 Million Years Underfoot

Weymouth sits within the Jurassic Coast — a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching 96 miles (154 km) from Exmouth to Studland Bay. This location spans 185 million years of geological history, revealing an almost continuous sequence of rock formations from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

In 2009, a large plesiosaur skull was found near Weymouth Bay, scientifically studied and named Pliosaurus kevani. This discovery became one of the most iconic finds of marine reptiles in Dorset. All fossils in the Etches Collection exhibition in Kimmeridge were collected along the local coastline by renowned collector Dr Steve Etches.

On Weymouth's beaches you can find ammonites with distinctive spiral shells, bullet-shaped belemnites, bivalves, and crinoids. West Lulworth preserves a fossilised forest around 145 million years old — stumps, roots, and woody tissue of trees beneath which dinosaurs once roamed.

Secrets and Legends: The Singing Marys and the Cannonball on Maiden Street

Between Weymouth and Dorchester lies a group of ancient burial mounds known as the Singing Marys. Locals believe that at certain times the mounds emit strange sounds resembling singing. No one knows the nature of this phenomenon, but the legend has attracted mystery lovers for many generations.

A cannonball remains embedded in the wall of a house on Maiden Street — evidence of events in 1645 when Royalist conspirators in Weymouth and Melcomb Regis attempted to return the ports to the control of King Charles I during the Civil War. In 1348, bubonic plague entered the British Isles through Melcomb Regis ports, probably brought by fleas on rats aboard ships.

Weymouth is the only port in the world to have hosted the start of the Tall Ships' Races three times. In 1994, 300,000 people watched the race. In 1887, the colourful Jubilee Clock was erected on the esplanade to celebrate Queen Victoria's 50th anniversary on the throne.

Literary Weymouth: Hardy, Powys, and American Guests

Thomas Hardy settled in Weymouth in 1870 due to health problems and decided to dedicate himself to writing. He used the harbour, beaches, and nearby Budmouth (a fictional name for Weymouth) as settings for several novels: "The Mayor of Casterbridge," "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," and "The Woodlanders." His later poems often reference the sea air and Dorset landscape.

John Cowper Powys set his novel "Weymouth Sands" (1934) in the town, and "Maiden Castle" (1936) was deliberately positioned as a rival to "The Mayor of Casterbridge." In the 1930s, Weymouth was visited by American authors Sherwood Anderson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Thomas Wolfe, inspired by sand gallops and coastal scenery.

Modern singer-songwriter P.J. Harvey mentioned the "inspiring power" of Weymouth in cultural commentary, emphasising the town's enduring role as a source of literary imagination.

Portland Harbour: From the Armada to D-Day

Portland Harbour was created between 1854 and its official opening in 1872, becoming the largest deep-water naval harbour in Europe. On 11 December 1923, it was designated HMNB Portland and served as a naval base until its closure in 1995.

In 1588, six English ships sailed from Weymouth to fight the Invincible Armada. In 1347, the port supplied 15 ships and 263 sailors for the siege of Calais. During the Second World War, on 1 May 1944, the harbour was commissioned as USNAAB Portland-Weymouth — Weymouth and Portland became the main embarkation points for American troops for D-Day.

The king, Prime Minister Churchill, and General de Gaulle observed the D-Day preparations in Portland. After the war, in August 1945, a stone was installed in memory of the passage of 418,585 soldiers and 144,093 vehicles.

Hidden Gems: St. Catherine's Chapel and the Abandoned Village

St. Catherine's Chapel stands atop a hill overlooking the village for hundreds of years. Inside are "wishing holes" where local women prayed to St. Catherine, asking for help finding a husband. Very few tourists stop to climb the hill and explore this place.

The abandoned village of Tyneham has remained untouched since the 1940s after evacuation during the Second World War. Today you can explore it on foot or by bike. Fort Nothe offers stunning 360-degree views of the Jurassic Coast and a secret underground Cold War nuclear bunker.

The chalk figure of a horse and rider carved into the hillside above Osmington (Osmington White Horse) was created around 1808. It is said that King George III was displeased that the figure faced away from Weymouth. The Weymouth & Heritage website features 12 historical hidden gems worth visiting.

The Harbour and Waterfront: Heart of the Town

Weymouth Harbour is a historic spot where you can see luxury yachts, fishing boats, sailing ships, RNLI lifeboats, and harbour ferries. The modern lifting bridge was completed in 1930 and now opens on a regular schedule.

The Rodwell Trail is a coastal walking path that passes through scenic spots and offers views of the bay. It's a popular route among locals and tourists who want to explore Weymouth's coastline.

Over 200 events are held in the town each year, including fireworks festivals, dragon boat races, beach volleyball, and the annual carnival in August. Weymouth continues to be a vibrant and dynamic resort, combining rich history with modern resort infrastructure.

Which Cameras Show the Town

Weymouth webcams online allow you to see the royal resort in real time. The broadcasts cover the waterfront, harbour, beaches, and historic town centre. You can watch the lifting bridge, marine traffic, and pleasure boats navigating Weymouth Bay waters.

The online stream is available around the clock, letting you experience the town's atmosphere at any time of day — from morning mist over the harbour to evening lights on the waterfront. The Weymouth centre webcam shows the main attractions: the statue of King George III, the esplanade, and the Georgian architecture of the facades.

For those planning a trip or missing the Dorset sea air, Weymouth webcams are the perfect way to be on familiar streets without a flight. Simply choose a stream and enjoy the view of one of the most charming resorts on the south coast of England.