220 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1914 



Prince of Wales, in August, 1872. The breakwater and other harbour works 

 cost £1,0^^,600, but this is exclusive of a very large amount of free convict 

 labour in preparing the stone and bringing the same to the water's edge. At 

 each end of the breakwater is a circular fort. In design and construction, as 

 well as in armaments, these forts are as powerful as money and British in- 

 genuity can make them'." 



On the land, at the northern extremity of the harbour, is the Nothe Fort, 

 and at the southern end — crowning the Portland cliffs — the Verne Citadel. 

 Henry VIII. also fortified Portland Harbour. On the north side he had 

 built, in 1539, Sandsfort Castle, and on the south side a castle that is still in 

 splendid repair and is used as quarters for the senior married officer of the 

 Verne Citadel. Sandsfort Castle, however, has been reduced to a very small 

 ruin. It was captured and re-captured on several occasions during the Civil 

 Wars, but about 1700 fell into complete disuse. 



Passing through Chesilton or Portland, the Members motored up the 

 steep ascent to the high ground and obtained a fine view over Weymouth Bay 

 and Portland Harbour (which were crowded with warships assembling previous 

 to going to Spithead for the great review by the King on July i8th) to the hills 

 beyond, and of the Chesil Bank (Plate XXIII., fig. i). 



The pebbles comprising the Bank get larger and larger from West Bay, 

 Bridport, to Portland. It is locally said that the fishermen landing on the 

 Bank at night can tell their whereabouts by the size of the pebbles. 



A stop was made at the Portland Stone Quarries of Mr F. J. Barnes, 

 and the Members were conducted over the Steam Saw-Mills, Masonry and 

 Turning Works by Mr E. Allen. The stone is cut with either (i) horizontal 

 corrugated steel saws aided with sand and water (which cut at the rate of 6 

 inches per hour), or (2) a circular diamond, (black) saw (which cuts at the 

 rate of 6 inches per minute). Steam-driven moulding-machines were seen 

 at work, and in an adjoining shed a large number of masons. Beautifully- 

 dressed blocks for the Corfield monument were pointed out and much ad- 

 mired. 



From the Works the Members went into the quarry Here Dr. W. 

 Theophilus Ord, F.G.S., of Bournemouth, made some general remarks upon 

 the geology of the district, pointing out that the Island of Portland was formed 

 of Lower Purbeck Beds, overlaying Portland Stone ; this, Portland Sand, 

 and the last named, the Kimmeridge Clay — all the beds being inclined to the 

 south. Mr Allen gave some particulars regarding the beds, and it was under- 

 stood that the excellent weathering properties of Portland Stone were due to 

 the presence in it of a considerable amount of siliceous matter. 



The motor drive was then rc'sumed southwards as far as the road per- 

 mitted. A short walk brought the members to " The Bill." 



The curious obelisk on " The Bill " is called " The Sign." It was put 

 up in 1844 by the Trinity House Corporation (hence the " T.H." on it), so 

 that seafarers could determine their whereabouts, and distinguishes this 

 promontory from that of Start Point and St. Aldhelm's Head. 



Two lighthouses were erected in 1879 on Portland, but their use was given 

 up on the completion of the present magnificent lighthouse in 1905. This 

 structure measures 139 feet from the base to the vane. 



After tea at the lighthouse. Dr. Ord showed the Members the very 

 interesting " raised beach " for which Portland Bill is celebrated amongst 

 geologists (Plate XXIII., fig. 2). 



The Wireless Station was noticed, and on the way back the stone buildings 

 of the Convict Prison, and — fastened to the side of a house in Fortune's Well 



I Ward, Lock & Co.'s " Guide to Weymouth," p. 35. 



