Isle of Portland Revisited - A Look Beyond the Obvious - see also Island 37

I have visited the Isle of Portland (see Island 37) on several previous occasions but came back for a day of geocaching in August 2013, so decided to look for some of the less obvious attractions of the island.



Chiswell

Beautiful wildflower meadow on a roundabout in Chiswell

Community Garden in Chiswell

 - one of Portland's best kept secrets

 Gold Postbox at Weston
This was painted to commemorate the gold medal won by paralympian Helena Lucas in the single person keelboat at the 2012 Olympics

 Avalanche Memorial Church at Southwell

This church is not named after a rockfall but a ship called the SS Avalanche, which was wrecked off Portland Bill in 1877 and 106 people on their way to New Zealand were killed.  A public appeal was held to raise money for a memorial and this church was built and consecrated in 1879.  One of the houses opposite is called Avalanche Cottage, which I wouldn't have thought was a great idea when you come to apply for buildings insurance!

 Chiswell Earthworks
This work of art is supposed to represent the changing form of Chesil Beach.

 Phoenix Caissons - part of the D-Day Mulberry Harbours
View from Portland Castle

 St George's Church, Weston
This striking church was built between 1754 and 1766 to replace the dilapidated St Andrew's Church.  It was designed by Thomas Gilbert and is appropriately built of Portland stone. It is no longer in regular use but is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.   On the day I visited it was being used for an art exhibition.

 Portland's Largest Dinosaur?
Tout Quarry

 Owl Sculpture, Tout Quarry

 US D-Day Memorial, Victoria Park, Chiswell