Weymouth: ghost signs

Although the main reason for my mini breaks in Weymouth is to find and enjoy the local wildlife, in particular the birds, and, during the summer, the butterflies and dragonflies, every time I wander the streets of the old town I find more new and interesting things. 

During my most recent visit, a couple of weeks ago, I turned from Custom House Quay in to Maiden Street, my eyes wandering all the time up, down and around the street and buildings, when I noticed these signs on the building on the corner of Maiden Street and Helen Lane. 

The sign is in three separate parts, which appear to read: 'manures and cakes' (this made me chuckle), 'grain', and 'hay, straw and English grain', though I think there are words above that are not now legible. 

Though I've not been able to find any information about the building or its previous use (it is not one of the many Weymouth buildings that are heritage listed), I assume it was once used as a warehouse. Being so near to the harbour, it could easily have stored agricultural products that had arrived at the port or were being stored prior to being shipped elsewhere. 

In case you are not familiar with the term 'ghost sign', Historic England defines these as: 'fading advertising signs, or shop signs that are preserved on buildings longer than the businesses they represent'.

Weymouth: 'Tom' the torpedo

The coast path that runs along the edge of Portland Harbour by the marina is littered with a diverse range of objects and signs. This is one of those. 

As the writing on the sign may not be easily readable in my photo, I've transcribed it below:

"Tom" the torpedo

Robert Whitehead became interested in remotely controlling and detonating underwater explosive charges, and in 1868 had successfully demonstrated a practical torpedo design. The British Navy became interested and after purchasing some of the torpedos, encouraged Whitehead to set up a manufacturing facility in England.

Whitehead bought an eight acre site at Ferry Bridge, and built a factory which produced torpedos, using Portland Harbour for testing. Before the turn of the century he was manufacturing 14 and 18 inch diameter units with a range of 1000 yards and a speed of 20 knots.

The arrival of Whiteheads at Wyke Regis meant a considerable influx of skilled engineers and tradesmen, all of whom needed houses, schools and places to relax. Over the following years streets of red bricked terrace houses appeared alongside the cottages of old Wyke, as well as a new school and pubs and clubs.

After Whitehead's death, production carried on day and night to support World War I, but after the war demand fell and the factory shut down. In 1923 Vickers bought the site, and in response to threats from Germany a massive modernisation of the works was initiated, and by the start of the Second World War some 1500 men and women were employed.

When peace was declared in 1945, the yard again found itself in difficulties and although production reduced substantially, design and development work carried on including wire-guided and rocket propelled units. The last test firing of a Whitehead 21 inch torpedo produced at Ferry Bridge took place in Weymouth Bay in 1966.

The torpedo on display was donated to Portland Marina by the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport www.submarine-museum.co.uk and it is a Mk 8, which was the mainstay submarine torpedo of WW 2 being responsible for the destruction of over two million tons of enemy shipping. The propulsion unit is a radial four cylinder semi-diesel engine, developing 350 BHP, giving a range of 5000 yards at 45.5 knots.

Weymouth: Bloody Assizes plaque

Installed in September 2025, this plaque is a new addition to the many that mark various aspects of Weymouth's history and can be viewed as part of the town's heritage trail. Today, Greenhill Gardens is a manicured park, with a café and benches where visitors and locals alike can sit and enjoy the expansive views of Weymouth Bay, but it is a location with a bloody history. 

Back in September 1685, twelve local men were hanged, drawn and quartered at Greenhill because of their participation in the Monmouth Rebellion. The plaque explains:

The Bloody Assizes

The Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 followed the death of Charles II and was an attempt to put his illegitimate son on the throne in place of James II. The uprising failed and hundreds of rebels were sentenced to death by the infamous Judge Jeffries [or Jeffreys]. Twelve rebels were hanged, drawn and quartered on gallows erected at Greenhill and their body parts then displayed in the nearby towns and villages.