History
The area of Portland Bill was once used for quarrying until the early years of the 20th century. The Portland Bill Lighthouse was built with stone from these quarries and the area was then finally abandoned. Even today, evidence of quarrying tramways can be found. In the storms of January 1990, the weather ripped out an area of cliff top to reveal old rails from the Victorian tramway where it curved round to meet Portland Bill's crane.
Portland had no road reaching to Portland Bill until one was built between the World Wars and visitors originally had to travel over a rough track. A small number of housing is found in the area, largely around the Old Lower Lighthouse, and the housing remains one of the most remote settlements in South Dorset.
The Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range is found at Portland Bill, where tests can be performed away from stray electric and magnetic fields. Close to this range is Portland's "Raised Beach" - created during a warm inter-glacial climate change 200,000 years ago when sea levels were about 15 metres above present levels. A Coastguard station is also located close to Portland Bill.
During the total total eclipse of the sun in August 1999, the eclipse passed one kilometre off Portland Bill, where thousands of people travelled to the area for the experience.
Many beach huts are found in the Portland Bill area, and often sell for prices around £30,000. This is due to the modern planning regulations which were not in force when the huts were originally placed at Portland Bill.
Read more about this topic: Portland Bill
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““And now this is the way in which the history of your former life has reached my ears!” As he said this he held out in his hand the fatal letter.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
“The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”
—John Adams (1735–1826)
“Regarding History as the slaughter-bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of States, and the virtue of individuals have been victimized—the question involuntarily arises—to what principle, to what final aim these enormous sacrifices have been offered.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)