Weymouth Museum

24/06/2026

SEALINK AT WEYMOUTH HARBOUR 🚢
A reminder of a time when Weymouth Harbour was a busy working port, with no fewer than five Sealink vessels moored there at the same time.
The scene attracted plenty of attention. The vessels were Sarnia, Caesarea, Earl Godwin, Maid of Kent and Caledonian Princess.
In fact, the sight of so many large vessels together even prompted the owner of a property in Trinity Road (who perhaps should have known better!) to complain that their presence had caused sea levels to rise and led to flooding at his property! 🌊😄
A fascinating glimpse into Weymouth’s maritime past.

13/06/2026

SEALINK AT WEYMOUTH HARBOUR

A reminder of the days when Weymouth Harbour was a busy working port, with no fewer than five Sealink vessels moored in the harbour at the same time.

The impressive line-up included Sarnia, Caesarea, Earl Godwin, Maid of Kent and Caledonian Princess, creating quite a spectacle and attracting plenty of attention.

The sight even prompted an unusual complaint from a resident of Trinity Road who claimed that the number of vessels in the harbour had caused the sea level to rise and flood his property!

09/06/2026

TOWN BRIDGE GARAGE, NORTH QUAY, WEYMOUTH

This scene dates from 1964/65 and shows the busy Town Bridge Garage in operation. A fully working traditional garage, auto and electrical specialists, spares and accessories, and petrol pumps with arms that stretched over the pavement! And Green Shield Stamps too. Remember them?

Next door was a second-hand car sales business, replacing one that had moved earlier to Overcombe Corner.

A fairly new BMC 1100 and a rather smart 1950s Wolseley add extra interest to the scene.

In the background, high above North Quay, is the remaining wing of Holy Trinity School. Refurbished after Second World War damage, it was then being used as the Youth Employment Office before relocating in 1965 to the Youth Activities Centre in Knightsdale Road.

To the left of the picture stands Phoenix House, a sturdy building that had recently been used as a taxi office and fruit and vegetable shop.

Phoenix House was demolished during August 1965, and the writer recalls that considerable effort was needed to bring it down.

The demolition of this section of North Quay was delayed because the Council was unable to agree terms with the owner of the garage.

06/06/2026

THE RITZ

One of the greatest losses to Weymouth’s entertainment scene was The Ritz Theatre, which was devastated by fire on 13 April 1954.

The blaze was caused by a painter’s blowlamp and, with schools closed for the Easter holidays, large crowds gathered to watch the dramatic events unfold.

This photograph shows the fly tower already reduced to twisted metal, while the famous dome would soon follow. The writer recalls watching the dome collapse from a vantage point at the top of Everest Road.

What was not widely known at the time was that the writer’s father was the Fire Brigade’s mobilising officer that day. The incident log, now held at the Dorset History Centre, provides a fascinating insight into how the emergency response was managed.

Although the auditorium was destroyed, the ballroom and foyer survived the fire. The following year the Council demolished the building, yet evidence presented at a High Court hearing in 1958 stated that the structure could have been rebuilt.

05/06/2026

As we reach the end of Volunteets week, we’d like to highlight the work of community volunteers who are organising the Kings Dip weekend on 6/7th June. They have put in so much effort and deserve support despite the terrible weather forecast. Please come into the town centre to support them.
Have a look at Kings Dip Project page for more information….The King’s Dip Project ( see first comment)
Proceeds from the weekend will support Weymouth Museum.

04/06/2026

OVERCOMBE CORNER

Here is Overcombe Corner almost unrecognisable from the busy junction of today.

This was probably taken in the 1930s. A small filling station which continued for many years, selling, as they could in those days, a variety of different brands of petrol, including Shell and National Benzole.

A terrace of cottages on the right were eventually depleted by coastal erosion, whilst one can see the rolling hills of Overcombe and Bowleaze which would be heavily developed during the 1950s.

An indication of things to come is the sign advertising a holiday camp in Bowleaze Cove!

03/06/2026

02/06/2026

HELP PLEASE!
To complement our upcoming Football exhibition, we need a table football game similar to the one in the photo.
Can anyone loan us one please?
Please like and share this post ….thank you

01/06/2026

On the first day of Volunteers’ Week,
we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supports Weymouth Museum….
From the volunteers who meet and greet the Popup museum visitors, to those who work tirelessly at the storage facility looking after the collection. Not forgetting our voluntary trustees whose energy is currently focused on returning the museum to Brewer’s Quay….

28/05/2026

829 DORCHESTER ROAD WEYMOUTH

An early 20th century photo shows 829 Dorchester Road as the Upwey Bakery owned by E. Gutt, with the delivery van just visible on the far right of the picture.

Upwey was still very much a separate village community at the time and wasn’t incorporated into the Borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis until 1933.

By 1937, Kelly’s Directory records the bakery as being run by Owen William Baker, and it was still operating under his name in 1948 before later becoming a branch of B. Smith, the well-known Weymouth bakery firm based in Abbotsbury Road.

Many former Weymouth Grammar School pupils will probably remember popping in to buy a bag of “stales” for a modest price after school. The building continued its life as a bakery until the 1970s.