The following article by Glanville James Davies, Dorset Editor of SDNQ 1983-2009, was published in SDNQ, vol.30 (March 1976), pp.155-157.
DORSET’S COASTAL DEFENCES, 1715.
At the accession of George I, a survey was made under the direction of the Duke of Marlborough, master General of Ordnance. England had just survived the War of the Spanish Succession, and continued to face her implacable enemy, France. The Survey revealed the sorry state of Dorset’s defences, and her unpreparedness for warfare against France or against privateers. The completed survey, with maps, is in the British library Department of Western Manuscripts, among King’s MSS.45, from which the following has been abstracted.
Fortifications and Artillery at Lime-Regis. A small seaport in the County of Dorsett: formerly considerable for its flourishing Trade, where a large Peer is built which frequently preserves ships that have the misfortune to be Imbayed there. This Peer is maintained at a great expence, for all South and South-East winds does raise a prodigious Sea which violently beats against that shore.
Att the aforesaid Town are Eight Pieces of Iron Ordnance belonging to the King, and one Brass Falcon belonging to the Corporation, which are all mounted on Unserviceable and Irreparable standing carriages… The five demi-culverrins are old guns, with the vent so large that they are unfitt for service untill repaired. However I think these guns (or at least that number) ought always to be kept in good repair, as well for the countenance of the Town as for the security of vessels living within the Peer, from the attempts of Privateers, which in time of warr frequently lye in that Bay.
| Nature | Length of the Gunn |
| On Clift Platform | |
| 1 Brass Falcon | 6ft. 8in. |
| 2 Sakers | 10ft. |
| In the Fort | |
| 2 Demi-culverrins | 9ft. |
| 3 Demi-culverrins | 7ft. |
| Near the Peer | |
| 1 Saker | 10ft. |
Fortifications and Artillery at Portland. The body of this Peninsula is from North to South about 3 ¾ miles in length, and from East to West about 1 ¼ miles broad. It is high land the top of which approacheth near to a level. It is almost on all sides except to the North West surrounded with rocky precipices and consequently in a great measure naturally fortified. It produces corn enough for its inhabitants and some to sell. There is but very little grass, and not above half a score of trees upon it. It contains Five little Villages, and one Parish Church, the whole number of people on it are about 750, a great many of these are generally employed in the Famous Quarry of Free Stones which are situated on the East side of it, where there is a Crane by help of which Stones of 6 or 7 tunn weight are frequently ship’t off for the Publick buildings about London and several other Places. There is here great plenty of this sort of stone, a bed of it from eight to tenn; and in some places twelve foot deep running through the whole Peninsula.
Ordnance in His Majestys Castle and Island of Portland
| In the Gunn Room of the Castle | |
| 2 18 pounders | Much damaged with Rust, One Axletree broke, but the Carriage may be repaired |
| 2 9 pounders | Indifferent good |
| 1 4 pounder | A good gunn |
| On the West platform | |
| 2 9 pounders | One mounted on an unserviceable Carriage. One lies on the ground without a Carriage |
| On the East platform | |
| 1 8 pounder | Lies on the ground |
| 2 12 pounders | One mounted on a very bad Carriage
One lies on the ground without a Carriage |
| At Chisswill | |
| 2 12 pounders | Both these are old rusty gunns |
| At Blacknrs Point | |
| 1 6 pounder | Lies on the ground without a Carriage. |
| On the Point of the Bill | |
| 1 6 pounder | An old Rusty gunn, the Touch Hole nailed up |
| 1 4 pounder | This lies on the ground |
| Att the Crane | |
| 2 5 ¼ pounders | These are very good gunns but lies on the ground without Carriage. |
Estimate for repairing gunns £6 4 0
The total charge for the
necessary repairs at Portland £408 3 10
Stores of old & new taken Dec 1st 1714
Powder – 75 lb.
Ordnance at Weymouth & Melcombe Regis
| At the Blockhouse on the Nose | |
| 1 9 pounder
1 5 ¼ pounder |
These are two old Rusty gunns without mark, weight or number on them |
| On the Hill over the Nose | |
| 1 18 pounder | A good gunn lies on the ground |
| 1 12 pounder | An old Rusty gunn unserviceable |
| 2 5 ¼ pounders | Very good gunns but mounted on old unserviceable Carriages |
| Att the Look Out | |
| 3 18 pounders | These three gunns lie buried in the Earth, and are very much eaten with Rust |
| 2 6 pounders | Two very old gunns on decay’d ships Carriages |
| 2 9 pounders | Two very good gunns |
| Att Weymouth Castle | |
| 1 5 ¼ pounder | An old Rusty gunn without a Carriage |
| 1 9 pounder
1 4 pounder |
Both these lie among the Rocks in the Sea washed from the Platform |
| Att the Blockhouse | |
| 4 5 ¼ pounders | Very good gunns mounted on unserviceable Carriages |
| 1 6 pounder | An old Rusty unserviceable gunn on a rotten Carriage, the Muzzell hooped with iron |
| On Mountjoy Battery | |
| 2 9 pounders | Both these are very good gunns but mounted on unserviceable Carriages |
| 1 9 pounder
1 5 ¼ pounder |
Both these gunns are dismounted and unserviceable |
| 1 3 pounder
1 12 pounder 2 18 pounders |
These four gunns are all unserviceable |
| On the Jettee | |
| 2 12 pounders | These two gunns lie on the Beach very much eaten with Rust, unserviceable |
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