Portland Bill facts for kids
Portland Bill is a narrow piece of land that sticks out into the sea at the very southern end of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. It's the southernmost point of Dorset and a very popular place to visit. One of its most famous sights is the Portland Bill Lighthouse.
For hundreds of years, the coast around Portland Bill has been known for many shipwrecks. This is because of dangerous shallow reefs (rocky areas just under the water) and a large sandbank called the Shambles. Strong ocean currents, known as the Portland tidal race, make these dangers even worse for ships.
Because it's such an important spot for ships sailing along the coast, three lighthouses have been built here over time to keep them safe. The first two lighthouses worked together starting in 1716. They were replaced in 1906 by the lighthouse you see there today.
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History of Portland Bill
Even in Roman times, people lit big fires on Portland Bill to warn ships about the dangerous coast. Later, in the early 1700s, people asked Trinity House (the group in charge of lighthouses) to build a proper lighthouse. At first, Trinity House wasn't keen, but they soon agreed it was needed.
King George I gave permission to build the lighthouses in 1716. Two lighthouses were built: one on a higher hill called Branscombe Hill, and another closer to the sea. They both shone their lights for the first time on September 29, 1716.
Over the years, these early lights weren't always well looked after. In 1789, the lower lighthouse was taken down and rebuilt. In 1844, Trinity House put up a tall stone pillar, called an obelisk, at the very tip of Portland Bill. This helped ships see the land during the day. Later, in 1859, the first lightship (a ship with a light on it) was placed near the Shambles sandbank to warn ships. Both lighthouses were rebuilt again in 1869.
New Lighthouse and Quarrying
Pulpit Rock is a unique rock formation that looks like a giant stone pulpit. It was created in the 1870s by people quarrying (digging out stone) in the area.
Around the year 1900, Trinity House planned a new, single lighthouse. This modern lighthouse was finished in 1905 and first lit up on January 11, 1906. The two older lighthouses were then closed and sold. The Old Lower Lighthouse became a bird observatory in 1961, a place where people study birds. The Old Higher Lighthouse was owned by a famous scientist named Marie Stopes for many years and is now a holiday home.
In 1922, a proper road was built to Portland Bill. This made it much easier for people to visit, and it quickly became a popular place for tourists.
Modern Times at the Bill
A coastguard lookout station was built at Portland Bill in 1934. Coastguards watch the sea to help people in trouble. This station closed in the 1990s but was later reopened by the National Coastwatch Institution, which rebuilt the station in the 2000s.
During the 1960s, the Ministry of Defence built a special area at the Bill to test magnetic equipment. Further up the hill, there was also a Royal Navy radio station that opened in the early 1900s and closed in the 1990s.
The lightship at the Shambles sandbank was removed in 1976. Instead, automatic buoys (floating markers with lights) were used. The current Portland Bill Lighthouse became fully automatic in 1996, meaning no one lives there anymore. It's now controlled from a center far away. Today, the lighthouse has a visitor center, and you can even take tours to the top!
What to See at Portland Bill
Portland Bill has many interesting features. The lighthouses, Pulpit Rock, and the Trinity House Obelisk are some of the main attractions. Near the Ministry of Defence area, you can find Portland's main Raised Beach, which is an old beach that was lifted up by geological changes.
There's also a fishing crane, called Red Crane, right on the edge of the cliff. You'll see many colourful beach huts in the area too. For food, there's a restaurant called The Lobster Pot and a pub called The Pulpit Inn.
Many buildings at Portland Bill are "Grade Listed," which means they are important historical buildings protected by law. This includes the current lighthouse, the Old Lower Lighthouse, the Old Higher Lighthouse, and even a 19th-century Fisherman's hut. The Red Crane is also a protected historical site.
Ancient History and Nature
The fields between Portland Bill and Southwell are very old. They are part of an ancient farming system that dates back to Saxon times (over 1,000 years ago).
Close by, you can visit the Culverwell Mesolithic Site. This is where people lived about 7,500 to 8,500 years ago, during the Middle Stone Age. It's a very important archaeological site and is also a protected monument.
Gallery
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Portland Bill is home to a range of wildlife, such as this protected sand lizard.
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Portland Bill
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Pulpit Rock at Portland Bill
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The Trinity House Obelisk
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Portland Bill's Steel Crane
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The settlement of Portland Bill
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Beach Huts at Portland Bill
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Pulpit Inn
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Lobster Pot Restaurant
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Portland Bill and Chesil Beach from the air
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See also
In Spanish: Portland Bill para niños
