Block House (Melcombe)
The Block House was an old fort in the town of Melcombe, in Weymouth, Dorset, southern England. There are no visible remains today.
History[edit]
The fort was mentioned in texts from 1568 and 1617, and so dates from before that time.[1] It was probably built by the town of Melcombe, before 1571, when Melcome and Weymouth became a single borough.
When built, the fort was 45 feet (14 m) square, and was made of stone.[1] It likely stood opposite a passage from Maiden Street to St Mary's Street, which today is likely Blockhouse Lane.[1] At the time, it was built on the site of "Charloote Row" (50°36′37″N 2°27′12″W / 50.610229°N 2.453200°W), which is now a terrace and listed building.[2][3] There were embrasures for eight guns, although only five were ever fitted.[3] During the reign of Elizabeth I, a gentleman called Richard Smith was given the office of gunner, known as vi bellator, for life.[3] This suggests some royal funding for the fort, although it was likely built by the town of Melcombe, rather than the Crown itself.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Hutchins, John (1774). History of Dorset. Vol. 2 (1973 EP Publishing facsimile of 1861 3rd ed.). p. 455 – via Gatehouse Gazetteer.
- ^ a b "Melcombe Cotton Fort". Gatehouse Gazetteer. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Ellis, George Alfred (1 January 1829). The History and Antiquities of the Borough and Town of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. B. Benson. pp. 187.