Portland Harbour
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- For other places with the same name, see Portland.
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world.
The original harbour was formed by the protection, from south westerly and northerly weather, offered by the south coast of England, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland. Construction of the modern harbour began in 1848 when the Royal Navy created a breakwater to the south of the anchorage, made of blocks from local quarries on the Isle of Portland. This was completed in 1872. Fortifications including the Verne Citadel fort, East Wear Battery, High Angle Battery and two forts on the breakwaters were also built.
In 1906, with the threat of torpedo attack from the eastern side of the anchorage, two more breakwaters were added. A further barrier against submarine, from the south, attack came in 1914 when HMS Hood was scuttled across the entrance to the original breakwater.
Portland_harbour_south.JPG
The harbour is a popular location for wind surfing, sailing and diving.
In addition to Hood, there are other wrecks around the harbour:
- on the inside of the harbour, against a breakwater:
- Countess of Erme - barge 30 metres north of the Eastern Ship Channel
- the Spaniard - barge 50 metres south-west of the Chequered Fort
- a World War II landing craft and a Bombardon Unit, a harbour device intended for the D-Day beaches in Normandy, 50 metres north east of the curve of the south break water
- in "open" water inside the harbour:
- a Sea Vixen Royal Navy aircraft - a diver training carcass between Ferrybridge and the helicopter base
- Himalaya - a coal or fuel barge in the centre of the harbour
The only Victoria Cross ever awarded for action in the United Kingdom was posthumously bestowed on Jack Foreman Mantle who died at his post on HMS Foylebank during a 1940 air raid on Portland Harbour. Mantle's grave can be seen in the Portland Naval Cemetery.
External links
- Portland Port (http://www.portland-port.co.uk/)
- Portland Breakwater Fort (http://www.cyberport.co.uk/historyfile/portland_and_weymouth/dorsets_coastal_defences/breakwater_fort.htm)