Portland

Follow this link to a separate webpage which gives some details and links for local accommodation and also a Google Map.

Portland Arts Centre

www.portlandartscentre.co.uk

The new Portland Arts Centre came into being on January 1st 2010 and is run by Katherine Bryan Merrett (left) an artist and Samantha Polley a photographer (all the photographs on this page were taken by Sammy).

The Portland Arts Centre has studios for artists to lease and exhibition space and teaching rooms for hire.

It is the home of Hundred-aker-wood pottery, run by David Archer and his wife Cherry.
Along with the workshop, the pottery has a display of Stoneware items for sale along with a small selection of snacks.

Hundred-aker-wood pottery is also an agent for Miles Teas and Coffees and fresh supplies can always be purchased during opening hours.

Hundred Aker Wood Pottery is located on the lowest floor, overlooking the Chesil Beach, when open there will be a direction sign on the gate.

Location Portland

Whilst you are having fun with clay, any non potting friends have the joy of exploring Portland and the Jurassic Coastline which is a world heritage site. Also as we are able to bring flexibility to the courses you will be able to take a break to explore the island and surrounding area yourself as you wish.

The Isle of Portland has a very long history based on its quarrying activities of hundreds of years. It is the home to the famous Portland Stone, used around the world in many countries finest buildings. Of course some of London's greatest known buildings have been, and continue to be, built using Portlands white limestone. It has been discovered the Romans used Portland Stone during their occupation of the British Isles. Christopher Wren chose to use Portland stone for the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral after it was burnt down during the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The quarries have a fascinating history that sheds light into how the past and present stone industry was formed.

The Portland Bill Visitor Centre and the Portland Museum have extensive historical records of the era and can be visited during your stay on Portland. Portland truly has geology, archaeology, art and wildlife that makes it a incredible unique place to explore.
The older quarries such as Tout and Kingbarrow contain an interesting mix of geology, stone heritage and wildlife which can be explored through a maze of footpaths. A wide range of sculptures have been carved in Tout Quarry which is open to the public.

Chesil is thousands and thousands of years old and is known as one of the finest barrier beaches in the world. It is made up of pebbles and shingle strectes for 17 miles from Chiswell on Portland to West Bay. It has taken a battering from many a storm but without its existance the surrounding coast line would not exist as it is.
Running behind the beach is the Fleet, which is the largest tidal lagoon in Britain and is a world renown haven for its birds and marine wildlife. It also has a recent history as the place where the famous bouncing bomb developed by Barnes Wallis was tested in 1942.

The beach increases in height towards the east, reaching a maximum of over 15 metres near Portland. The pebbles vary according to their position on the beach as they increase in size towards the east. At the West Bay end they are marble sized whilst at Portland they are the size of tennis balls. Pebbles move east along the beach driven by the action of the wind and waves.

The Fleet is a rich wildlife reserve which supports fresh and salt water species. A huge population of water birds rely on the fleet to survive. They include the oldest managed swan population in the world, which can be visited at the Abbotsbury Swannery.

Across the causeway from the Isle of Portland is Weymouth, the seaside resort known for its safe bathing in the bayand its historical connection to the mad King George the third who is siad to have used the waters as part of his therapy.

With access to Weymouth soon to be improved with the opening of the magnificent new road into the town that is being built, it is a town gearing itself up to welcome the thousands of new visitors drawn by its close location to the Olympic events at Portland.

The coastline to the east of Weymouth continues as the world heritage site along to Lulworth Cove and Swanage and provides interesting walking amongst its geologically fascinating features.