Radipole
Encyclopedia
Radipole is a part of the district of Weymouth and Portland
in the county of Dorset
, England
. It was formerly an independent parish, until abolished as a separate local government unit in 1933. It remains a separate ecclesiastical parish. Radipole stands at the head of, and is named after, the lake
, now an RSPB nature reserve, into which the River Wey
flows, and which leads into Weymouth Harbour. Until 1984, it had its own halt on the South Western Main Line
and Heart of Wessex Line
out of Weymouth.
There is some evidence of prehistoric occupation, and it is believed that the Roman
s had a small port or landing stage at the head of the lake. A Romano-British burial site was found nearby when the upper playing field of Southill
Primary School was constructed. A Roman road runs from Radipole to Dorchester (the former Durnovaria), and indeed still forms by far the greater part of the line of the present road between Weymouth and Dorchester.
The parish of Radipole predates by centuries the borough
of Melcombe Regis
, which grew up on its wastes on an exposed spit of shingle by the sea in the 12th century. The church of Saint Ann was the mother church of Melcombe Regis until 1606. The church is distinguished for its triple bellcote, consisting of a single arch above double arches.
Radipole has suffered in the last decades from intrusive road-building and suburbanisation, as Weymouth has expanded northwards. The centre of the old village still remains, however. The attractive architectural group formed by the church and the manor house
is well-known locally. The field known as Humpty-Dumpty Field immediately to the south of the churchyard, on the slope leading down to the head of the lake, is supposed once to have covered the site of the lost mediaeval village, and possibly even Roman
remains, but any such evidence was destroyed by the vindictive action of the then landowner.
Weymouth and Portland
Weymouth and Portland is a local government district and borough in Dorset, England. It consists of the resort of Weymouth and the Isle of Portland, and includes the areas of Wyke Regis, Preston, Melcombe Regis, Upwey, Broadwey, Southill, Chiswell, Castletown, Fortuneswell, Radipole, Nottington,...
in the county of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was formerly an independent parish, until abolished as a separate local government unit in 1933. It remains a separate ecclesiastical parish. Radipole stands at the head of, and is named after, the lake
Radipole Lake
Radipole Lake is a lake on the River Wey, now in the English coastal town of Weymouth, Dorset, once in Radipole, the village and parish of the same name. Along the western shore of the lake, and between Radipole and the town centre of Weymouth, now lies the modern suburb of Southill...
, now an RSPB nature reserve, into which the River Wey
River Wey, Dorset
The River Wey of Dorset, south west England, is a short river 9 kilometres long. The river rises in Upwey, where the spring forms in Upwey Wishing Well, at the foot of the South Dorset Downs, a ridge of chalk hills that separate Weymouth from Dorchester...
flows, and which leads into Weymouth Harbour. Until 1984, it had its own halt on the South Western Main Line
South Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
and Heart of Wessex Line
Heart of Wessex Line
The Heart of Wessex Line, also known as the Bristol to Weymouth line, is a United Kingdom railway line that runs from Bristol to Westbury to Weymouth...
out of Weymouth.
There is some evidence of prehistoric occupation, and it is believed that the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
s had a small port or landing stage at the head of the lake. A Romano-British burial site was found nearby when the upper playing field of Southill
Southill, Weymouth
Southill, Weymouth is a modern suburb of Weymouth, Dorset, England, and lies about 2 miles north of the town centre. It was developed on the western shore of Radipole Lake in several phases from the 1960s onwards....
Primary School was constructed. A Roman road runs from Radipole to Dorchester (the former Durnovaria), and indeed still forms by far the greater part of the line of the present road between Weymouth and Dorchester.
The parish of Radipole predates by centuries the borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Melcombe Regis
Melcombe Regis
Melcombe Regis is an area of Weymouth in Dorset, England.Situated on the north shore of Weymouth Harbour and originally part of the waste of Radipole, it seems only to have developed as a significant settlement and seaport in the 13th century...
, which grew up on its wastes on an exposed spit of shingle by the sea in the 12th century. The church of Saint Ann was the mother church of Melcombe Regis until 1606. The church is distinguished for its triple bellcote, consisting of a single arch above double arches.
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
is well-known locally. The field known as Humpty-Dumpty Field immediately to the south of the churchyard, on the slope leading down to the head of the lake, is supposed once to have covered the site of the lost mediaeval village, and possibly even Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
remains, but any such evidence was destroyed by the vindictive action of the then landowner.