Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, viewed from Trinity Road

Weymouth is at the mouth of the river Wey, which is created by springs in the appropriately named Upwey, five miles inland.

The south side of the harbour (to the right of the photo) was originally called Weymouth, its north side was Melcombe Regis. It was in Melcombe Regis in June 1348 that the Black Death - bubonic plague - made its first landing in Britain.

The two towns were united by Act of Parliament in 1571 to become a double borough. Although Melcome Regis was and remains the main town centre, the combined new town adopted the name of Weymouth.

Sir Christopher Wren had London's new St Paul's Cathedral built in stone from the nearby Isle of Portland. Coincidentally, he was controller of the stone quarries on the Island. Wren was also Member of Parliament for Weymouth during the early 18th century.

Between 1789 and 1805 King George III spent fourteen summers in Weymouth, rendering seaside bathing both respectable and fashionable for the first time.