Easton, Dorset
| Easton | |
  Easton Easton shown within Dorset | |
| Civil parish | Portland |
|---|---|
| District | Weymouth and Portland |
| Shire county | Dorset |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Portland |
| Postcode district | DT5 |
| Dialling code | 01305 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | South Dorset |
Easton is the second largest of eight villages on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. The village is situated on the top of the island or Tophill, in the English Channel, and was where the Easton Massacre took place.
The village has a small square with many shops and shopping arcade, the Secondary school Royal Manor Arts College, four churches, a small park, and other amenities, including various pubs. Easton (The Grove area) is also the location of Portland Young Offenders Institution and the Portland Football Club Grounds. The area of Easton is surrounded by quarries, both working and non-working, including the nature reserve King Barrow Quarry and Tout Quarry, the latter an old quarry now used as a sculpture park, holding over 70 different sculptures and offering a workshop based on sculpturing, run by the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust, who also preserves the quarry.[1]
Along with Fortuneswell, Easton is the main hub of the Isle of Portland's activities. Easton Village contains Easton Gardens, which have been a focal point for Portland's locals over 100 years. St George's Centre and The George Inn lies within the Reforne area of Easton, and provides facilities for many local events.
To the south of the village lies the two Portland Windmills. Broadcroft Quarry lies east of the village and features a working quarry and also a nature reserve mainly for butterflies.
History
Easton Square, before becoming Easton Gardens, was once barren land and featured a village pond, known as the Great Pool, which was somewhat contaminated.[2] Also in the area was once the village's well, which was introduced before Portland's piped supply was laid in 1901. The well's shaft was dug deep into the bedrock in 1775.[3]
As part of The Portland Branch Railway, Easton station once operated from the late nineteenth century until closing to passengers in 1952 and goods in 1965. Since then the station is now the site of a residential home for the elderly, with much of the railway history being removed.[4]
The Portland Museum is located near to Easton, in the small village of Wakeham, close to Church Ope Cove. The museum was founded by Marie Stopes and opened in 1930, where it continues to open in Easter and the summer each year.[5]
In early 2011, a Tesco, Portland's first major supermarket (discounting smaller convenience Co-Op stores), was opened in Easton. Upon the opening, 800 individuals applied for the 100 vacancies that the store had on offer.[6]
References
- ↑ "About PSQT | General". Learningstone.org. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
- ↑ Morris, Stuart (1990). Portland Camera. Dovecote Press. pp. Photo 62. ISBN 978-0946159796.
- ↑ Morris, Stuart (1990). Portland Camera. Dovecote Press. pp. Photo 63. ISBN 978-0946159796.
- ↑ "Easton, Portland". Geoffkirby.co.uk. 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
- ↑ "Portland Museum". Portland Museum. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
- ↑ "800 apply for 100 jobs at the new Tesco on Portland (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2012-08-20.