The Cove House Inn

The Cove House Inn, in 2009.

The Cove House Inn is an 18th-century public house on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated within the village of Chiswell, and lies next to Chesil Beach on the esplanade. The Cove House Inn remains one of Portland's most popular pubs, and has been reputed to be one of the best inns for panoramic views in the area.[1] The pub has been a Grade II Listed Building since May 1993.[2]

History

The Cove House Inn.
The Cove House Inn and Chesil Cove at dusk.

Before the pub, there were three fishermen cottages on the site. The pub was later named after the treacherous cove where so many ships were wrecked.[3] The current building has been recorded as being early 19th century, although there is also evidence that the building has origins from the late 17th to early 18th century. Despite its particularly close position to the beach the pub survived during a particularly brutal storm which became known as 'The Great Gale of 1824'. This storm destroyed a good amount of the surrounding Chiswell village.

The pub's position has also linked it with various events relating to shipwrecks on Chesil Cove. When two ships, the SS Avalanche and the SS Forest, collided off Portland Bill in September 1877, the pub played a notable role. The 12 survivors rescued from Chesil Cove were initially taken to the pub for attention, and afterwards the pub remained on the lookout for any further survivors. The landlord, Joe Way, and his family, also helped move any fatalities washed up on the beach to the nearby Ranter's Lodge, which was known as the "dead house".[4] Mrs Way would later receive a donation of £5, as a reward for the aid and care she gave to the survivors, as well as her "motherly regard to the poor bodies."[5]

The pub was also a focal point for important meetings on the island. During the 19th century the pub was used for meetings on supplying assistance to those suffering from the effects of local storms, the establishment of a Portland lifeboat, and for the protest against catching fish with the use of dynamite charges. The latter had become national news in 1877.[2] In January 1870 the pub was the meeting point of the Weymouth Lifeboat Committee and a group of local Portland fisherman. This was organised in the hope that a lifeboat was to become established on the island. Though the Weymouth committee assured a lifeboat would be under full control of the fishermen, who were knowledgeable of the coastline, the local men were largely content with their own methods in regards to the rescue of those aboard any foundering ships along Portland's part of the coast.[6]

Due to the position of the pub, vicious storms have caused flooding and damage to the building. The village of Chiswell has suffered from sea flooding for centuries. Between 1958 and 1965, work was completed on the protective sea wall and esplanade, to help protect the village. Further defences were installed in the 1980s, and this included wire-mesh baskets filled with pebbles. These measures have reduced flooding incidences within the village and the pub.[7] In past storms, the sea has been recorded as smashing open the pub's door and roaring into the bar as well as throwing pebbles onto the roof.[8]

In December 1989, the Cove House Inn suffered major damage in a storm, despite the installation of new sea defences shortly beforehand.[7] After the storm, the pub remained forlorn for a short time, the windows were covered with rusty grills and the name board was lost from the front of the building. There was no porch at the time.[8] The pub managed to reopen three months later, as the building's basic structure still remained in good condition. Around this time, the pub largely advertised the Devenish Brewery ales.[8] In early 2014, a number of damaging storms saw Chiswell village in the national news. In February 2014 prime minister David Cameron arrived at Portland to show support for those affected by the storms. During his time on the island he visited The Cove House Inn.[9]

Design

The pub is built with large square dressed Portland stone blocks, and has slate roofs and stone stacks. The main central unit extends one bay to the right and one bay to the left at a lower level, with a number of additions at the rear, stepped down to a lower access level. The centre block of the house has 3 storeys, and a 20th-century porch with door. To both the left and right is a four-pane sash over a broad recessed mid 20th century window. The left gable includes an early 19th century small nine-pane sash in the gable. The interior was modified during the 20th century; and there are substantial dressed stone walls in the basement, possibly part of an earlier building on the site.[2] Outside of the pub is an outside seating area, overlooking Chesil Beach and the rugged cliffs of Portland peninsular.[10]

Noted in the 1975 book "Better Pubs in Dorset", the long open windows of the pub are shuttered in the winter storms for protection. Inside is old oak furniture and pictures of wrecks. These is also some carving on the bar backing.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "The Cove House Inn in Portland: A meal with a stunning view (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "1280745 - The National Heritage List for England | English Heritage". List.english-heritage.org.uk. 1993-05-17. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Young, Jimmy. History of Better Pubs in Dorset. Phillips & Co. ISBN 978-0950428505.
  4. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  5. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  6. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. pp. 90, 91. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Morris, Stuart (1990). Portland Camera. Dovecote Press. pp. Photo 42. ISBN 978-0946159796.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Chiswell, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  9. ↑ http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2014-02-10/david-cameron-visits-portland-flood-victims/
  10. ↑ "The Cove House Inn – Portland | Great food, great location great company". Thecovehouseinn.co.uk. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-05-28.

External links

Coordinates: 50°33′38″N 2°26′55″W / 50.5606°N 2.4486°W