The royal manor of Portland antedates the Conquest.  It then included Wyke, Weymouth and Melcombe.  It is semi-independent of Dorset, being governed by a Reeve, who is appointed by male and female crown tenants from among themselves.  The “Reeve-Staff” is an archaic method of recording the payments of rates, and is similar to the old Exchequer tallies, to the burning of the many years’ stores of which, and consequent conflagration, we owe our present Houses of Parliament.  The Reeve Court is still held at the old “George Inn” in Reforne.  Among the old customs to be mentioned is that of the “Church-gift,” in which the parties to a sale of property meet in the church and in the presence of two witnesses hand over deeds and purchase money.  The transaction is then as complete as it is legal.

Inigo Jones first discovered the virtues of Portland stone and built Whitehall with it.  Sir Christopher Wren was so struck with its good qualities that he decided to use it for the new St. Paul’s and many of the city churches and public buildings.  It is now the most widely used building stone in this country, and though it lacks the beautiful colouring of West of England sandstone, to “Bath” stone and the rest it is immeasurably superior in wearing qualities.  Apart from the crown quarries, where convict labour is employed, the stone is worked by a kind of guild, very similar to that in operation near Swanage; the employment being handed down from father to son.

To make a brief exploration of the country east of Weymouth the road should be taken that keeps close to the shore until the coastguard station at Furzy Cliff is reached.  Here a path, much broken in places, ascends the cliff, and continues to Osmington Mills, the usual goal of the summer visitor in this direction.  Not far away is the great fort on Upton Cliff, built to command the Eastern approaches to Portland Roads.  Holworth Cliff was, in the twenties of the last century, the scene of a curious outbreak of fire.  The inflammable nature of the strata caused the miniature Vesuvius to smoulder for a long time, with dire effect upon the atmosphere for many miles around.  It is possible for the pedestrian to proceed to the beautiful coast that culminates in the lovely region about Lulworth Cove.  About eight miles from Weymouth the path reaches one of the several Swyre Heads in Dorset.  This commands wide views over a remote and seemingly deserted countryside.  From this point one may penetrate inland by bridle-ways, in two miles, to the village of Chaldon Herring, situated in a pleasant combe to the North of Chaldon Down.  The church is remarkable for the new fittings, all designed by and for the most part the work of, a former incumbent.  The Saxon font and Norman chancel arch are also of much interest.