Church Ope Cove

Last updated

The cove, seen from the church ruins. Uk dor churchcove.JPG
The cove, seen from the church ruins.

Church Ope Cove is a small secluded beach on the sheltered eastern side of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, southern England, and is part of the Jurassic Coast. [1] [2] It is found close to the village of Wakeham. The beach has many unusual features for the Isle of Portland. The beach used to be sandy, but quarry debris now covers the sand, and has been worn into rounded pebbles. The pebbles cover a small stream which runs to the sea, which is one of the few active streams remaining on the Isle of Portland.

Contents

History

Church Ope Cove Church Ope Cove Portland - geograph.org.uk - 319756.jpg
Church Ope Cove

In 789 AD, the first recorded Viking attack within British Isles, including Ireland, occurred on Portland's coast. It is believed that Church Ope Cove was the location. [3] [4] The exposed location was later defended by the Norman 12th-century Rufus Castle, built on the cliff-top overlooking the beach. [5] The remaining castle seen today dates from the late 15th century. The cove's area was also used for the building of Portland's first parish church, St Andrew's Church, which was probably first established above the cove by the Saxons. [6]

Between 1797 and 1800, John Penn, Governor of Portland and grandson of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had the Gothic revival mansion Pennsylvania Castle built on a platform above the cove. [7] During the early 19th century he had a bath built below the gardens of his castle, known as John Penn's Bath. However, when it was completed, the Court Leet demanded an annual rent for its use after it was built on Common Land. Penn refused to pay, and the bath was abandoned, with the remains still in existence today. Penn's servants would have been tasked with bringing water up from the cove to the bath. [8]

The four east-most beach huts on the beach at Church Ope Cove. Beach huts, Church Ope Cove - geograph.org.uk - 1030796.jpg
The four east-most beach huts on the beach at Church Ope Cove.

Portland had a large history of smuggling, and Church Ope Cove was one of the famous smuggling beaches. [9] Into the 20th century, fishing was still an industry that used the beach for the launching of boats. [10] For decades, an old rusting hand winch has been left lying on the beach, and is a reminder of the fishing trade. [11] As part of the anti-invasion measures during World War II, two pillboxes were constructed to look over Church Ope Cove. [12] [13] A minefield was also placed at the back of the cove. [14]

Beach

The path leading down to the cove, next to Rufus Castle. Path down to Church Ope Cove, Portland - geograph.org.uk - 861852.jpg
The path leading down to the cove, next to Rufus Castle.

The beach is one of the few beaches on Portland, and due to having cliffs on three sides, is often sheltered from prevailing wind. [15] As the fishing industry declined, the cove became a favourite sheltered beach for swimming and today continues to be popular for fishing, snorkelling and swimming. The beach provides diving access to the numerous wrecks in the surrounding waters too, which has made it a popular area for diving too. [16]

Access

To access the beach there are two paths. The main path follows the road past Portland Museum and leads under the arch bridge of Rufus Castle, then down concrete steps to the cove. These were laid out by the local council in 1906, at a time when the beach was becoming increasingly popular as a recreational area. The view point above the steps, looking down on the cove, is part of the coastal path. The other path runs through a small area of woodland around the outside of Pennsylvania Castle, and passes through the ruins of St Andrew's Church (close to John Penn's Bath), before linking up over midway down the concrete steps to the cove.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesil Beach</span> Shingle beach in Dorset, England

Chesil Beach in Dorset, England is one of three major shingle beach structures in Britain. Its name is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle". It runs for a length of 29 kilometres (18 mi) from West Bay to the Isle of Portland and in places is up to 15 metres (50 ft) high and 200 metres (660 ft) wide. Behind the beach is the Fleet, a shallow tidal lagoon. Both are part of the Jurassic Coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and together form an SSSI and Ramsar Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakeham</span> Human settlement in England

Wakeham is a hamlet near the village of Easton, in Tophill on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. It is situated between the Straits part of Easton, and Pennsylvania Castle. As with the rest of Portland's villages and settlements, Wakeham has been designated as a conservation area, as it is a place of special architectural and historic interest. Easton, Wakeham and Reforne were designated pre-1974. The hamlet features a distinctively wide road running through it, once built to allow space for horse-drawn carts transporting stone by road. Many of Wakeham's older buildings of the 17th and 18th century survive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castletown, Dorset</span> Village in Dorset, England

Castletown is a small village in Underhill on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. It is located close to Fortuneswell, on the shores of Portland Harbour, and includes a sandy beach, as well as one of Portland's notable highlights; Portland Castle, while the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is also located nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwell, Dorset</span> Human settlement in England

Southwell is a small coastal village in Tophill on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. As Portland and Dorset's southernmost village, it lies between Portland Bill and the villages of Easton and Weston. Though close to the Bill, the village is sheltered by hills on three sides. It is the only village on Portland not to be designated a conservation area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiswell</span> Human settlement in England

Chiswell, sometimes, is a small village at the southern end of Chesil Beach, in Underhill, on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. It is the oldest settlement on the island, having formerly been known as Chesilton. The small bay at Chiswell is called Chesil Cove, and the beach promenade and sea wall which form Chiswell's coastal defences are a prominent feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus Castle</span> Grade I listed castle in Dorset, England

Rufus Castle, also known as Bow and Arrow Castle, is a partially ruined castle overlooking Church Ope Cove on Portland, England. Its name derives from King William II, known as William Rufus, for whom the original castle was built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balaclava Bay</span> Bay in Dorset, England

Balaclava Bay is a bay situated on the edge of Portland Harbour, where the breakwater meets the island, at the northern end of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, in southern England. The bay is part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. The bay is overlooked by the Victorian East Weare Battery, built in the 1860s to protect the harbour. The nearest road within the dockyard of Portland Port is named Balaclava Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Castle</span> English country house in Dorset, England

Pennsylvania Castle is a Gothic Revival mansion on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located in Wakeham and overlooks Church Ope Cove. The castle is Grade II Listed, as is the adjacent gatehouse and lodges, which are now in separate ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallelujah Bay</span> Bay in United Kingdom

Hallelujah Bay is a bay located on the west side of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The bay is situated below West Weares, with Clay Ope, Blacknor Point and Mutton Cove further south. Near the cove is a large mound of rock and earth beneath the clifftops known locally as the Green Hump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Portland</span> Church in Dorset, England

St Andrew's Church is a ruined church located above Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. St Andrew's was Portland's first parish church and remained as such until the mid-18th century. It is now one of the island's prime historical sites, and is a Grade II* Listed Building and a Scheduled Monument. The southern retaining wall of the churchyard is also Grade II Listed, as are three remaining churchyard monuments, approximately 7 metres south of the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Barrow Quarry</span> Disused quarry site

King Barrow Quarry is a disused site of former 19th century stone quarries on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located in the north-east corner of Tophill. The quarry, now a Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserve, covers 12.2 hectares. Both King Barrow and the nearby Tout Quarry make up the Dorset Wildlife Trust's Portland Quarries Nature Park. Portland also has two butterfly reserves: Broadcroft Quarry and Perryfield Quarry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durdle Pier</span>

Durdle Pier is a disused 17th-century stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found close by Yeolands Quarry, on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares and Penn's Weare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutton Cove, Portland</span>

Mutton Cove is a cove, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found on the west side of Portland. Presumably named after the once-famous Portland sheep, the cove is an erosional indentation just south of the promontory of Blacknor. On the cliff tops of the cove is part of the South West Coast Path and further south is Wallsend Cove and Portland Bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshwater Bay, Portland</span>

Freshwater Bay is a bay on the east side of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England, south from Church Ope Cove and between the villages of Wakeham and Southwell. It forms part of the Jurassic Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Southwell Landslip</span>

The Great Southwell Landslip occurred in 1734 on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England near the southerly village of Southwell and extended for a length of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) between Durdle Pier and Freshwater Bay. It remains Britain's second largest recorded historical landslide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folly Pier</span> Disused stone shipping quay in Dorset, England

Folly Pier is a disused stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares. Other piers within the area include King's Pier and Durdle Pier respectively. Folly Pier dates from the 17th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Weare Rifle Range</span> Disused rifle range of the Royal Navy on the Isle of Portland, England

East Weare Rifle Range is a disused naval rifle range on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located within the area of East Weares, overlooking Portland Harbour. The range became a scheduled monument in October 2015, which included the stop butt of Portland stone, the marker's gallery and 100-yard firing position. It remains on the private property of Portland Port Ltd, and has not been opened to the public, however can be seen from surrounding coastal paths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Beach, Portland</span>

Little Beach is a small secluded beach on the eastern side of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found at East Weares, below Grove Point, and is found in close proximity of the two Salt Pans. The East Weares area, including Little Beach, has been labelled a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), largely due to the surrounding scrub and wildlife being of high nature conservation value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery</span>

Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery is a World War II anti-aircraft battery on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located on private property in the north-east area of the island, south of the Verne Citadel. The battery became a scheduled monument in March 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Square, Portland</span>

Victoria Square is a public square on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Developed in the 19th century, it is situated at the entrance to Portland, close to Chesil Beach, Osprey Quay, and the small fishing village of Chiswell.

References

  1. ↑ Church Ope Cove, Dorset Beaches.
  2. ↑ "Dorset and East Devon Coast". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 2001. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
  3. ↑ Official Church Ope Cove and East Weares information board at cove viewpoint area
  4. ↑ "History : British History Timeline". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 451726". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 451729". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203103)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Penn's Bath, Portland, Dorset". Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Portlandbill.co.uk". Portlandbill.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Fishing". www.geoffkirby.co.uk.
  11. ↑ "Area around Church Ope Cove". www.geoffkirby.co.uk.
  12. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1420402". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1420404". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  14. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1420419". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Church Ope Cove". Dorset Beaches. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "Pennsylvania Castle and Church Ope, Portland". Geoffkirby.co.uk. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2013.

50°32′16″N2°25′38″W / 50.5377°N 2.4273°W / 50.5377; -2.4273

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.