Fancy's Family Farm

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Fancy's Family Farm. Fancy's Family Farm, Portland.JPG
Fancy's Family Farm.

Fancy's Family Farm is a community farm and tourist attraction on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. [1] The farm is situated at the ex-Portland ROTOR Radar Station, in the Verne area. The community farm acts as a children's farm and educational facility. [2] It is a community interest company, relying entirely on donations. [3]

Isle of Portland tied island in Dorset, England, UK

The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, 4 miles (6 km) long by 1.7 miles (2.7 km) wide, in the English Channel. Portland is 5 miles (8 km) south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A barrier beach called Chesil Beach joins it to the mainland. The A354 road passes down the Portland end of the beach and then over the Fleet Lagoon by bridge to the mainland. Portland and Weymouth together form the borough of Weymouth and Portland. The population of Portland is 12,400.

Dorset County of England

Dorset is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the non-metropolitan county, which is governed by Dorset County Council, and the unitary authority areas of Poole and Bournemouth. Covering an area of 2,653 square kilometres (1,024 sq mi), Dorset borders Devon to the west, Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north-east, and Hampshire to the east. The county town is Dorchester which is in the south. After the reorganisation of local government in 1974 the county's border was extended eastward to incorporate the Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch. Around half of the population lives in the South East Dorset conurbation, while the rest of the county is largely rural with a low population density.

England Country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to the west and Scotland to the north-northwest. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

Contents

History and features

The Verne area with Fancy's Family Farm seen in the distance. View towards the nuclear bunker - geograph.org.uk - 1030068.jpg
The Verne area with Fancy's Family Farm seen in the distance.
Portland Sheep at Fancy's Family Farm. Fancy's Farm, Portland, Dorset.JPG
Portland Sheep at Fancy's Family Farm.

The farm was originally located in the village of Southwell. Owned by Su and Jon Illsley, the couple pursued the farm as a hobby to look after rare breed Portland Sheep, and the farm grew into a popular community farm. However, in 2011, the owners faced eviction by landowners Albion Stone. [4] The farm moved to a new site during June 2011 - at the old Portland Rotor Radar Station. [5] [6]

Southwell, Dorset village in United Kingdom

Southwell is a small coastal village in Tophill on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. As Portland and Dorset's southern-most 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.

The grassland site was tidied, and the former USAF building began refurbishment between 2011–12 and became the farm's main centre of operations. By March 2012, the entire site was completed and ready to open on 1 April. [7] The farm is home to the only flock of Portland Sheep on the island. [8] [9]

On 25 May 2013, an event was set up to allow Sub Brit members to enter the underground bunker of the radar station, with all proceeds going to the farm. [10]

Related Research Articles

ROTOR air defence radar system built by the British Government in the early 1950s

ROTOR was an elaborate air defence radar system built by the British Government in the early 1950s to counter possible attack by Soviet bombers. In order to get it operational as quickly as possible, it was initially made up primarily of WWII-era systems, notably the original Chain Home radars for the early warning role, and the AMES Type 7 for plotting and interception control. The system had a network of control stations, mostly built underground, and connected with an extensive telephone and telex network.

Church Ope Cove

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. 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.

Pulpit Rock, Portland

Pulpit Rock is a coastal feature at Portland Bill, the southern tip of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Representing an open bible leaning on a pulpit, Pulpit Rock was formed in the 1870s after a natural arch was cut away by quarrymen at Bill Quarry. As a quarrying relic, the rock is similar to that of Nicodemus Knob, another quarrying landmark on the island.

Portland sheep sheep breed

The Portland is a sheep breed that takes its name from the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. This breed is raised primarily for meat.

RAF Ash

RAF Ash was an RAF underground control centre and radar station situated near the village of Woodnesborough, Kent, England.

Portland was a railway station on the Portland Branch Railway in the west of the English county of Dorset. Opened with the Weymouth and Portland railway, one of the constituent parts of a complex line, on 16 October 1865, the station was moved to a new site on the opening of the extension to Easton on 1 September 1902.

Balaclava Bay 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.

The Grove, Portland village in United Kingdom

The Grove is a small village located at Tophill on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. The village is found close to the larger village Easton, and is most notable for containing the Youth Offender's Institute HM Prison Portland, including its museum Grove Prison Museum. As with the rest of Portland's villages and settlements, The Grove has been designated as a conservation area, as it is a place of special architectural and historic interest. The village was designated in 1981.

Hallelujah Bay

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.

Mutton Cove, Portland

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.

Governors Community Garden

Governor's Community Garden is a public garden, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is found within The Grove village, opposite the site of HM Prison Portland.

RAF Portland

RAF Portland is a former Royal Air Force and ROTOR radar station on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Located close to the Verne Citadel and East Cliff, the station was established in the 1950s as part of a nationwide air defence radar system built by the British Government during the Cold War. The station became a scheduled monument in 2004 and now the site of Fancy's Family Farm.

Freshwater Bay, Portland

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.

NCI Portland Bill

NCI Portland Bill is a National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) lookout station on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The station is situated 50 metres above sea level on the cliff edge, half a mile north of the tip of Portland Bill. It is located close to the Old Higher Lighthouse.

Merchants Railway

Merchant's Railway was a horse drawn and cable operated incline railway on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England, built for the stone trade on the island. It was the earliest railway in Dorset, opening in 1826. The railway ran two miles from many working quarries at the north of Tophill, along the edge of Verne Hill, to a pier at Castletown, from where the Portland stone was shipped. It was in operation from 1826 to 1939. Since becoming disused the original path of the railway has become a popular public footpath.

Verne Cistern water supply cistern on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England

Verne Cistern is a water supply cistern on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated at the southern flank of the Verne Ramparts, on the slopes of Verne Hill, along the route of the horse drawn and cable operated Merchant's Railway - now a public footpath. It is on the edge of the Verne Citadel, a 19th-century fort, which is now HM Prison The Verne. The cistern became Grade II Listed in May 1993.

Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery

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.

Coombefield Quarry

Coombefield Quarry is an active stone quarry located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated near the island's southernmost village Southwell. The large quarry has been worked over many years, and has two voids known as Coombefield North and Coombefield South. The quarry today incorporates the former Suckthumb Quarry, which is situated at the northwest part of the quarry, and is now filled in. The quarry is owned by Portland Stone Firms Ltd, along with Broadcroft and Perryfield Quarry. The firm is the largest landholder on the island.

Battle of Douvres Radar Station

The Battle of Douvres Radar Station was a military engagement of World War II as part of the Invasion of Normandy, that took place on the 17 June 1944. The attack was by British 41 Commando, Royal Marines, the station and area were defended mainly by Luftwaffe ground forces. Preceded by an artillery bombardment and supported by mine-clearing and anti-bunker tanks of 79th Armoured Division, the Royal Marines were able to secure the surrender of the garrison.

References

  1. ↑ Opening. "Fancys Family Farm - Farm in Portland, Weymouth and Portland - Dorset". Visit-dorset.com. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  2. ↑ "Portlandbill.co.uk". Portlandbill.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  3. ↑ http://www.fancysfarm.co.uk/ On the "Prices" page
  4. ↑ "Show of support for Fancy's Farm, Portland (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  5. ↑ "New Ground and Tillycoombe, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  6. ↑ Adam Montague. "Portland ROTOR Bunker, Dorset - Urban Exploring". theurbanexplorer.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.fancysfarm.co.uk/ On the "News" page
  8. ↑ http://www.fancysfarm.co.uk/ On the "Home" page
  9. ↑ http://www.fancysfarm.co.uk/ On the "Flowers" page
  10. ↑ "Subterranea Britannica: Sites:". Subbrit.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2013-06-17.

Coordinates: 50°33′32″N2°25′50″W / 50.5590°N 2.4306°W / 50.5590; -2.4306

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

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