Easton, Dorset
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Easton | |
|---|---|
  Easton Location within Dorset | |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Portland |
| Postcode district | DT5 |
| Dialling code | 01305 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Easton is a village on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. The village is situated at Tophill, within the centre of the island. As with the rest of Portland's villages and settlements, Easton, including the settlements Reforne and Straits, 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.[1][2]
The village has a small square with many shops and shopping arcade, three churches, a small park, and other amenities, including various pubs, as well as the nearby Secondary school Royal Manor Arts College, (which has now been closed down, with the only secondary school on the island being Atlantic Academy Portland). Along with Fortuneswell, Easton is the main hub of the Isle of Portland's activities. St George's Centre and The George Inn lies within the Reforne area of Easton, and provides facilities for many local events.
Easton was established around a natural watercourse and various springs, of which there are indications of medieval inhabitants. The village pond was situated at Easton Square, and a well head and pump were later installed in 1775. Easton largely developed through Tophill's prime industry of agriculture.[2] By 1782, Easton was the island's second largest settlement.[3] The island's first school, Maister's School, opened in Straits during 1720.[4][5] St. George's Church was built as the island's parish church within Reforne, between 1754 and 1766, replacing St Andrew's.[6]
The village saw an infamous event during 1803, known as the Easton Massacre, which saw British armed forces shoot and kill three citizens, when trying to press males of Portland into service. The press gang arrived at Easton Square where they were met by a group of citizens who had gathered to stop them. When one man was taken and the crowd attempted a rescue, the captain fired on them. The marines under his command also opened fire. There were three people killed, and another two wounded, one of whom, Mary Way, later died of her wounds.[7] From the 1840s onwards Portland saw a large increase in its population,[8] leading to Easton expanding, and becoming more urbanised. Both Reforne and Wakeham were separate hamlets until this time, when they merged into Easton.[2]
During the 19th-century, the Easton & Church Hope Railway put forward plans to extend the Weymouth and Portland Railway Line to Easton. On 1 October 1900 Easton station was opened to goods trains, and to the public on 1 September 1902.[9] The line closed to passengers in 1952 and goods trains in 1965. The station site was demolished in 1970,[9] and is now the site of a residential home.[10] In 1904, Easton Square, which had long been barren land, was transformed into Easton Gardens.[11] All Saints Church was built at Straits between 1914 and 1917, and became the new parish church for Tophill.[12] Easton remains one of Portland's main hubs of activity to date.