Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/251

Rh PORTLAND, ISLE OF. 239 PORTMARNOCK. or the Vimlt'lia Promontorittm of Antonine, in N. lat. 50" 30' 35", within eight of which the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, and Van Tromp beaten by Blake in 1653. The island was ravaged by the Danes in the 8th and 9th centuries, and was seized by Earl Godwin in 1052. The French made an attempt to land here in 1404, and in 1646 the old castle, built by Henry VIII., was taken by stratagem by the Earl of Carnarvon at the head of a party of royalists. It was anciently the pro- perty of the Bishops of Winchester, and was subse- quently held under the crown by Queen Catherine, Anne of Denmark, the Stewards of Mottington, the Rev. John Manning, and since the accession of Queen Victoria the castle has been granted officially to Captain C. A. Manning, as lieutenant of the island and resident magistrate. The castle contains some paintings, and is mounted with 12 and 24-pounders in time of war. On the top of a hill, at a place called the Grove, is the con- vict prison, constructed chiefly of wood and iron, with accommodation for 1,500 convicts, who are chiefly em- ployed on the construction of a breakwater in Portland- roads, which, when completed, will extend for above 2J miles into the sea, with six fathoms water, so as to form a roadstead at the north-eastern corner of the island, of 4 milea in extent, sheltered from all winds, and capable of containing a fleet of 60 sail. On the clifls, near Cave Hole, a pit 60 feet square, are two lighthouses, the upper one, put up in 1817, with 14 lights and reflectors, being upon the revolving principle, visible for 20 miles, and 198 fret above sea level ; the lower, put up in 1789, is built in the form of a cone, with a fixed light visible for 16 miles, and 131 feet high, having a gallery from which may bo seen that dangerous sea called the Kace, caused by the meeting of the tides and the shambles reef with only 11 feet of water in one part where the Aberga- ttnny struck in 1805. The population is at present (1866) somewhat over 6,000, but at least half this number are non-residents, being engaged on the government works, in the army, or convicts. The inhabitants are a tall, hardy race of people, chiefly employed in the stone- quarries, which were first brought into notice in the reign of James I. They live in scattered villages or hamlets, as Castlcton, Chiswell, Church Hope, Kaston, Fortune's Well, Maidenwell, Mallams, Reform, South- well, Wakeham, Weston, and Yeates. The only article of export is stone, of which 45,000 tons are annually shipped, some of the stones varying from 5 to 14 tons each. A short line of railway runs from the quarries to the pier, where the ships lie to receive their lading. The stone is a variety of upper oolite called " roach " or Portland, varying from 137 to 146 Ibs. per cubic foot. Of this stone are built the banqueting-hall at Whitehall, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Monument, the Goldsmith's- hall, and the Reform Club, and many other public build- ings in the metropolis. In the quarries are found numerous fossils, petrified trees, shells, coal-stone, and sugar-candy stone. Below the beds of stone, which are from 7 to 16 feet thick and extend over nearly the whole island, is a layer of bluish clay, and above a " dirt bed " with shelly chert, slaty limestone, and rough capstone. The soil is in general fertile, though shallow, and affords good pasture for a small choice breed of island sheep. Wood is scarce, and cow-dung mixed with stubble is used for fuel. Water, which is obtained from wells, is good and plentiful, and there is a small mill stream. Land slips took place here in 1734 and 1792. Tin: native plant "arum maculatum" or cuckoo pint, is used as arrowroot, and a delicious little bird, the wheat- <-:ir, ii taken in great numbers. The custom of gavel- kind prevails in the island, which forms a liberty of itself. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Sarum, vol. ', in the patron, of the Bishop of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. George, contains some ancient monuments. There is besides the district church of St. John, the living of which is a perpot. cur.,* val. 60, in the patroTi nun's Trustees. The church, which H a Gothic structure with a square r. The Wesleyans, Independents, and Bible Chris- tians have each a place of worship. There, is a free school supported by the county members, also National and British schools. There is a dispensary under the patronage of her Majesty, also several good inns in the island, including the new hotel at C'astleton and the Portland Arms, where King George III. was in the habit of dining, and where is preserved a specimen of a fossil tree 20 feet in height. On the cliffs, near Penn- sylvania House, built by the late Governor Penn, are the ruins of Bow and Arrow Castle, built by William Rufus, and taken by the followers of the Empress Maud in 1192. The family of Bcntinck take from this place the title of Duke of Portland. PORTLAND TOWN, a suburban district in the par. and borough of Marylebone, co. Middlesex, 3 miles W. by N.of St. Paul's, London. It is situated on the farther side-of the Regent's Park. There is a church built by Daukes in 1849, and dedicated to St. Stephen. PORTLAW, a small post town in the par. of Clone- gam, bar. of Upperthird, co. Waterford, prov. of Munster, Ireland, 8 miles N.W. of Waterford, and 83 S.W. of Dublin. It has a station on the Waterford and Lime- rick railway. It stands near the river Suir on a small stream called the Cloddagh. The town, since the intro- duction of cotton mills, has risen from a poor village to 11 prosperous town. Petty sessions are held here at in- tervals. Fairs are held on 28th May, 26th August, and Easter Monday. PORTLEMOUTH EAST, a par. in the hund. of Coleridge, co. Devon, 5 miles S.E. of Kingsbridge, its post town. It is situated on the E. shore of Salcombe bay, near the mouth of the creek, and contains the hmlts. of Holset and Rickham. A ferry-boat plies between here and Salcombe. The village is very small and chiefly agricultural, except a few fishermen. It commands a sea view. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 324. The church is an old struc- ture with a tower. It contains a carved wooden screen. PORTLICII, a vil. in the par. of Kilnmir Easter, cos. Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, 7 miles S. of Tain. It is situated on Cromurty Frith. PORT-LOGAN, a creek on the W. coast of co. Wig- town, Scotland, 4 miles N. by W. of Kirkmaidcn. PORTLOMAN, a par. in the bar. of Corkaree, co. Westmeath, prov. of Leinstcr, Ireland. Mullingar is its post town. It lies along the W. shore of Lough Owcl. The soil is rich. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Meath, val. with another, 136, in the patron, of the bishop. Here are a church and a day school. Portloman House is the only residence. A monastery anciently stood here. PORT-LORGAN, a creek in the bar. of Inishowen, co. Donegal, Ireland, near Malin Head. PORTMADOC, a vil. in the par. of Ynys-cynhaiarn, co. Carnarvon, 1 mile S.E. of Tremadoc. It is a sub- port to Carnarvon, and has daily communication by coach with Pen-y-Groes railway station on the Car- narvon and Nantlle railway. The village, which eon- tains a commercial inn, is situated at the mouth of the river Traeth Mawr. It is much frequented in the season for sea bathing. PORTMAGEE, a small vil. and fishing harbour in the par. of Killemlagh, bar. of Iveragh, co. Kerry, prov. of Munster, Ireland, near Bray Head. PORTMAHOMACK, a vil. in the par. of Tarbat, cos. Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, 9 miles E. by N. of Tain. It is situated on Dornoch Frith", under Tarbat- ness, and is a sub-port to Inverness. There is a pier of about 400 feet, extending along the shore of the harbour, which is low and sandy. PORTMARNOCK, a par. in the bar. of Coolock, co. Dublin, prov. of Leinster, Ireland. Cloghran is its post town. It is a station on the Dublin and Droght-ila line. The greater proportion of the soil is good. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Dublin, val. 112, in the patron, of the archbishop. The church was a gift from the late Board of First Fruits in 1788. There is a day school. Portmarnock House is one among the several scats in this parish. Near the village stands Robs- Wall, a small castle, built some three centuries