OS One-Inch Old Series / First Edition Map Viewer (Sheet 17)

Ordnance Survey One-Inch First Edition Old Map of : Old Series map of OS Old Series Map Sheet 17 (Weymouth and Portland area).

Please note that the modern reference map on the split screen is intended as a guide only.

Old Series Map Index

 

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Landscape and Archaeological Assessment

Landscape Classification

This sheet represents a coastal promontory and ridgeway landscape, characterised by Portland maritime landscape, Weymouth harbour, chalk ridge and river valley fringe.

Archaeological Landscape

The primary archaeological theme is Portland/Weymouth maritime, Roman and prehistoric ridgeway landscape. Enhanced prediction from Roman-road, ridgeway, hillfort/enclosure, villa/estate, road-convergence and river-crossing logic.

High Visibility Locations

Isle of Portland Promontory

Terrain Archaeology

The terrain is interpreted using hachures. Relief is represented by hachures, allowing inference of ridgeways, high points, spur ends, valley approaches and likely route/crossing logic.

Main Geographic Information

Main Landscape Features

Sheet 17 shows a mixed area of coastal promontory and ridgeway Portland maritime landscape, Weymouth harbour, chalk ridge and river valley fringe . The map is useful for studying early 19th Century historic settlement patterns, Roman road alignments, early archaeological site indentification, how roads, old tracks, lanes and paths, villages, waterways and field systems related to the wider nineteenth-century landscape.

Main Geographic Features

Archaeological Predictions

Archaeological Hotspots

Isle of Portland Promontory is interpreted as a coastal defence, quarry and lookout landscape landscape. Weymouth Harbour and Bay is interpreted as a harbour settlement and maritime archaeology zone landscape. South Dorset Ridgeway is interpreted as a prehistoric barrow/ridgeway landscape landscape.

Historic Routes, Crossings and Connections

Dorchester-Weymouth-Portland corridor is interpreted as a Roman/medieval port approach route. Historic crossing points where roads, trackways or routeways converge on significant water features are widely recognised as archaeological hotspots. Crossing points often acted as gateways within the historic landscape. Because movement was channelled through these locations, archaeological evidence may occur both at the crossing itself and along the routes leading towards it, forming broader zones of archaeological potential rather than isolated sites.South Dorset Ridgeway corridor is interpreted as a prehistoric high-route corridor. Historic crossing points where roads, trackways or routeways converge on significant water features are widely recognised as archaeological hotspots. Crossing points often acted as gateways within the historic landscape. Because movement was channelled through these locations, archaeological evidence may occur both at the crossing itself and along the routes leading towards it, forming broader zones of archaeological potential rather than isolated sites.

Historic Gateways and Crossing Places

Weymouth Harbour crossing/access is a harbour/river-mouth access. Frome Valley / Dorchester fringe crossing is a river crossing / Roman road node.

Main Places