King George III's Weymouth Holiday's

King George III, born in 1738 holidayed in Weymouth regularly after his first Visit to the resort in 1789 making it one of his favourite holiday destinations. He bought a holiday home in the town, whilst his love for the resort helped to make it the fashionable holiday town of its day other Georgians to visit. There are many reminders of King Georges visits to Weymouth, from the Kings statue on the seafront and a replica Georgian bathing machine to the chalk drawn Osmington White Horse depicting King George on horseback. The King first visited Weymouth in 1789, whilst recovering from serious mental illness. Leading physicians of the day had long been recommending the benefits of the cold sea water as a cure for a wide range ailments including those of the mind.

King George III Visits Weymouth 1789

That first visit to Weymouth was hugely popular with the local Weymouth residents, they wanted to show King George their appreciation at him choosing to holiday in Weymouth. The town was covered with royal material and God save the King was played at every opportunity. Even when the king was privately taking in the waters on Weymouth beach, God save the king would ring out loud as the town showed their love for their King. One can imagine this proud and elated holiday atmosphere as the king enjoyed his holiday in the town.

King Georges Weymouth holiday home

King George stayed in his brothers sizeable Weymouth holiday lodge on the seafront during his initial holidays in Weymouth. He later purchased the lodge himself and turned it into his own personal Weymouth holiday home named 'Gloucester lodge'. Here King George stayed every year between 1789 and 1805, save for the odd year when he missed his annual Weymouth holidays altogether. King Georges frequent visits to holiday in Weymouth during this glorious era of Weymouth history included many of the same Weymouth holiday favourites that are still popular today - bathing in the waters and sailing. He would visit his warships at Portland harbour, walk around and talk to his loyal subjects. He was especially pleased to see those who worked the land, earning himself the affectionate nickname 'Farmer George'. King George also enjoyed visiting the local Dorset landowners of the day.

King George III, the last Weymouth holiday

Despite the Kings medicinal holidays to Weymouth every year, his health continued to deteriorate and in 1811, he became so ill that he was replaced by his son, Prince George, the Prince Regent. Sadly King George ceased visiting Weymouth in 1805 due to his health and passed away at Windsor Castle in 1820 at the age of 81.

Reminders of King Georges visiting Weymouth

There are a number of reminders of King Georges love of his holidays to Weymouth and the gratitude that the towns inhabitants paid to him. His Weymouth holiday home Gloucester lodge still remains on the seafront. Not far along the sea front as you head towards the harbour, can be found the King George III monument, a statue showing King George standing proudly facing his beloved Weymouth bay and its medicinal waters. Close by is a replica of his bathing machine, such machines were popular with the wealthy of the day who enjoyed Weymouth holidays but wanted to enjoy the sea in privacy. Perhaps the most famous reminder of King Georges association with the town is the Weymouth White Horse carved into the chalk cliffs of Osmington and viewable to thousands of Weymouth holiday makers from the seafront and pier. A local (but false) legend has it that the White horse was carved into the cliff to depict King George riding into Weymouth. The King supposedly took offence at the fact that the horse was riding out of Weymouth rather than to the town and believed that this was a sign that Weymouth no longer wanted him to visit. The unfortunate creator, having heard of King Georges disappointment committed suicide. This legend is highly unlikely to be true however as it is known that the White Horse was created after King Georges last holiday to Weymouth (the figure was completed in 1808 - 3 years after the Kings last visit) and therefore the King never actually saw it. The white horse although impressive when viewed from Weymouth beach is even more impressive close up when one realises just how huge the creation is, covering over an acre of the cliff top it is carved into. Read more about the Osmington White Horse Here. Another chalk depiction in Dorset (possibly the most popular chalk hillside carving in England) is the Cerne Abbas giant, etched into a huge area of hills overlooking the Dorset village of Cerne. Cerne is about a 30 minute drive from Weymouth, just outside the county town of Dorchester. You can appreciate the Cerne Abbas Giant from the carpark at the bottom of the hill.

King George enjoyed Weymouth all those years ago and to this day, people visit Weymouth from all over to enjoy its fine sandy beach just like King George over 200 years earlier.