This week we travel back in time through Weymouth's past thanks to the some evocative old photos shared with us by Geoff Pritchard.

Here, Geoff talks us through these interesting images of old Weymouth.

COUNCIL OFFICES

Whilst discussion rages about the future of the former Council Offices, here is a photo dating from 1970 whilst the building was under construction and one taken on the day of the official opening by Princess Anne in 1971.

MODEL RAILWAYS

With the welcome return of the Weymouth Model Railway show here is a scene from an earlier one, probably about 1960.

At that time it was customary for an exhibition to take place in August at Melcombe Regis Boys’ School on Westham Bridge and a smaller on a few weeks before Christmas at the Small Sidney Hall. Both were organised by the Weymouth Model Engineering Society.

Here enthusiastic onlookers watch with interest the Society’s layout Wadmes Central layout which was the centrepiece of the exhibition. Does anyone recognise someone in the photo?

GLEBE HOUSE

Glebe House on the east side of Cross Road in Weymouth was one of the great houses which were a feature of south Weymouth, most of which no longer exist.

There was a need for a vicarage for Holy Trinity Church and the Rector of Wyke Regis gave a piece of land in Cross Road as a possible site, but the Vicar thought it too far away from the church. However the land was bought with a view to selling it to fund a more suitable site.

The vicar had a change of mind, accepted it and the money was given by a Major Spicer who wanted to get on the right side of the Bishop and gave money for the “benefit of some poor parish.”

The Bishop of Salisbury gave the money to Holy Trinity and it was used to build Glebe House. The building cost £2,500 in 1872 but the builder went bankrupt on completing the works.

The next vicar thought the house too far away from the church and moved out. The house was leased to Canon Morrice who became an Honorary Curate, and who subsequently bought the house.

It was lived in by several generations of the family until the last member moved to more modern accommodation and the house and 2.5 acres were sold in 1978.

Many pupils of Holy Trinity School will remember the horse which occupied the paddock on the south side of the house.

I remember going to the viewing for the sale of the house out of curiosity as I had passed the house on my way to Holy Trinity Schools and for the first two years of my time at Weymouth Grammar School.

It was a cold, dull winter’s afternoon and it was like going into a time warp where things appeared to have stood still since the 1920s, with children’s toys from the 1920s and antique china.

The eerie atmosphere was enhanced when the auctioneer’s representative, thinking it was cold, plugged into an electric fire. There was a bang, and the viewers were plunged into darkness as the fuses blew!

There was an attempt to convert the house for further use but this proved impractical and it was demolished.

Ironically the present Holy Trinity Vicarage is in Glebe Close, part of the site.

LIFEBOAT

As Christmas approaches it is time to remember a custom which took place a few days before Christmas.

When the Shambles lightship was manned the lifeboat paid a visit and Christmas presents were delivered to the crew who remained on site over Christmas.

A carol service was conducted by the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church.

In this photo dating from about 1970 Father Christmas, Kenneth Mooring Aldridge, a local solicitor who was Honorary Secretary of Weymouth RNLI from 1951 to 1975, prepares to board the dinghy by which lifeboat crew boarded the lifeboat before a jetty from Nothe Parade was built.

With him are Doctor Gordon Wallace the Honorary Medical Officer and Chairman of the local branch, Alf Pavey (Coxwain), Bert Legge,” Ponty” Groves and Lionel Hellier.

*Thanks so much to Geoff for these fascinating photos and the information. If you have old photos of Weymouth you'd like to send to us along with explanations, email them to joanna.davis@dorsetecho.co.uk