The Portland of old had two main trades, both of which have decreased over the years. It was common for those "up top" to be the masons, and those "down under" to be the fishermen.**
The stone industry is far stronger than fishing nowadays, but still not itself what it was.
Both trades superbly shown here in stone. (I wish I had done it!) ;-)
** Top of the Island is known as "tophill" and bottom half as "underhill".
The "hill" being "new road" the rd that leads up to tophill, via underhill.
The people from both halves didn't always get on, and it was quite a serious divide at one time.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER FEATHER FISHING FOR MACERAL AND THE LARGE SEINE NETS USED FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF CHESI BEACH PORTLAND WYKE PARKWALL CHICKERELL LANGTON HERING ABBOTSBURY AND THE SPRATS AROUND SEPTEMBER FRESH FISH HARD WORK SMALL REWARD BUT THOSE WERE THE DAYS
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