Weymouth Harbour was historically a major port, flanked by the two towns of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. These settlements form modern-day Weymouth, with a wealth of historical associations from the Middle Ages to the present. The Isle of Portland lies to the south, joined to Weymouth by the geological miracle of Chesil Beach, with Portland Harbour forming one of the largest man-made harbours in the world, and the local quarried stone has been sought after for buildings throughout the world for centuries. The area is a popular tourist destination today but Weymouth was first developed as a resort by King George III; its military associations include a Royal Navy base and being the embarkation point for thousands of Allied troops during the D-Day invasion in the Second World War.

In A–Z of Weymouth and Portland author Michael Burgess reveals the history behind the Weymouth and Portland area, its buildings and landscape, industries and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections, he includes some unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are lesser known. Readers will discover a Civil War cannonball still embedded in the wall above a public toilet, the quayside where the Black Death is believed to have entered England and a memorial to Australian and New Zealand soldiers returning from Gallipoli. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this fascinating corner of Dorset.