Heritage At Risk
It was built in the 1530s by King Henry VIII and was hotly contested during the bloody battles of the Civil War – it even survived two World Wars while nearby Portland Harbour was a top enemy target – but for its entire existence Sandsfoot Castle in Weymouth has been gradually crumbling into the sea.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council bought the castle for £150 in 1902 but does not have enough money to repair it. As a result, English Heritage has placed it on its Buildings At Risk Register.
Meanwhile, just 20 miles along the coast at Kimmeridge Bay, another monument had £898,000 lavished on it to save it from a similar fate.
Three years ago the Landmark Trust began moving Clavell Tower, stone by stone, 82ft away from the eroding cliff.
The project, largely paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was completed in February of last year and is now used as a holiday home.
"The Government is not going to be looking to hand out large sums for heritage."
But English Heritage regional team leader Veryan Heal is unsure whether something similar could happen at Sandsfoot.
"Public spending will get tighter and tighter," she said, "especially in the current climate.
"Would anyone consider moving something like that when the money might be better spent on protecting something around the corner? There are a lot of things to take into consideration.
"Money is being redirected to the Olympics – the Government is not going to be looking to hand out large sums for heritage."
Sandsfoot has been crumbling since it was built. Photo: Roz Tappenden
Nevertheless, the building is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and sits on the Rodwell Trail, a historic footpath which follows the disused Weymouth to Portland railway line, so there are plenty of people who want to save it.
The Friends of the Rodwell Trail are working with the borough council on £60,000 Heritage Lottery Funding bid for emergency repairs. If successful, they hope to secure a further £200,000 to restore and reopen the ruin.
Weymouth and Portland's environment councillor Tim Munro said: "If you go to the north west corner, at the moment it’s held up by one stone but the funding will mean it can be put back to a state where you can recognise its function.
"It was suffering from erosion from within 50 years of it being here so the site was never great.
"We haven't fallen into the sea yet, so we're hoping we will be here for at least another 100 years."
"We've had constant sea erosion here for 400 years and we haven't fallen in the sea yet, so we're hoping we will be here for at least another 100 years."
The funding application will includes an educational element which will link Sandsfoot to Nothe Fort and Portland Castle and any repair work would involve apprentice stonemasons from Weymouth College.
Local historian Debby Rose said: "People really care about it. It's an essential part of Weymouth's history and it’s one of the oldest parts of its history, along with the Tudor House and the Old Town Hall.
"I would love to see it reopened, but obviously it's got to be made safe. It’s a beautiful building despite its state."
