Underhill

Underhill is an area of very steep land at the north end of Portland containing four of Portland’s eight villages.

The fishing village of Chesil at left, sits virtually on Chesil Beach with fishermen’s boats drawn up on the beach. Up the hill straggles Fortuneswell. Even on a calm day the surf and size of the breaking waves is notable. You can see how narrow the beach is to the north. Further beyond this point is the Ferrybridge, where The Fleet can be seen running into the Harbor.

Chesil was where our early Underhill Flann forebears lived, farmed and fished, until they became quarrymen and grandfather Robert¹ moved to Easton. They were then known as Top-Hill Flanns.

The photo is after 1865 as the railway from Weymouth has reached Portland and you can see the station center, to the north of the Square.