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Castletown is a small village in Underhill on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. It is located close to Fortuneswell, on the shores of Portland Harbour, and includes a sandy beach, as well as one of Portland's notable highlights; Portland Castle, while the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is also located nearby. As with the rest of Portland's villages and settlements, Castletown has been designated as a conservation area, as it is a place of special architectural and historic interest. Underhill, incorporating Castletown and other settlements became designated in 1976 with boundary extensions in 1997 and 2000.〔〔https://www.dorsetforyou.com/416983〕 ==History== Originally the location for fishermen to launch their boats, Castletown later developed during the 19th-century with the construction of Portland Harbour's breakwaters, and the establishment of the naval base.〔https://www.dorsetforyou.com/media/199172/Portland-conservation-area-appraisal/pdf/Appraisal_of_the_Conservation_Areas_of_Portland.pdf〕〔http://www.geoffkirby.co.uk/Portland/685740/〕 During the 16th-century, Henry VII had selected Castletown area for the building of Portland Castle, which defended Portland Harbour. Castletown later became an essential part of the horse drawn and cable operated incline railway Merchant's Railway, which was operational from 1826 to 1939. At a time when transporting stone by sea was the only available option, the railway transported stone from the quarries at Tophill to Castletown's pier for shipping.〔http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/p/portland_first/〕〔http://web.archive.org/web/20141129045457/http://www.portlandbill.co.uk/merchants_railway.htm〕 During the early 19th-century Castletown was still only a small settlement, and aside from the castle and piers, there were only a few residential properties.〔 By the middle of the 19th-century, Castletown changed in character.〔 The large population increase that occurred during the 1840s onwards was due to the construction of Portland Harbour's Breakwaters.〔http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Portland/PYB/Population.html〕 A one-sided terrace had been formed by 1864, and along this frontage a number of businesses and residential properties were established.〔 Due to it being the gateway to the naval base, Castletown became a thriving commercial area.〔https://susanhogben.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/victorian-castletown-portland-matelots-mariners-and-mishaps/〕 In 1944 Portland's harbour was commissioned as USNAAB Portland-Weymouth. The harbour was a major embarkation point for American troops during D-Day, and Castletown saw many soldiers and vehicles pass through.〔http://www.portland-port.co.uk/history〕 In 1993, as part of defence spending cuts, the closure was announced of the naval base at Portland. It was forecast that the departure of the Royal Navy would bring economical disaster to Castletown.〔 With the withdrawal of the navy in 1995, Castletown lost the majority of its income and has since suffered from this, with the gradual loss of a number of businesses.〔http://www.underwaterexplorers.co.uk/wordpress/wp-photos/DivePortlandBrochure.pdf〕 In October 2014 Nemesis Properties applied for planning permission to redevelop Castletown Pier,〔http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/11632908.Plans_to_regenerate_Castletown_Pier_backed/〕 and work began during 2015 on transforming the pier into "Crabbers Wharf". In June 2015 further development plans were revealed for the regeneration of Castletown, including a "scuba diving tourist facility, an American themed D-Day attraction and museum." It was also suggested that talks with Portland Port may allow Portland's two Mulberry Harbour Phoenix Units to be opened to the public.〔http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/13354717.REVEALED__New_regeneration_plans_to_bring_Castletown__up_off_its_knees_/〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Castletown, Dorset」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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