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Car Hire in Weymouth
Weymouth
Granted its first charter in 1252, the resort of Weymouth in Dorset takes its name from the small River Wey that runs through the north-west of the town. It was from two ships docked in the harbour of Weymouth that the rats which carried The Black Death first brought the plague into England in 1348, and the town carried out coastal and continental trading during the early Middle Ages, although not always legally! As with most coastal towns at that time, smuggling was a prominent part of Weymouth's trade, but today the town offers a superb Georgian seafront with fine golden sands and the historic harbour. Brewers Quay has been created from the paved courtyards and alleys of the former Devenish brewery, and now houses more than 20 shops specialising in locally produced as well as international goods. The Nothe Fort on Barrack Road is a restored Victorian fort which now offers military models and displays. Visitors can explore the gundecks and magazines as well as enjoying the spectacular views. There is a Victorian Festival each year in August, where re-enactment groups perform displays and "Queen Victoria" actually inspects her beloved troops! The 6-acre Bennetts Water Garden is one of Europe's oldest water lily nurseries, while Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens are filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world. Weymouth is primarily renowned as a resort town, with more than 4,500 hotel beds, many of which are situated on the impressive sweep of Georgian seafront buildings.