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East Weare Camp is a derelict and disused detention barracks on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. It is located within the East Weares area of the island, overlooking Portland Harbour. The camp became Grade II Listed in September 1978. The site originally served the East Weare Battery which lies 200 feet below. The battery and East Weare Camp remain on the private property of Portland Port Ltd, and have not been opened to the public.
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History
The East Weare Battery was built in the 1860s as a result of the Royal Commission to guard the new Portland harbour and Royal Navy institutions on the island. East Weare Camp was built circa 1880 as a detention barracks for military service personnel, and were approached by a climbing zig-zag route, which allowed troops access to the battery and camp via a sally port created on the east side from the Verne Citadel. Later the camp was converted to coastguard use in 1914.
Condition and current state
The buildings, like the battery, have become dilapidated, and are subject to vandalism and overgrown foliage. Built with snecked and dressed rubble, some slate roofs remain today. The battery and East Weare Camp have remained closed to the public. This was despite published reports in 1996 that Portland Port Ltd had made plans of the possible renovation of historic coastal fortifications in the area.