Weymouth's history can be traced back to AD43 when the Romans landed and the Second Legion led by Vespasian stormed the hill fort at Maiden Castle near Dorchester.  Along with their own brand of civilisation the Romans also imported the Black Death - local resting place of the victims now known as The Jubilee Retail Park.

In the mid-1700's the rich and famous throughout the land frequently 'took the waters' in towns such as Bath and Wells but due to the interest of Prince William Henry the First Duke of Gloucester, (George III's younger brother) he had built the Gloucester Lodge to be used as his own summer residence. 

The Corporation of Weymouth took to advertising and this advertisement of 1782 in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal reads as follows -

       "Weymouth is now, as it has been of late years, the resort of people of the first disctinction; and as a watering place, it stands unrivalled with any other on the coast.  The general tranquility of the bay, the cleanness of the water, the softness and almost imperceptible decent of its shore are highly favourable for the purpose of bathing".    

On 30th June 1789 the King (George III) who was recovering from a bout of illness, came to Weymouth to recuperate and stayed at Gloucester Lodge for a period of 10 weeks.  It is reported that on viewing the bay of Weymouth for the first time His Majestry exclaimed "I have never enjoyed a sight so pleasing".  One week after his arrival George III bathed in the sea for the firrst time and a replica of his bathing machine can be seen alongside his statue close to the entrance of the town.