WITH news that North Quay in Weymouth is soon to be redeveloped, we're taking a look back at the history of the site.

The council offices are due to be demolished and 72 homes will be built in its place.

Thanks to Susan Hogben for sharing this information with us.

Back in the 1850s, this site and back harbour was the place where the everyday working boats moored up, with their wooden hulls, elegant tall masts, yards of rope rigging and heavy canvas sails.

This part of Weymouth originally had an eclectic collection of buildings, including grand Tudor houses and Georgian villas.

Susan said: "The Old High Street had witnessed so much history, from the sounds of fierce conflict, deadly musket fire, fleeing soldiers and the site of much bloodshed and death, when Weymouth became heavily embroiled in the Civil War.

"Later it took a heavy pounding during WWII as German bombers did their best to blow Weymouth harbour to smithereens."

During frequent air raids large sections of the street were demolished.

Susan said: "I can recall as a child wandering through the remnants of these bombed out buildings, mesmerised by the remaining walls, some with wallpaper hanging off, once cosy and intimate bedroom fire places open to the world, the ubiquitous Budlleja sprouting, softening the harsh lines of destruction.

"Many locals of a certain age will tell tales of these tumble down ruins as their childhood adventure playground."

Later this whole section of the old High Street and waterfront buildings were swept away as part of the slum clearances, first turned into a temporary carpark and taken over by the council for their new offices.

n Next week we're going to be looking at some of the people who were born, lived and worked in the Old High Street of the 1850s.