There were no cameras or postcards at the end of the 18th century, so in 1790 local publisher John Love produced a beautiful portfolio of local pictures aimed at the wealthy visitors to the fashionable resort of Weymouth just made popular by George III.

Thanks to Weymouth Museum for this photo of an aquatint engraving from that portfolio showing Belfield House. The engraving by James Fittler, ‘Engraver to his Majesty’ was based on a drawing by Thomas Morris.

The house had been built about 10 years earlier for Isaac Buxton, a wealthy London merchant and would later be inherited by his son, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton. (Buxton Road is so-called because it was the road to Buxton’s house long before Thomas Fowell Buxton became MP for Weymouth). The neo-classical villa was designed by John Crunden, who was a well-known architect of country houses at that time.

If you want to find out more about the house there will be a free talk next week by Joyce Fannon of the Thomas Fowell Buxton Society following their AGM.

The AGM is being held on Wednesday, March 16 from 2pm to 4pm at St Aldhelm's in Spa Road and will be presided over by Weymouth Mayor, Cllr Colin Huckle.

After the interval a presentation will be given on 'John Crunden, architect of Belfield House: the sources of his inspiration and a glimpse of Belfield 'upstairs and downstairs' in 1851'. Non-members are very welcome to attend.