Queen Anne House, Portland

Queen Anne House is a detached residence in Fortuneswell on the Isle of Portland with 18th-century English architectural features, including a Gibbs pattern door surround and substantial boundary walls with stone gate piers. The building has been restored inside and now operates as accommodation, maintaining its original architectural character throughout its spaces.

Thomas Gilbert, a prominent architect and quarry merchant, built this residence for himself after 1728 on the Isle of Portland. The building dates from the period when stone quarrying was bringing wealth to the island and helped establish its reputation.

The house reflects the wealth that stone quarrying brought to Portland in the 18th century, showing how successful merchants displayed their fortunes through grand domestic architecture. Georgian design was not common on Portland at that time, making this building a marker of prosperity and status in the community.

The house can be approached through the substantial boundary walls and gate, which give a clear sense of the property from outside. The building sits prominently in Fortuneswell and is easily reached on foot from the town center.

This building is the most complete surviving house from its construction period on Portland, preserving original architectural details that have vanished from elsewhere on the island. Visitors can observe how a wealthy person of that era actually lived and what craftsmanship standards were expected.

Location: Portland

GPS coordinates: 50.55860,-2.44010

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:12