FOR those who walk along Brewers Quay, there are many scenic sights and places to explore at the historic Weymouth site.

The area is home to a former Victorian brewery, which is currently on the market and often earmarked for redevelopment, as well as The Red Lion pub and The Galley Bistro.

In a reference to Weymouth’s heritage as a seaport, industrial and harbourside trade, an anchor is permanently based on Hope Square outside Devenish’s Brewery.

But on close examination, there is a swastika on the left side of the old and weathered anchor.

Dorset Echo: The anchor at Hope Square, Weymouth. Picture: Michael Taylor/Dorset EchoThe anchor at Hope Square, Weymouth. Picture: Michael Taylor/Dorset Echo

While the swastika may raise some eyebrows, especially given how the symbol was hijacked by Nazis and linked to far-right extremism, its meaning is far less sinister.

Traditionally, the swastika has existed for thousands of years and has been used as a symbol of good fortune in almost every culture in the world.

Swastika means "well-being" in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit and the symbol has been used by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

The manufacturer of the anchor, W L Byers and Co LTD, used the swastika symbol as their trademark in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

An online historian has uncovered how an advertising page from a 1905 or 1906 edition of 'Reed's Shipowners' & Shipmaster's Handy Book' shows the swastika logo alongside Byer’s name.

Dorset Echo: The anchor has been based at Hope Square for many years. Picture: Dorset EchoThe anchor has been based at Hope Square for many years. Picture: Dorset Echo

W L Byers and Co LTD, based in Sunderland, was a supplier of large ship anchors and chains and cast the symbol on their anchors prior to being used by the Nazi party.

But due to the swastika being hijacked by the far-right Nazi party, Byers stopped using the symbol in a bid to distance themselves away from the political party.

It is not known when the anchor was first placed at Hope Square, but Byer’s anchors have also been placed around Britain and the world, including Malta and Canada.

One of their anchors displayed in a Quebec town in Canada sparked controversy in August 2017 when a local man attempted to cover the anchor’s swastika when he misunderstood its meaning.

Radio Canada International reported how “the local mayor saw him and told him to stop, while calling police for what he saw as vandalism.” The article later explained the meaning of the symbol on the anchor and debunked its links to far-right ideology.

Dorset Echo: The anchor at Hope Square, Weymouth. Picture: Michael Taylor/Dorset Echo