Ecobird's photos with the keyword: Watchet

The figurehead of Salacia "Sally" was presented to Watchet's Esplanade Club in July 2017 by Alan Herriott, the sculptor who created the sculptures Yankee Jack and The Ancient Mariner that stand on Watchet Harbour. She was painted by local artist Pat Dennis. In Roman mythology Neptune wanted to marry Salacia, goddess of salt water, but she was nervous, gliding away and hiding from him in the Atlantic ocean to protect herself and her virginity. Neptune sent a dolphin to look for her and to tell her Neptune wanted her for his wife. Salacia agreed and returned with the dolphin to become Neptune's bride. It is said that Neptune was so grateful to the dolphin he was awarded a place in the heavens, becoming the constellation Delphinus A little tongue in cheek I have added Madonna and 'Like a Virgin' www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIIZV0ngGbU also Norah Jones 'Queen of the Sea' www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L9hqRs8HQk

This rusty anchor hangs on the wall of a very old cottage, possibly dating back to the early 1600s, situated on the old west harbour wall at Watchet. There is a heavy old door that looks to be for a very short person and the sign over the door tells us this is Sammy Hake's Cottage. Not a lot is know about Sammy but the folk lore abounds as is often the case in very old harbour towns. The house itself appears to have been built on part of the harbour wall evidenced by stone steps and an old mooring post dating to the 1400s which were discovered inside. Terrible storms destroyed much of this area in 1607 and it is believed that this cottage and others would then have been rebuilt in the same spot using the existing foundations. Local records show a Sammy Hake born in 1851, the youngest child of Elizabeth, formerly of Minehead. Sammy is the only child mentioned as being resident and living with his mother in Watchet. He appears to have made a living all his life as a labourer, until in later years he became a fisherman using nets and stakes and fishing from the beach. During the First World War Sammy was one of the labourers who helped to tear up the railway lines of the old mineral railway, for use in the munitions industry. The rails were lifted onto a hand operated pump trolley and sent down the line for onward transportation to Wales. One of the team decided it would be a good idea to attach a sail to the trolley to make their work easier. Unfortunately it then crashed into the closed railway barriers at Washford and Sammy was one of the men who ended up with cuts and bruises for their trouble! One of the stories about the cottage was that an older lady lived there with Sammy, her son, and a black cat. The lady had, it seemed, mystical powers and had a running supply of brandy from the sea captains who didn't want her to put a spell on them!! Sammy did not enjoy the best of health and in later life neighbours and friends helped to care for him. One story is that he was believed to have passed away and the local amateur undertaker, Jimmy the Chippy was sent to measure him up for a coffin. During the proceedings Sammy woke up to be told by the undertaker to lie down and die like any normal man!! Information taken from the Watchet Conservation Society newsletter, - 'Watchet Matters'' and research by Chris Saunders. I loved the rusty anchor against the old, textured rendered wall and the trail of rust running down the wall from the salt water damage over the years.

The Ancient Mariner, captured at Watchet Harbour. From 'The Rime of the Ancient mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge had been staying in nearby Nether Stowey and went for an evening walk with his friends William Wordsworth and Dorothy, his sister, who were living close by at Alfoxton and they arrived in Watchet, staying the night there before carrying on with their walk. Watchet became the inspiration for Coleridge's poem so it is fitting that the statue should take pride of place here on the Esplanade. I have taken many pictures of this beautiful sculpture by Scottish artist Alan Herriot but on this visit he was sadly in need of a wash and brush up as he had been targeted by the birds. Maybe this seems like sweet revenge on the mariner who killed the albatross that hangs around his neck, put there by the crew as a punishment for killing it and bringing about a fatal run of bad luck. The wind stilled, the ship did not move, and they ran out of water. The crew all died and only the mariner survived, a haunted man. "Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion ; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink ; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink." ... "And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root ; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot. Ah ! well a-day! What evil looks Had I from old and young ! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.’ Should you wish to read the full, (and somewhat lengthy) poem here is a link:- www.poetsgraves.co.uk/Classic%20Poems/Coleridge/the_rime_of_the_ancient_mariner.htm For Sight and Sound here is a link to Albatross by Fleetwood Mac www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXeKi6ZkbOw

The Esplanade, Watchet Harbour, and the sun is shining. People sit and gaze out at the harbour alongside Yankee Jack and even he seems to smile as he enjoys the good weather. Whilst we enjoy the feel of the sun's rays on our faces the pigeons are simply enjoying the scraps of food at their feet. The Yankee Jack bronze figure was sculpted by Alan Herriot, as was the Ancient Mariner statue just along the harbourside. Born in 1839 and a seaman from the age of 14, John Short sailed the world for over 40 years firstly as an able seaman and then as bosun. He had a fine voice and used to sing all the old sea shanties, both aboard ship and on the harbour. In the 1860s some of his ships ran the blockade in the American Civil War, for which the locals affectionately gave him the nickname 'Yankee Jack'. He had married Annie Marie Wedlake, the daughter of a Watchet master mariner, and in the 1880's with her health failing John returned home and from then on only took shorter trips to spend more time with her and his family. In 1902 he became the Watchet Town Crier and later went on to take charge of the local fire brigade. He had built up a great repertoire of sea shanties and continued to sing on the harbourside and in local concerts, a familiar and much loved local character. He died in 1933, aged 94 years. It seems fitting that this statue of him should forever be seated in a place where he gave so much pleasure to the town. Information from 'Love Watchet' website Happy Bench Monday everyone

Low tide and Reflections in the water at Watchet Harbour today . The weather was beautiful and the water was quite still. The coast guard's hut on the right overlooks the scene and the words from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' are written on the harbour wall at the rear of the shot. ' The Fair Breeze Blew The White Foam Flew The Furrow Followed Free' Coleridge wrote the poem here whilst staying in the area with William Wordsworth and the Ancient Mariner is depicted on the harbourside in a statue with the albatross around his neck. Best viewed large I think. Many thanks

Another harbour scene from Watchet with boats stuck in the mud, added for micritter. I liked the trail of birds' footprints across the surface of the silt. Best viewed large I think.

This pair of pigeons were seen at Watchet Harbour when we taking an evening stroll. I thought the markings were unusual, - the one on the left looks as if it is wearing an ermine robe! Must be pigeon royalty!! Below is a view of the harbour HFF and have a good weekend everyone

The magnificent statue of the Ancient Mariner stands on the Esplanade at Watchet Harbour. The seven-foot high effigy of the mariner was designed and created by sculptor Alan B. Herriot, of Penicuik, Scotland, cast by Powderhall Fine Art Foundries in Edinburgh and unveiled by Dr. Katherine Wyndham in 2003. (lovewatchet.co.uk) In 1797 Samuel Taylor Coleridge was staying in Nether Stowey and went for a walk over the Quantock Hills with friends William and Dorothy Wordsworth. The sight of Watchet Harbour laid out below him inspired him to write his epic poem - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner A link to the poem which in my schooldays sparked the love of poetry. www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43997/the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner-text-of-1834 I have added Fleetwood Mac's 'Albatross' as a link www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXeKi6ZkbOw MY APOLOGIES ABOUT THE PiPS - THEY SEEM TO HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM HERE AND FROM MY PHOTOSTREAM.

Pictured at Watchet Harbour, Somerset. The tracks are part of the West Somerset Mineral Railway which was built between 1857 and 1864 to take iron ore from the mines on the Brendon Hills to Watchet harbour, where it was loaded onto ships and transported across to South Wales for smelting at Ebbw Vale. Mining ceased in 1883. (Lovewatchet.co.uk) The Traveling Wilburys and 'The End of the Line' www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVjToYOjbM

D15184 Vita was built in 1960 by Comper and Nicholson and although diesel powered she was the last of the traditional ferries delivered. Originally in service on the Portsmouth - Gosport ferry she was kept on as a spare boat for harbour cruises until 1974 following the arrival of the more modern Portsmouth Queen and Gosport Queen in 1966. She was later purchased by Woods Cruises for use on the Thames. Now a houseboat her present moorings are at Watchet Harbour where this shot was taken. Measuring 23.77m x 5.67m x 1.52 m she accommodates 6 people and has had a fair amount of renovation. Information from Simplon Postcards and Alan Pease Boats I have added Laurie Anderson and 'Beautiful Pea Green Boat' www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_yxg4_ZA9M

Taken at Watchet., West Somerset. Beyond the fence lies Watchet railway station. In 1862 this was the terminus for the West Somerset Railway line and it is the longest Heritage Railway in England. The harbour town of Watchet is over 1000 years old and the harbour is now a marina. I have no idea what the hedgerow flower is but I thought it was pretty. I have added Big Big Train and 'Hedgerow' as a link for Sight and Sound www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVPF3sTTZpM HFF and have a good weekend

Watchet Harbour. The photo shows the remains of the West Somerset Mineral Railway. The line opened c1861 and ore mined in the Brendan Hills was transported to Watchet and then shipped on to Newport for the ironworks at Ebbw Vale. A very loose link here but I have added 'Chains' by Tina Arena ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqbgzvKVzlQ

Watchet Harbour in Winter Sunlight Low tide at Watchet harbour and although the winter sunlight warms the scene there is as much mud as water beneath the boats. I have therefore added the link - LP and 'Muddy Waters' www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6SprGmHTy4

Watchet - Mural The mural, painted on Watchet sea defence wall is by local artist Pat Dennis The link is Shirley Bassey singing 'if a Picture Paints a Thousand Words' www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya-xsNpPp4U

Statue of the Ancient Mariner which stands on Watchet Marina Somerset. (From the poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. "Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung." Best enlarged

Watchet Marina on a cold winter afternoon. No water but plenty of mud, mud, glorious mud! Watchet is a very old coastal town which took its name from 'wacet', the blue dye found in the local cliffs. It has an attractive esplanade alongside the marina, and features an excellent statue of Coleridge's Ancient Mariner,from the 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner, part of which was said to have been written here. Watchet forms part of the Coleridge Way, a 51 mile footpath linking sites associated with the poet who lived for a while in nearby Nether Stowey. Best enlarged