- Watchet
infobox UK place
country= England
static_
static_image_caption= View overlooking Watchet
latitude= 51.1795
longitude= -3.3242
official_name= Watchet
population= 4,401
civil_parish= Watchet
shire_district=West Somerset
shire_county=Somerset
region= South West England
constituency_westminster= Bridgwater
post_town= Watchet
postcode_district= TA23
postcode_area= TA
dial_code= 01984
os_grid_reference= ST074431 Watchet is aharbour town andcivil parish in the English county ofSomerset , with an approximate population of 4,400. It is situated convert|15|mi west ofBridgwater , convert|15|mi north west ofTaunton , and convert|9|mi east ofMinehead . The town lies at the mouth of theRiver Washford onBridgwater Bay , part of theBristol Channel , and on the edge of Exmoor National Park.Samuel Taylor Coleridge 's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner " was written whilst travelling through Watchet and the surrounding area.History
Watchet is believed to be the place where
Saint Decuman was killed and the 15th century, grade I listed, church is dedicated to him. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264603 |title=Parish church of St Decuman |accessdate=2008-03-01 |format= |work=Images of England ]According to the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the early port at Watchet being plundered by Danes led byOhtor andRhoald cite book |title=Portrait of the Quantocks |last=Waite |first=Vincent |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1964 |publisher=Robert Hale |location=London |isbn=0709111584 |pages= ] in 987 and 997. It is known that it was in frequent use by small boats in 1564 possibly for the import of salt and wine fromFrance . During theEnglish Civil War Royalist reinforcements for the siege ofDunster Castle was sent by sea, but the tide was on the ebb and a troop ofRoundheads rode into the shallows and forced the ship to surrender, so a ship at sea was taken by a troop of horse.cite book |title=Curiosities of Somerset |last=Leete-Hodge |first=Lornie |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1985 |publisher=Bossiney Books |location=Bodmin |isbn=0906456983 |pages=41-42 ]The primitive jetty was damaged in a storm of 1659 and a larger, stronger pier was built in the early 18th century supported by local wool merchants, although by 1797 the largest export was
kelp made by burning seaweed for use in glass making. In the 19th century trade increased with the export ofiron ore from theBrendon Hills , paper, flour and gypsum.cite book |title=Somerset Harbours |last=Farr |first=Grahame |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1954 |publisher=Christopher Johnson |location=London |isbn= |pages=125-137 ]Harbour trade was aided by the coming of the railway. In the mid-1860s two independent railways terminated at Watchet. The
West Somerset Mineral Railway ran down from the iron mines on the Brendon Hills, and theWest Somerset Railway came up from theBristol & Exeter Railway atNorton Fitzwarren . Both lines made extensive use of the harbour at Watchet from where iron ore was shipped across the Bristol Channel for smelting atEbbw Vale inSouth Wales .The mines and West Somerset Mineral Railway closed in 1898. The West Somerset Railway, extended from Watchet to
Minehead in 1874, survived as part ofBritish Rail until 1979. Reopened as a heritage railway, it still operates today. In 1900 and 1903 a series of gales breached the breakwater and East Pier with the loss of several vessels each time and subsequent repairs.Governance
The civil parish of Watchet is governed by a
town council . Administratively, the civil parish falls within theWest Somerset local government district and theSomerset shire county. Administrative tasks are shared between county, district and town councils. In 2002, the parish was estimated to have a population of 4,401.cite web|url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/030B4/West_Som02_mye%20.pdf|title=West Somerset|work=Parish Population Estimates for 2002|publisher=Somerset County Council|accessdate=2008-10-08] cite web | url = http://www.watchettowncouncil.org/?page=council | title = Watchet Town Council | publisher = Watchet Town Council | accessdate = 2008-10-08 ]Watchet forms part of the Bridgwater
county constituency represented in the House of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by thefirst past the post system of election. Following its review of parliamentary representation in Somerset, theBoundary Commission for England has finalised the proposals which expands the existing Bridgwater seat into a new Bridgwater and West Somerset division. The current MP isIan Liddell-Grainger , a member of the Conservatives. [cite web | url= http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm#B | title= Alphabetical List of Constituencies and Members of Parliament | publisher= House Of Commons Information Office | accessdate= 2008-01-19]Residents of Watchet also form part of the electorate for the South West England constituency for elections to the
European Parliament . [cite web |url=http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/southwest.asp |title=UK MEPs for the South West |accessdate=2008-01-11 |format= |work=European Parliament UK Office ]Landmarks
The principal landmark in Watchet is the town's harbour and the surrounding quaysides and narrow streets. In commercial use until 2000, the harbour has now been converted into a
marina . There are several museums in the town, including theMarket House Museum , which explores the history of the town and its harbour, and theWatchet Boat Museum , which displays the unusual localflatner boats and associated artefacts.cite web| url = http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/Watchet.html | title = Watchet | publisher = West Somerset Railway | accessdate = 2008-10-10 ]Adjacent to the harbour is Watchet station. This is now an intermediate stop on the
West Somerset Railway , a largelysteam operatedheritage railway that linksBishops Lydeard , nearTaunton , withMinehead . The trackbed of the old West Somerset Mineral Railway now forms a path, which can be followed from the harbour at Watchet to Washford station, also on the West Somerset Railway.cite web| url = http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/Watchet.html | title = Watchet | publisher = West Somerset Railway | accessdate = 2008-10-10 ] cite web | url = http://www.watchettowncouncil.org/?page=do | title = Things to do | publisher = Watchet Town Council | accessdate = 2008-10-08 ]The foreshore at Watchet is rocky, with a high convert|6|m
tidal range . The cliffs between Watchet andBlue Anchor show a distinct pale, greenish blue colour, resulting from the colouredalabaster found there. The name "Watchet" or "Watchet Blue" was used in the 16th century to denote this colour.cite book |title=Curiosities of Somerset |last=Leete-Hodge |first=Lornie |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1985 |publisher=Bossiney Books |location=Bodmin |isbn=0906456983 |pages=41 ] cite web | url = http://www.lougs.org.uk/february_2005.htm | title = Article from Issue Number 12/1 February 2005 | publisher = Open University Geological Society (London Branch) | accessdate = 2008-10-08 ]Daw's Castle , about convert|0.5|mi to the west of Watchet, is ahill fort situated on a sea cliff about convert|80|m above the sea. The fort may be ofIron Age origin, but was (re)built and fortified as a "burh " byKing Alfred , as part of his defense againstViking raids from theBristol Channel around 878 AD.cite book | title = A Field Guide to Somerset Archaeology | first = Lesley | last = Adkins | co-authors = Roy Adkins | date = 1992 | isbn = 0-946159-94-7 | location = Wimborne | publisher = Dovecote ] cite book | title = The Archaeology of Somerset | first = Michael | last = Aston | editor = Ian Burrow | date = 1982 | isbn = 0-86183-028-8 ]Cleeve Abbey , one of the best preservedmedieval monasteries in England, lies about convert|2|mi west of Watchet, in the village ofWashford .Dunster Castle is a further convert|4|mi in the same direction.References
External links
* [http://www.watchetonline.co.uk Watchet Online] - Directory of News, Events, Photos and more
* [http://www.watchettowncouncil.org Watchet Town Council]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/cultureheritage/heritage/projects/eus/watchet The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Watchet] , by Clare Gathercole
* [http://www.watchetcarnival.org.uk Watchet Carnival]
* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/logos%20&%20pictures/town%20&%20village%20pages/watchet.htm Photos of Watchet in 3D (Anaglyphs)]
* [http://www.watchet.net/ History of Watchet Harbour development]
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