Coleridge's mariner, Watchet

The poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, (1772-1834) was inspired, it is said, by the harbour town of Watchet in Somerset, to write "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner". Whether or not this is true, the town features a sculpture of the seaman with the albatross that he killed. In addition, the rear of the painted sea-wall features historic episodes in the town's past that includes an illustration of Coleridge. The herring gull obliged me by appearing above the poet as I framed my shot.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

East Quay, Watchet

One of the answers to renovating a location that has lost its raison d'etre is to build an eye-catching visitor attraction. The placing of something new alongside something old, it is thought, will drag up the latter and offer something original with the former.

 East Quay at the tiny harbour town of Watchet on the Somerset coast is just such an enterprise with its gallery, artist studios, education space, restaurant and accomodation pods. The shiny, blocky buildings look like a child's building bricks  casually tossed down. It is not without interest and I hope it has a long and productive life.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Watchet harbour light

click photo to enlarge
What looks like a lighthouse at Watchet, Somerset, is, properly speaking, a harbour navigational mark (or aid). A lighthouse has a flashing light: the light at Watchet is constant green and it marks the entrance to the harbour. It stands on the west pier that was completed in 1860, a time when iron ore was the main commodity exported from the town. The harbour light is 22feet (6.7m) high and is made of cast iron painted red and white. It was designed by James Abernethy and made in 1860 by Hennet, Spinks and Else of Bridgwater, Somerset at a cost of £75.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5