West Somerset

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is a charity dedicated to assisting in the protection and preservation of life at sea and along the United Kingdom coastline, by providing ‘Eyes Along The Coast’.

West Somerset used to be home to multiple orchards. Every village  had them. The fruit was regarded as very important hence the age old practice of ‘wassailing’ the trees to ensure the next year’s crop would be bountiful.

Last month’s article ended in Long Street and before we move from it I should mention that the Hole family’s photographic business had its studio in Long Street. It spanned

I have long been fascinated by Williton because it has so much more than one might suppose when driving through from either Bridgwater or Taunton. This is always a problem

This sounds and looks romantic but it was often dangerous for drivers and passengers as well as  uncomfortable. We all know about the threat from highway men in the C17

This village situated on the Holnicote Estate 3 miles from Minehead is a magnet for tourists for  several reasons. Its distinctive white Church perched on the side of the hill

You frequently hear people speak of a particular aspect of Minehead as being ‘the jewel in the crown’ of Minehead. To my mind Minehead has several jewels- North Hill is

Whenever I walk along the Jubilee Path in Dunster Marsh I always think what a wonderful backdrop the houses along it have of Conygar Tower high up on the hill

Along a two mile footpath from Porlock Weir is the tiny settlement of Culbone listed in the Domesday book as Kytenore or Chetnore. Despite being small – literally seven houses

Minehead benefits from a great variety of open spaces from formal and natural to recreational. All of them providing something different to those who seek them out. Beyond the harbour

William John Tamlyn born in 1870  in Stoke Rivers. His family had been Lords of the Manor of Luccott in the parish of Stoke Pero since the C 18. He

Blue Anchor is a small hamlet on the West Somerset Coast between Minehead and Watchet. It has a station on Britain’s longest preserved railway. The line was closed under the

In the sparsely populated areas around Exmoor there were extensive Turnpike trusts based on Minehead 1765. The exact site of a number such as Alcombe, Dunster, Cowbridge, Chilly Bridge, Exebridge,

The village of Oare has recently been in the newspaper highlighting the villager’s campaign to save their Vicarage from being sold by the Diocese as they believe this could impact

Image: Minehead, Swimming Pool From The Air c.1936. Copyright The Francis Frith Collection Hardly a week goes by without someone bemoaning the loss of either the Aquasplash swimming pool or

The second part of the Alcombe walk concentrates on Manor Road. The Kingsley Taylor photo looking up it is remarkably similar to how it still looks today *. Opposite the

Today Alcombe and Minehead appear to be one but as little time ago as 1900 the main road to Minehead was a narrow track and apart from a cluster of

Our understanding and appreciation of the way of life in West Somerset in times gone by are largely influenced by the images captured by the early photographers, who recorded everyday