Watchet
Watchet is a harbour community, civil parish and selecting ward in the English county of Somerset, with a population of 3,785. It is situated 15 miles (24 kilometres) west of Bridgwater, 15 miles (24 km) north-west of Taunton, and 9 miles (14 kilometres) eastern of Minehead. The town exists at the mouth of the Washford River on Bridgwater Bay, part of the Bristol Channel, and on the edge of Exmoor National Park. The initial settlement may have gone to the Iron Age fort Daw's Castle. It after that relocated to the mouth of the river and a little harbour developed, called by the celts as "Gwo Coed" suggesting Under the Wood. After the Saxon conquest of the location the town created as well as was known as Weced or Waeced and also was struck by Vikings in the 10th century. Trade making use of the harbour slowly expanded, in spite of damages throughout several severe storms, with import and also exports of goods consisting of those from Wansbrough Paper Mill up until the 19th century when it raised with the export of iron ore, brought from the Brendon Hills by means of the West Somerset Mineral Railway, generally to Newport for onward transport to the Ebbw Vale Steelworks. The West Somerset Railway also offered the community as well as port bringing products and individuals from the Bristol and Exeter Railway. The iron ore profession decreased and also discontinued in the early-20th century. The port continued a smaller sized industrial profession till 2000 when it was converted into a marina. The church is committed to Saint Decuman who is thought to have actually died below around 706. A very early church was developed near Daw's Castle as well as a new church was erected in the 15th century. It has numerous tombs and monuments to Sir John Wyndham as well as his family members who were the lords of the estate. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which was written in the location is honored by a sculpture on the harbourside.
