Watchet is a harbour town, civil parish and electoral ward in the English region of Somerset, with a population of 3,785. It is positioned 15 miles (24 km) west of Bridgwater, 15 miles (24 kilometres) north-west of Taunton, as well as 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, as well as on the edge of Exmoor National Park. The initial settlement might have gone to the Iron Age fort Daw's Castle. It after that relocated to the mouth of the river as well as a little harbour developed, named by the celts as "Gwo Coed" meaning Under the Wood. After the Saxon conquest of the area the town established and also was called Weced or Waeced and was struck by Vikings in the 10th century. Trade making use of the harbour slowly expanded, in spite of damages throughout numerous serious tornados, with import and also exports of products consisting of those from Wansbrough Paper Mill until the 19th century when it enhanced with the export of iron ore, brought from the Brendon Hills using the West Somerset Mineral Railway, generally to Newport for forward transport to the Ebbw Vale Steelworks. The West Somerset Railway likewise offered the community as well as port bringing goods as well as people from the Bristol and Exeter Railway. The iron ore trade lowered and stopped in the early-20th century. The port proceeded a smaller industrial trade until 2000 when it was converted into a marina. The church is committed to Saint Decuman that is thought to have died right here around 706. An early church was built near Daw's Castle as well as a brand-new church was erected in the 15th century. It has numerous tombs and also monoliths to Sir John Wyndham as well as his family that were the lords of the manor. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's rhyme The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which was written in the location is commemorated by a statue on the harbourside.