Watchet
Watchet is a harbour community, civil parish and also electoral ward in the English region of Somerset, with a population of 3,785. It is located 15 miles (24 kilometres) west of Bridgwater, 15 miles (24 km) north-west of Taunton, and 9 miles (14 km) east of Minehead. The town lies 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 might have been at the Iron Age fort Daw's Castle. It then moved to the mouth of the river and also a tiny harbour developed, named by the celts as "Gwo Coed" suggesting Under the Wood. After the Saxon occupation of the location the town established as well as was known as Weced or Waeced and was assaulted by Vikings in the 10th century. Profession making use of the harbour progressively expanded, regardless of damage throughout numerous extreme storms, with import and also exports of items including those from Wansbrough Paper Mill till the 19th century when it increased with the export of iron ore, brought from the Brendon Hills through the West Somerset Mineral Railway, primarily to Newport for onward transportation to the Ebbw Vale Steelworks. The West Somerset Railway additionally served the town as well as port bringing goods and people from the Bristol and Exeter Railway. The iron ore trade decreased as well as discontinued in the early-20th century. The port continued a smaller commercial trade until 2000 when it was exchanged a marina. The church is committed to Saint Decuman who is thought to have actually died below around 706. An early church was constructed near Daw's Castle and also a new church was erected in the 15th century. It has a number of tombs and monoliths to Sir John Wyndham and his family members that were the lords of the chateau. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's rhyme The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which was written in the location is celebrated by a statuary on the harbourside.
