Minehead harbour today

Minehead harbour today may superficially resemble the harbour mariners like Captain Lewis knew well but it is only a shadow of the days of sail. Even in its declining years after the opening of the railway the harbour would have been full of smacks unloading herring and other fish and ketches and schooners unloading coal and limestone and taking on cargoes of pit timber, flour, potatoes, apples and malt for the south Wales coalfields. Cranes and carts would have covered the quay wall and retired sea captains would have found plenty of men around with whom to discuss 'the old days'.