Epitaphs of interest. James Fownes Somerville.

Admiral Sir James Fownes Somerville lies at rest, with his wife, at the Church of St. Michael in the village of Dinder which lies in the shadow of the southern foothills of the Mendips.

His modest epitaph reads "Admiral of the Fleet and Squire of Dinder".

The headstone of James Fownes Somerville and his wife in the Somerset village of Dinder.

The commemoration to James Fownes Somerville "Admiral of The Fleet and Squire of Dinder" in the churchyard of St. Michael's in the village of Dinder, Somerset. 

I wrote of Sir James' highly distinguished career in a previous post. Below is a link.

Views from Somerset: Admiral Sir James Somerville, commander of Force H, the squadron which crippled the Bismarck, at rest in a Somerset churchyard in the village of Dinder. (viewfromsomerset.blogspot.com)

Watchet and Splash Point on the Somerset Coast.

Watchet on the Somerset Coast is one of my favourite places to visit.  It is not only an interesting, tranquil little harbour town, but the journey to it along the A358 through the gently rolling foothills of the Quantocks is a pleasure in itself.

I visited Watchet on 16 June, a very hot day, with the primary intention of walking up to Splash Point on the eastern side of the town to see if I could spot the tower of St. Decuman’s Church on the hill to the west.  The easier of the footpaths to Splash Point initially follows alongside the West Somerset Railway line and then passes behind the East Quay complex.

In my eyes, East Quay just about qualifies as a blot on the landscape.  It is garish and angular with what looks like a couple of bright blue shipping containers plonked between it and the marina.  The building’s odd geometrical design does mitigate its ugliness, but only slightly.  I did not linger!

East Quay at Watchet Harbour on the Somerset Coast.

I continued on along the footpath and up the steep steps to Splash Point where I found views east and west, and out over the Bristol Channel – well worth the effort of climbing those steps!  However, I was not rewarded with a view of St. Decuman’s.  The area around Splash Point was known to the Victorians as The Pleasure Ground – it once had a tea room for their refreshment. 

A view of Watchet looking across the marina and tidal harbour from Splash Point.

Unsurprisingly for such a vantage point, I came upon the remains of a World War Two bunker and coastal artillery emplacements.  No doubt they were ideally situated to defend Watchet Harbour and the approaches to the Cardiff, Newport and Avonmouth docks.

The World War Two bunker on Splash Point above Watchet Harbour in Somerset.  The footpath and steps down to the Eastern Pier, from where this photo was taken, are on the right.

From beside the WW2 bunker I walked down another set of steep steps to the Eastern Pier and proceeded on a gentle stroll around the marina, the Esplanade and the tidal harbour wall.  I was surprised at how few people were around considering it was such a fine day.

Pleasing shot of an old lifeboat in the marina at Watchet on the Somerset Coast.

The fossil beach below Splash Point at Watchet on the Somerset Coast.  The photo was taken from the Eastern Pier.  The forest of cranes at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station construction site can just be seen on the horizon to the right of picture.

After an interesting visit lasting two hours, at a very reasonable cost of £2.20 to park the car, I left Watchet at 1630. Heading home I took the B3191 to Williton, then the A358.  Both roads were very quiet so I had another chance to relax a little and enjoy the scenery.

A visit to Mendip Hospital Cemetery in Wells, Somerset.

Some years ago I discovered that my great grandmother, Kate Trevelyan, died of pneumonia on 5 January 1900 while a patient in the Mendip Hospital.  Recently my wife came across the Friends of Mendip Hospital Cemetery website with its timetable of open days.

Not knowing where my great grandmother was buried, on 15 June I decided to visit the cemetery to see if I could find out if she was buried there.  I took a very leisurely and enjoyable drive up to Shepton Mallet, on along the Old Frome Road, past Maesbury Hill Fort, and down into Wells. 

On arrival at the cemetery I was warmly greeted by Clare who, after enquiring the reason for my visit, took me into the Mendip Hospital Cemetery Chapel to look at the register of burials.  Clare immediately found the entry for my great grandmother which records that she was buried on the 10 January 1900.  Clare showed me around the fascinating display in the chapel, and also promised to send me details of how to contact the Somerset records office which holds patient medical records and photographs.  I was intrigued by the possibility of obtaining a photograph of my great grandmother as I have never seen one of her.

The entrance to Mendip Hospital Cemetery in Wells, Somerset.

The chapel at Mendip Hospital Cemetery in Wells, Somerset.

I took a pleasant and tranquil stroll around the cemetery grounds to find the section where Kate Trevelyan was buried.  Most of the iron numbered grave markers have had to be removed over the years and so it is not possible for many individual graves to be identified.

The Mendip Hospital Cemetery with some numbered iron markers still marking graves.

Many numbered iron grave markers have been gathered together and placed with sculptures made from the cemetery's trees to form a touching tribute.

I said my goodbyes to the volunteers and left, but not before Clare gave me an application form to join The Friends of Mendip Hospital Cemetery – I intend to complete and return it!

Sidmouth, in the neighbouring county of Devonshire, on a damp and dull afternoon in June.

On June the 9th I set out for an afternoon drive into Devonshire.  I visited Honiton first of all, to buy some books, and then took the A375 up and over the hills to Sidmouth.

It was a very dull day with rain on the hilltops, but although it felt a bit damp at Sidmouth it was not too chilly for a quick look at the seafront.  However, the dull weather seemed to have deterred people from taking a stroll as I found very few people around. The car parks were half empty and the Esplanade was the quietest I have seen it.

The view east overlooking the mouth of the River Sid at Sidmouth in Devonshire on June 9th.

The view west along the almost deserted Esplanade at Sidmouth in Devonshire on June 9th.

The view east from the Esplanade at Sidmouth in Devonshire on June 9th.  The yellow building is Sidmouth's voluntary lifeboat station run by a charity independent of the RNLI.