Brixham...from my guest blogger! ;-)

Last Friday, we met up with some lovely friends, in Brixham, for lunch and a wander,

hoping to view the vintage trawlers, which were making their way to

the harbour in readiness for the vintage trawler races.

We had a fab day!

Brixham is a very special place for Mr Snippets, as he was born and brought up

in the town.

I took plenty of photos but do not have plentiful

knowledge of Brixham as Mr S does.

And so... there can be no-one better than to do the honours and be

my GUEST BLOGGER for the day! ;-)

I hand you over to Mr S....for a snapshot of Brixham.

This view above, of the outer harbour, with the breakwater
 and the hard in the background and Shoalstone Pool (lido), 
is taken from Bella Vista Road.

The garden in the foreground is Bonsey Gardens, a formal seating area
 located between North Furzeham Road to the lower side
 and Higher Furzeham Road to the higher side.

The garden is well maintained due to the efforts of "Friends of Furzeham",
 with kind donations from local resident Ron Pike.

Ron writes in his book, "You'll do Ron Pike", a poem dedicated to the gardens.

"Bonsey Gardens are as picturesque as can be, 

situated as they are on a cliff top, 

high above the Brixham Harbour, Marina and sea. 

One can sit on memorial benches to see the glorious views, 

watching boats enter and leave the harbour, 

to list the type and size of them would take some pages not a few. 

Turn your head to look at the gardens, 

at flowers and roses of many hues, 

as they come into bloom, 

then at surrounding lawns, 

well maintained and groomed. 

The feelings of tranquillity, 

that have so often been mine, 

can fill your heart with pleasure, 

supremely divine."

***

Across the harbour, just above the bench on the right, 
you can see Grenville House, a home for Brixham boy orphans
 who were educated and trained to be seamen. 
The home is now an activity centre for many visiting schools and groups.

Around the headland is Berry Head, the site of Berry Head Hotel, 
 and the home of Henry Francis Lyte, who wrote
 "Abide with me" the famous hymn.


***

This second snap, above, is taken from the shore end of New Pier, 
looking over the top of the New Fish Quay.

The lower terrace of houses is Overgang which means 'passage' or 'way over'.

The next row is that of houses in North Furzeham Road.

The furthest houses to the left are those of Bella Vista Road.



***

This third snap is taken from the coastal path near Grenville House, 
looking back across the outer harbour and marina.


***

The next snap is a whimsical still life created on the wall
 of Grenville House, above, and features an old fisherman;
Grenville, of course.

***

The next image is taken close by, looking back toward the New Fish Quay

 and it features three sailing trawlers, a beautiful sight to behold.

The nearest is Jolie Brise, a gaff rigged cutter, built in Le Havre

 and currently used by pupils of Dauntsey's School

They are here to take part in the BrixFest sailing trawler races

The middle vessel is a traditional Brixham trawler BM45 "Pilgrim"

www.pilgrimofbrixham.co.uk


The grey Brixham trawler behind her is BM76 Vigilance

www.vigilanceofbrixham.co.uk/


Do not confuse this fine vessel with that of Vigilant a derelict Thames barge undergoing renovation at Topsham Quay near Exeter

http://www.topsham.org.uk/2012/11/vigilant-thames-barge-at-quay.html


***

The next snap shows the arrival of a pleasure boat 

 at the steps at the end of New Pier

When I grew up in Brixham, a fine fleet of pleasure craft
 plied their trade from the far side of that pier.

Now they really were something to see:

 The Western Ladies, former Royal Navy Rescue Motor Launches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Western_Lady_III


***

We now look upon BM487 "Katy Jane" moored at Southern Quay
 below King Street.
 I was confused at first as she was formerly named "Lonewolf"
 She is a day hauler for scallops.


***

This gent is William Prince of Orange, a monument to acknowledge
 his landing at Brixham. It was moved from The Quay to The Strand some time ago.
 The locals refer to him as King Bill or Billy.
 One night a drunken fisherman scaled the pediment
 and knocked his nose off with a maul (large hammer)
 The repair is almost un-noticeable...
 thanks to Carol Vorderman's surgeon's skills - lol!


***

The Golden Hind is a replica, created for a television series
 about the adventures of Sir Francis Drake.


***

Now we are back at the gate to the New Fish Quay on New Pier

 we see a modern steel trawler undergoing a major refit , 

which will cost thousands. 

She is a celebrity vessel from the television series about Brixham, 

called Fish Town, which refers to lower Brixham the port.

 Higher Brixham is mainly agricultural and is known as Cow Town

She is BM 361 Barentszee.

http://skyatlantic.sky.com/fish-town-about-the-show


(You might have watched the series?)

***

In the next shot we look above Kings Quay, 

to a row of houses in King Street, with Harbour View to the right

 and The Maritime Inn to the left. 

This pub featured too in Fish Town. 

The landlady was Pat Seddon and, unfortunately, the pub is

 no longer open for business.

 You can see the outline of steps leading up to the pub

 from the car park below built on Kings Quay,

 which was filled in to create the new coastal path.

The row of houses above is North View Road

 and I used to live in a road above that called Garlic Rea, 

with wide reaching views of Haytor Rocks and beyond.

***

Finally, the last shot is that of another fine, traditional Mule Class

 sailing trawler BM28 "Provident". My father's favourite,

run by Island Cruising Club at Salcombe. 
The original Provident was sunk by a German U-Boat
during the First World War.

http://www.classic-sailing.co.uk/vessels/provident-brixham-trawler-sailing-ketch

***

Brixham became a significant fishing port and set the trend

 for the fastest fleet of sailing trawlers in the land.

Red ochre was used in a paint invented there and was used to preserve the sails.

The famous song Red Sails In The Sunset sung by Bing Crosby was inspired by a vessel whose sails had been preserved with the Brixham paint. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGIwSwAvp6o

You can learn more here:

 http://www.torbytes.com/op/tm7/lv2/s68-c4-sc31.htm

Brixham, South Devon.