West Bay, Bridport, Dorset

Three images of West Bay (Bridport Harbour). They take me back. The black and white photograph is from the 1890s, a little before my time. The Turner is one of my favourites. It's sometimes difficult to choose between Corfu and Dorset. I'm lucky to have had the best of both worlds.

From Bridport Harbour, by William Barnes

Hill-warded haven, creek well found
To sailors on thy stormy shore,
When 'midst the waters deaf'ning roar,
They step on this thy peaceful ground,
As blest with happy homes, at hand,
Or strangers on a foreign land....

How many untold years have run
Since those two now half hills were whole,
And man beheld thy waters rolls
Where they sank, grassy to the sun,
Long ere the sea had cast the sand
And far-borne pebbles on this strand.

A later poet, Michael Norman, in his poem "West Bay" described the port as

"The smallest ever seen,
Fashioned like a Chianti bottle.
Twin moles jut out to sea..."

  Two paintings by Walter Tyndale: