|
Click on title
by
Lucille Opie
Of
a majestic yet restless beauty I speak
Cornwall’s
northern coastline is unique,
The
westerly winds hit hard in winter
Twisting
the trees to shapes most sinister.
The
Atlantic pounds into the land
With
cruel, unrelenting destruction to sand,
But
its location to the Atlantic makes Bude a haven
On
this unfriendly coast where refuge is craven.
The
rivers Neet and Strat flow down
Sweeping
and surging through the town.
The
Petrified Forest beneath Crooklets beach
A
reminder of prehistory within reach.
At
Maer Lake,
migrating birds in flight
Swoop
and soar to ethereal height.
Rock
strata studied by geologists worldwide
Incredibly
awesome from the beach at low tide.
The
history of the town is not so old,
Has
taken four centuries to unfold,
Though
there is evidence of prehistoric man
Proof,
the Tumulii on the land.
Blanchminster
the lord is well renowned,
His
castle Binhamy still evident near town
His
Trust Fund paid for six hundred years
To
deserving people to allay their fears.
The
Turnpike Acts of the seventeen hundreds
Brought
the stagecoach, tho’ roads were hazardous.
That
set in motion improvement to the roads,
People
ventured further from their abodes.
Coaching
Inns then came into place
To
feed the horses - and the human race!
The
Falcon, Globe & Carriers of fame,
All
still serving, and with the same name.
The
Canal, unique as it is locked to the sea
Was
opened in eighteen twenty three.
For
two miles it meanders to the Incline Plane
A
feat of engineering the Victorians rightly claim.
Navigable
only to Marhamchurch today,
There’s
beauty & wild life enough on display
For
both locals & visitors, when time for leisure
Boating,
fishing, walking – give much pleasure.
Along
with the canal the breakwater was set
Saved
many a ship from being wrecked.
The
railway came in eighteen ninety eight,
Victorians
set the fashion, a holiday to take,
Total
immersion in sea water much sought
Health
giving & pleasurable it was thought.
Later,
the Grenville rose up in Bellevue,
Quite
decadent, with ballroom and awe-inspiring view.
From
Summerleaze & Efford
the view of the sea
Breathtakingly
beautiful, a wondrous place to be.
Inhale
the atmosphere that lifts one on high
Gaze
at the blue Atlantic against azure sky.
Taste
the salt in the air with oxygen so pure
Unique
wild flowers grow that look quite demure
In
purples and reds and yellows and blues,
A
wide range of colour of delicate hues.
Sit
and watch the cricket, hear the crack of the bat,
Listen
for the bowler to shout ‘Howzat’?
Wander
north to Northcott, quite unspoiled land,
Catch
crustaceans in rock pools, or picnic on the sand.
Saunter
south along the cliff path to Widemouth Bay,
‘The
breakers all of twelve feet’ the surfers say!
Visit
Sir Gurney’s castle, built on sand,
Who
proved the impossible, as still it stands
Strong
& proud, pivotal of the town,
A
reminder of his brilliance that knew no bounds.
Bude
is a rural town way out in the sticks,
Neighbours
help each other if they’re in a fix.
Here
the ‘Bush telegraph’ is second to none,
Better
than any e-mail when alls said and done!
I
could go on, there is so much more
To
this wonderful town beside the shore
Where
its location to the Atlantic makes it a haven
On
this unfriendly coast where refuge is craven.
by Lucille Opie
Our
Canal, unique as it is locked to the sea
Was
opened in eighteen twenty three.
For
two miles it meanders to the inclined plane,
A
feat of engineering the Victorians rightly claim.
Navigable
only to Marhamchurch today
There’s
beauty and wildlife enough on display
For
locals and visitors, and when time for leisure
Boating,
fishing and walking give much pleasure.
Stand
on the beach and watch the mighty Atlantic
Smash
against the Breakwater, with waves gigantic.
It
has mastered the sea for near two hundred years,
To
give shelter to ships and calm mariners fears.
Admire
the construction of the massive sea lock,
Watch
the gates open that allow ships to dock.
Vessels
can be admitted of forty tons or more
And
have rudders as long as ten feet at their core.
Think
of all those who had the vision to start,
Think
of the men who, over years played their part.
Smeaton
Edyvean Leach; - Fulton & Green too
Were
the engineers responsible to name but a few.
Those
men had the innovative engineering skills
Needed
to open a waterway to the hills
With
locks ’n inclined planes of inspirational design
That
would leave the sea level far behind.
Think
also of the men who had to sweat and toil
To
dig miles of trench, and distribute the soil.
Skilled
workers were needed so navvies were sought
To
work in gangs. Five hundred
were brought.
They
then had to construct and follow to a man
The
drawings set down on the engineers plan.
There
were many problems and hold ups throughout
And
several times, of its success there was some doubt.
Celebrations
were held when the work was finished
Though
the original vision to the Tamar had vanished.
Fertiliser
to temper the acid soils was sought, so
Sand,
limestone and other goods were brought,
Loaded
on barges and taken to Marhamchurch
Filled
to the gunnels they would dangerously lurch.
A
weight of five tons could be drawn by one horse
That
could pull the barge with ease along the canal course.
At
Hele wharf the cargo was transferred yet again
To
tub boats with wheels to surmount the inclined plane.
From
the top, the barges continued their journey
Thro’
Virworthy, Sutcombe, Milton Dameral ’n Thornb’ry.
When
the railway came in eighteen ninety eight
The
company closed, no more carrying of freight.
There
was a slow decline for a hundred years,
Erosion
had set in and great were the fears.
Many
were conscious of its uniqueness and potential,
To
regenerate and maintain was their duty and essential,
Not
just for themselves and the rising tourist trade
But
for future generations, efforts should be made!
Then
enthusiasts and local supporters too
Met
to discuss, to see what they could do.
North
Cornwall District Council funding sought,
Three
and a half million would be enough - it was thought!
Has
taken ten years (and more millions) but the end is in sight,
The
future of the canal is looking very bright.
The
workshops, the cobbles and the Barkhouse too
Fit
together on the wharf like a well worn shoe.
The
Interpretation room is progressing on the ground
And
an education programme for students has been found.
The
excellent Tourist centre at the Crescent has details
Of
organised walks along the prodigious canal trails.
Come,
- meander to the marshes and dowse for Dragonflies,
Find
the flora ‘n fauna, birds and butterflies.
Watch
the defiant ducks, and graceful gliding swans
That
nest amongst the reeds in what we call the pond!
As
you wander t’wrds Rodds Bridge you’ll find perfect peace,
The
wonders of nature, they just never seem to cease.
To
Hele wharf and beyond the canal has been enhanced,
You’ll
be amazed, and keep pausing, to gaze - entranced.
|
