Richard Sims
@simsre
Railway and Industrial Historian, especially the sailcloth, twine and netting industry of S Somerset and W Dorset.
A1865 photo from the Bridport Museum collection shows the lime kiln, and the amount of cliff erosion since then. The footpath then ran along the cliff edge. There was also a lime kiln at the harbour, where pier terrace is, that produced lime from blue lias for the rebuilding of the harbour in 1823
The quarry on West Cliff was extracting the fossiliferous limestone, Forest Marble. It was burnt in the kiln to produce quicklime used as a fertiliser and for lime mortar wessexcoastgeology.soton.ac.uk/Bridport-Wes...
When the Class 159s were introduced the up platform was extended to ease the height from platform to train. This means that double tracking through this station would be difficult to achieve
In the 18thC the Royal Navy required their makers of sailcloth to stamp their identity on each bolt of cloth. By chance the original stamp of John Bullock from 1781 was found a year or so ago. At Dawes Twine Works we made a replica which can be seen on our open days - the 4th Saturday of each month
A trip to Bath Potters for ceramic supplies yesterday. Up via A303/37 but back via Pilton, Glastonbury and Somerton. This took just 25 minutes longer but was so much more relaxing than the outward trip.The highlight was Marion seeing an old college friend who has now handed the reins to her daughter
Seen on the River Brit while having coffee at Rise, which overlooks the rivers entry into West Bay Harbour.
The foyer @bridportarts.bsky.social has an exhibition of Nick Gilby’s photos taken during the filming of #Thomas_Hardy’s #Far_From_the_Madding_Crowd alongside are samples of the film scripts
One of Marion’s paintings showing the view from the Cobb to Black Ven, before the eastern prom was built.
@HillfortsWednesday The view of Maiden Castle from Goulds Hill. The hillfort is 1.8km from the viewpoint and still occupies most of the image width, which just indicates how big it really is.
The Seaside Boarding House started life in 1882 as one of two superior villas on East Cliff, Burton Bradstock, a speculation by Col. Pitt Rivers aimed at the summer visitors. However the scheme failed to take off. @thehistorymouse.bsky.social @househistorian.bsky.social @billybragg.bsky.social
Trip to Axminster to pick up some prints from the framer. Excellent coffee at the Higgler then off to Lyme and lunch at The West Bay before a walk along the proms, passing the Mary Anning statue along the way. Fine views of the Jurassic Coast all the way to Portland.
This is the last weekend for Dorset Art Weeks 2026. Marion Taylor is showing her paintings, collage and ceramics at the Beaminster Gallery, open 11am to 4pm each day
Last Saturday we drove to the Exe Estuary for a family gathering. Taking the rural route we passed over Woodbury Castle Hillfort. The road cuts through the ramparts as can be seen in the photos from Google Street View. The adjacent car park allows for exploration. #HillfortsWednesday
Yarn Barton car park at Beaminster, this wall as its boundary with houses behind. It is 45m long and has 15 blocked windows. It seems to have been an industrial building. Is this the inner or outer face?Yarn Barton was used for the flax industry until the 1840s but it is not on the 1843 Tithe Map
And as seen from Birdsmoor Gate. The name is a corruption of Furzemoor gate, relating the the abundance of Gorse at some time #HillfortsWednesday
Not just the railway but there is an advantage of having deep #holloways for the return, via Smishops Lane. This has been closed until they provide a safe solution to the frequent landslips.
With this hot weather the old Bridport Branch near us provides a nice shaded walk, cutting back via an equally shaded Whetland’s Lane with its metalled surface bordered by wild garlic. On the branch were the remains of a platelayers hut, just the fireplace and chimney stack.
Dorset Art Weeks starts today and last until June 7th. Nearly 300 venues scattered across the county. dorsetartweeks.co.uk Marion is exhibiting at the Beaminster Gallery, venue 253
Dorset Art Weeks starts tomorrow. The Beaminster Gallery is hosting Marion Taylor along with Jo Bugler and Tracy Linwood @annadillon.bsky.social
#HillfortsWednesday The view from Eggardon westwards to the hillforts at Lewesdon, Pilsdon and Lamberts Castle. To the south of these three lies the well named Marshwood Vale. Here the scattered farmsteads on clay soils still graze their cattle in the small fields, once the hallmark of rural Dorset
The Abbey Silk Mill was on the other side of the lane to the west. Bought by the school in 1773
A couple of years ago the original of this copy was found at a cottage in East Coker. It dates from 1781 when John Bullock was supplying #Coker canvas to the #Navy. Every bolt had to have the manufacturers stamp. The surviving sail from #HMS_Victory has that of Baxters, Dundee #Dawes_Twine_Works
#HillfortsWednesday Shipton Hillfort from Eggardon Hill. One of the best views in West Dorset. It shows Lyme Bay and the Devon coast to Start Point. The stretch of water from Portland to Start Point was originally “the West Bay” but changed with Bridport Harbour becoming West Bay in the 1880s
Durleston Park today with a walk along the coast path for a short while. In the distance is Anvil Point lighthouse. The pair lattice posts mark the eastern end of a measured nautical mile, with another pair marking the western end. This blog explains swanagecoastguard.blogspot.com/2011/03/mile...
The 17th century Summer House at #Mapperton. The timber supporting the roof is seen. The panelling is reused 17th century. The chimney stacks may be reused from the original Manor House.
Coker Rope and Sail have restored Dawes Twine Works in West Coker back to working order with the help of funding by HLF and others. They have also researched the history of both twine and sailcloth in the area. We are open every 4th Saturday and by appointment. westcoker-pc.gov.uk/home-page/ro...
On a much smaller scale is the trading of twine made by Gould’s of West Coker in South Somerset. Coker Rope and Sail hold their archive and on of our researchers produced this map from their ledger. For a small Somerset village once famed for Coker canvas it adapted to change when steam took over.