In 2014, as part of the Minehead Maritime Heritage Project, seven plaques were created and mounted on the harbour wall. They were unveiled by the Les Smith, the Mayor of Minehead on 11th July 2014 at the Minehead Harbour Festival. The plaques depict the seven eras of maritime heritage in Quay Town, Minehead and the vessels, which would have been in use at the time.
A series of workshops and projects, lead by Halsway Manor with sea shanty specialists Tom & Barbara Brown and storyteller Alex Simson, were held with local residents and schoolchildren to create the artistic brief. The plaques were then designed and made by artist Sue Webber and author John Gilman. Sue made 3-dimensional clay panels, which were then cast in resin and bronze powder by local company S&S Exmoor.
The scene on this plaque is the raiding party of Welsh pirates led by William de Berkley, which arrived off the coast of Minehead on 1st August 1265. They were defeated and William de Berkley and his crew were captured by Adam Le Gurdon, who was the master of Dunster Castle garrison. They were executed by public drowning in Minehead Harbour. Cogs were oak planked boats with a single square sail. They developed from the currachs. Portuguese and Spanish boatbuilders later developed the carrack, which had 4 sails and fortified forecastles and aftercastles at the bow and stern.
Ships paid to shelter in Minehead harbour. A new harbour was built in Minehead. Fees were levied to pay for the new harbour and for the removal of silt and shingle from the harbour mouth.
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