Tag: Porlock

Fairground Flair on Porlock High Street

A third Pop-up Event will again draw attention to Porlock’s vibrant and authentic High Street and its independent Traders

Porlock.  A “Family & Circus” themed pop-up along Porlock High Street on Saturday, 4 September 2021, is the third in a series of events, animating and celebrating Porlock High Street, to aid recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns.

Funded by Somerset West & Taunton Council and organised by Porlock High Street Support Group, this event aims to draw the local community, as well as visitors, to the High Street in support of local traders.

Following the great success of the first pop-up events, the third event in the series will bring a fairground atmosphere to the High Street where children will have the opportunity to try out their circus skills. 

“Porlock High Street will experience jugglers, fortune tellers, guerilla knitters and traditional fairground games,” said Sarah Shorten who heads the Events Team. “Families are encouraged to explore the High Street and the areas beyond where they will find giant bubbles, face painting with a twist and even the odd bearded lady!”

“We want to encourage locals and visitors to rediscover a High Street and traders that are vibrant and authentic. The owners of Ted’s, for example, are styling their ice cream parlour as a circus for this event, and they will be serving their special ice cream sundaes dressed up as lioness and ringmaster.”

Any money raised during the event will go towards Homestart.

Duncan McCanlis, Chair of the Porlock High Street Support Group, explained: “We are grateful to Somerset West & Taunton Council for providing the finance. This allows us to not only organise these community events, but we are also able to provide traders with a new online platform, put out more flower planters and benches around the High Street, all in support of Porlock’s amazing range of High Street shops.”

Two further pop-up events will take place on Saturdays 4 October and 1 November with wellbeing and retail therapy themes. 

The event this Saturday 4 September 2021 will run from 12 to 4 pm.

More details about the event and Porlock traders can be found via the Porlock High Street Support Group’s Facebook Group.

Chloe is enjoying a triple scoop ice cream at Ted’s in Porlock High Street.

Traders are flying the Flag for Porlock

Local sewing group make new flags for Porlock High Street

Porlock.– Flags have gone up along Porlock High Street to bring cheer and vibrancy to the village at a time when the annual Carnival fell victim to Covid for the second year. The new flags are part of the High Street Recovery Programme funded by Somerset West & Taunton Council.

A number of Porlock traders had approached the Porlock High Street Support Group (PHSSG) earlier in the year whether there was a way to bring seasonal colour to the High Street. With bunting not being an option due to taller buses and lorries using the narrow street through the village, project lead Lesley Thornton worked on a flag design inspired by the Exmoor palette, with the Christmas tree supports being used as flag holders.

“In no time, a community project was well under way”, explained Lesley Thornton. “It is fantastic to see what can be achieved when people come together from the village. We have been able to create a legacy for the future, and it is hoped that this project is a catalyst for a whole series of flags to celebrate local events for years to come.”

“Porlock resident Jackie Jago, owner of Minehead’s Threads, sourced all material at cost”, Lesley Thornton continued. “Jackie is now helping all volunteers to sew the flags she has cut out. Anita Lovell, who runs Bramdowns Tearoom in Porlock, is hosting the sewing group, which she hopes will become a regular community group as a result. The volunteers were excited for this opportunity of a community project as they had felt very isolated during the recent lockdowns.”

Duncan McCanlis, Chair of the PHSSG, commented: “We are grateful to all the volunteers who helped with the flags. Saturday, 4 September, will see our next big pop-up event in the High Street, with a ‘Family & Circus’ theme. We hope this will not only cheer up those upset about the absence of Carnival, but also help our many independent traders.”

Pop-up Events turn focus onto Porlock High Street

Porlock.  An eco-themed pop-up on Saturday 5 June 2021 is the first in a series of monthly events, animating and celebrating Porlock High Street, to aid recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns.

Funded by Somerset West & Taunton Council and organised by Porlock High Street Support Group, this event aims to draw the local community, as well as visitors, to the High Street in support of local traders.

Duncan McCanlis, Chair of the Porlock High Street Support Group, explained: “We are grateful to Somerset West & Taunton Council for providing the finance. This allows us to not only organise these community events, but we are also able to provide traders with a new online platform, put out more flower planters and benches around the High Street, all in support of Porlock’s amazing range of High Street shops.”

The first event will see a number of pop-up stalls along Porlock High Street where people will be able to buy and swap plants, find information about community projects, such as Plastic Free Porlock Vale, bring and take items at a freecycle table – and more.

Local children will be raising money towards the repair of the church clock  by selling home-cut wild flowers outside St Dubricius Church.

“The series of six events will take place every first Saturday of the month, always with a focus on the High Street,” says Sarah Shorten, who heads the Events Team. “Each event will have a different theme, such as music or wellbeing, encouraging locals and visitors to rediscover a High Street and traders that are vibrant and authentic.”

The event this Saturday 5 June 2021 will run from 10 am to 2 pm.

More details about the event and Porlock traders can be found via the Porlock High Street Support Group’s Facebook Group

The photo shows the Porlock High Street Support Group, from left to right: Duncan McCanlis, Lesley Thornton, Melanie Tesouro Willmott, Sarah Brice and Sarah Shorten.

Exmoor Memories: Exploring Exmoor….

I first went to Exmoor as a teenager with my parents staying at Porlock Caravan Park: I remember hearing the sheep in the field next to the caravans. 25+ years later I was back camping with my husband and dogs at the same site. We holidayed in and around Porlock most years since and will be spending Christmas there this year. We love the scenery, the peacefulness and the wildlife – it’s a perfect place to unwind, enjoy the fresh air and appreciate how beautiful the area is. Favourite walks include Dunkery, Watersmeet, Valley of Rocks, Tarr Steps, Horner Water, Porlock Weir to Culbone, up and around Hawkcombe, and last year we found Bats Castle. This was a stunning walk up and over the grounds of the castle until you reach the old settlement. Up here you can see for miles. We came across Red Deer and Exmoor ponies. It was quite a steep descent in parts especially with an eager terrier and two Lurchers who all have keen noses! The dogs enjoyed being able to cool off in the river at Gallox bridge before we got back to the car. The area is perfect for dogs, it doesn’t bother us or our dogs that they need to be on lead in certain areas, they get plenty of exercise and stimulation from the new places and smells, we are all ready to relax after a day out exploring Exmoor.

Rachel Rice-Ault

 

New Festival will celebrate the Victorian’s contribution to Exmoor tourism

The heritage team at Lynmouth Pavilion Project have been exploring the ‘History of Tourism’ in their third and final year. Moved by the impact of the Victorians in creating links, opening roads, inventing steam locomotion for easy travel, and ‘taking the waters’ in their bathing machines, Louise and Abbie have come to the conclusion that the Victorians practically invented Exmoor’s tourism.

In recognition of this, and the changes they brought, the team has been planning a Victorian Festival with events taking place from Monday 20th to Friday 24th June across Lynton and Lynmouth, Dunster, Porlock and Allerford.

Abbie Thorne said “we thought we’d take advantage of the Ilfracombe Victorian Festival happening the week before – there’ll be lots of Victorians in the area looking for other entertainments. We’re hoping they’ll stay on for a few more days and see more of Exmoor, in costume!” she added “we’ve tried to arrange a few interesting activities for the Victorians – watch out for them as you’re out and about.”

Louise Reynolds added “it’s a full line-up – heritage walks through Victorian Lynton as well as Porlock, illustrated talks, slideshows, films, special tours of Dunster Castle and more. There are even traditional Victorian craft activities. We’ve invited local businesses to be involved and know that some will be dressing up, like the Coach House in Lynton where traditional Victorian cream teas will be on the menu!”

Abbie explained that “the Festival will move from village to village during the week, starting in Lynton and Lynmouth on the Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday will see activities move to Dunster, with Porlock on the Thursday and Allerford on Friday.”

The Victorians were responsible for the steam era and so there will be Victorians at Woody Bay Station as well as a talk from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. The Cliff Railway in Lynton and Lynmouth owes its construction to the Victorians and so the programme involves them too.

During the Festival the Project team will be sharing some Victorian postcards and images, and scanning your old photos too. A member of the project team will be at Dunster National Park Centre on the 22nd June from 2-4pm and at Porlock Visitor Centre on the 23rd from 2:30-4:30pm ready to scan your pictures.

 “There is a fairly packed programme” says Abbie “so check the line-up and we hope to see you at some of the events”. The programme is available on the Project Facebook Page and Twitter, or in the National Park Centres.