Visitors to modern-day Braunton might be surprised to learn that much of the village’s economic success has been built upon its maritime history and indeed, that Braunton was once a significant ship-owning centre with strong links to the sea, not least a port of its own.
At the height of Velator’s success, it was a thriving, bustling, noisy port and a vastly different place to that which we see today.
Transporting Produce
Before the advent of motorised road transport, the most efficient way of transporting produce from the village (and, notably, the Great Field) to market towns around the country was by sea. Another Braunton product was manganese ore, which came from a local mine. The same vessels that exported the cargoes returned laden with coal and limestone from South Wales and bricks from Bridgwater.
Velator Quay
Until the late 1850’s, access to the edge of Braunton was awkward for ships.
The enclosure and reclamation of the marshes however brought with it the benefit of a much improved quay at Velator*, which is at the downstream end of Braunton and at its tidal limit.
More can be learnt about the reclamation of the marshes in the section about Farming. The improvements included straightening Braunton Pill and this made Velator considerably more accessible to larger vessels.
Listen to a "sea shanty" written by Sam Richards about Velator Quay and the last man to sail from it.
*It should be noted that the spelling of Velator has long been debated. The modern method dictates that one L be used; the traditional spelling includes two – Vellator.
Taw Torridge Estuary Forum
For more information about the Estuary and it's modern-day management, please see the web-site of the Taw Torridge Estuary Forum.
The North Devon Coast
North Devon has some of the most spectacular and varied coastal scenery in the country and wonderful seascapes. The coastal and marine life is amongst the richest in the country. Wild and unspoiled places are interspersed by coastal communities and popular resorts where livelihoods owe much to the coast and sea.
It is the aim of Coastwise, an independent community initiative, to increase understanding of the coast, its wildlife, and its importance to North Devon in the past, present and the future. They do this through sharing knowledge, undertaking conservation activities and projects, and addressing current issues. Click here to see the
Coastwise North Devon web-site.