West Bay, Dorset
West Bay photos
Displaying 1 of 41 old photos of West Bay. View all West Bay photos
West Bay maps
Historic maps of West Bay and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all West Bay maps
West Bay books
Displaying 3 of 11 books about West Bay and the local area. View all West Bay books
5 West Bay photos appear in 2 Frith book titles. You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of West Bay
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Dorset memories
My dad was Cyril Henry Sprake, I have memories of travelling to Eype to see my gran, she was Day then. As grandad and uncle Robert died during the war, I am interested in knowing which of the local Sprake families was grandad's.
I too think of the area as my spiritual home, I have said to my family that I... [more]
Shared on 05 September 2008
My Mum, Nesta Smith (nee Sprake) was born in No. 3 Eype Cottages and lived there up until she married my Dad (Ron Smith) in July 1949. They met when he was stationed close by with the Royal Army Service Corp. They used to do their courting by the old phone box apparently! Dad proposed to Mum up at Golden Cap... [more]
Shared on 19 June 2006
Since my blog of 2007 concerning my time as a boarder at the Visitation Convent school 1942-1947, I have noted with interest that other former pupils (though not from the years I was there) have commented on their experiences of the place. Mostly, their memories are sad and bitter ones. It has made me think back again at my years there.... [more]
Shared on 07 October 2009
I was disturbed to read the Memory posted in early September from a contemporary about our common primary school, Bridport Visitation Convent. It was reprinted in the Bridport News of October 1st so needs to be balanced I feel. That gentleman clearly doesn't remember his time there with relish but I wonder why he didn't put his schooldays into the context... [more]
Shared on 03 October 2009
Extracts From West Bay & Dorset books
Displaying a selection of extracts from Frith books about West Bay, inspired by Frith photos.
Victorian and Edwardian Maritime Album
The brigantine lying in this Dorset harbour has a heavy transom counter, an indication that she might well be fifty years old or more. There were a number of developments in ship design during the 1830s to 1850s, partially influenced by new ways of measuring tonnage, that led to finer hull lines. It was also a period when wire shrouds began to replace thick... [more]
Read more and see photos from this book.
West Bay is the small port of the neighbouring town of Bridport.The River Brit, which gives the larger town its name, is held back by a series of sluices and released at low tide. The swell between the piers as the great waves of Lyme Bay wash into the harbour entrance is an awe- some sight.
Read more and see photos from this book.
Victorian and Edwardian Dorset Photographic Memories
This artificial harbour, first constructed between 1740- 44, stands at the estuary of the small River Brit. It was reconstructed in 1844, but a harbour had existed here for several centuries. Joan of Navarre landed here in 1403 on her way to marry Henry IV. The imposing terrace of five tall houses, with a tile-hung mansard roof at three levels, had been built around 1885 by E S Prior, and the heaps of stone on... [more]
Read more and see photos from this book.

