Portishead - where I live

Portishead’s history dates back to the Roman times. Its name derives from the ‘port at the head of the river’. The town was built on the mouth of a small tributary; indeed the High Street once met the water at the top of the river. Iron rings, evidence of where the old fishing boats used to moor can still be seen today on the street’s stone walls. The town retains a slightly old-fashioned atmosphere where local traders and shopkeepers know the many faces of their customers.

The dominant architecture is early Victorian with many buildings maintaining their original features. Around 1836 at the height of the iron and steel era, a deep-water dock was built to facilitate the large ships that brought valuable cargoes from across the globe and exported local products overseas. For over 50 years a major coal-fed power station operated alongside the dock. Ships carrying coal were commonplace in Portishead Docks. Industrial activities ceased in the dock with the closure of the Power Station in 1980.

The dock has however been well preserved and is now the centre of a new and exciting marina development attracting interest from all over the country. The new marina will provide over 400 floating berths and approximately 100 dry berths for a range of sailing and leisure craft. I live in this brand new marina complex. The current population of Portishead is approximately 18,000. Due to the new house-building programme in the area, a further 8,000 people are expected to settle in the area over the next few years making Portishead one of the largest towns in North Somerset.

Below pictures were taken last weekend in Portishead countryside. http://www.dailymotion.com/stephbilette/video/x3fot8_the-sea-and-the-seagulls_animals