Teignmouth
August 17, 2022
HM 207. Teignmouth - a harbour to ponder while seated!
Teignmouth is a secret gem and holds a few surprises. Entering from the sea, a huge shingle bank sweeps south from the town's beach creating a narrow fast flowing entrance and once inside, a well protected inner harbour.
Of most fame is the export of very rare "Ball Clay" mined in nearby Newton Abbot. Whereas China Clay (kaolin) produces hard porcelain, Ball Clay is more plastic and easier to work. The industry first boomed after the introduction of tobacco by Sir Walter Raleigh and the subsequent demand for clay pipes. Now it is used in the manufacture of ceramic sanitary ware, giving the pure white finish we all take for granted when choosing our new loo! Still exported by ship from "Sand Quay", built with Dartmoor granite by Dartmoor prisoners, the harbour entrance needs daily dredging to keep the busy shipping lane open.
Teignmouth is famed for having both England's oldest passenger ferry (which must be hotly contested!) and the UK's largest rowing club with, I am, told vigorous competition with neighbouring Shaldon. One class of boat raced, is the "Seine" rowing boat. To qualify as a true Seine boat, it has to be able to hold a ton of shellfish and still float in 18 inches of water - a very sound safety measure of old. The whole estuary is still well fished but the collecting of mussels, cockles and clams is highly regulated as per the sign in photo 10.
So who looks after this busy harbour? The wonderfully named Commander Karen Dalton-Fyfe together with AHM Humphrey Vince who gave us a very warm welcome and a superb berth on their floating pontoons.
Karen joined the Royal Navy at 20 and was the first female hydrographer (surveyor) to command a ship (in fact five ships!). Leaving the Navy in 2021 she now has a rather different "command", as CEO of Teignmouth Harbour Commission with seven staff and nine voluntary commissioners. Already she has had to ban two Russian ships from entering her harbour. Good luck in your new role Karen and thank you for our happy visit.
Teignmouth is a secret gem and holds a few surprises. Entering from the sea, a huge shingle bank sweeps south from the town's beach creating a narrow fast flowing entrance and once inside, a well protected inner harbour.
Of most fame is the export of very rare "Ball Clay" mined in nearby Newton Abbot. Whereas China Clay (kaolin) produces hard porcelain, Ball Clay is more plastic and easier to work. The industry first boomed after the introduction of tobacco by Sir Walter Raleigh and the subsequent demand for clay pipes. Now it is used in the manufacture of ceramic sanitary ware, giving the pure white finish we all take for granted when choosing our new loo! Still exported by ship from "Sand Quay", built with Dartmoor granite by Dartmoor prisoners, the harbour entrance needs daily dredging to keep the busy shipping lane open.
Teignmouth is famed for having both England's oldest passenger ferry (which must be hotly contested!) and the UK's largest rowing club with, I am, told vigorous competition with neighbouring Shaldon. One class of boat raced, is the "Seine" rowing boat. To qualify as a true Seine boat, it has to be able to hold a ton of shellfish and still float in 18 inches of water - a very sound safety measure of old. The whole estuary is still well fished but the collecting of mussels, cockles and clams is highly regulated as per the sign in photo 10.
So who looks after this busy harbour? The wonderfully named Commander Karen Dalton-Fyfe together with AHM Humphrey Vince who gave us a very warm welcome and a superb berth on their floating pontoons.
Karen joined the Royal Navy at 20 and was the first female hydrographer (surveyor) to command a ship (in fact five ships!). Leaving the Navy in 2021 she now has a rather different "command", as CEO of Teignmouth Harbour Commission with seven staff and nine voluntary commissioners. Already she has had to ban two Russian ships from entering her harbour. Good luck in your new role Karen and thank you for our happy visit.