BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PORT OF WELLS

There has been a Port at Wells for over 800 years. During the period of peace which followed the establishment of "Danelaw" in the 9th Century, many abbeys began to trade with countries in Europe. The Abbot of Ramsey Abbey planned to export grain, salt and reeds and to import wax and building products and although at that time it was only a fishing village, he chose Wells to handle these cargos.

In 1202 a charter was granted by King John which allowed a Town and Port to be built. The Harbour at this time was probably aIt the centre of the present Town alongside the Church of All Hallows, which was built during the same period later being
rededicated to St Nicholas.

The harbour itself is protected by salt marshes behind a sand bar and because it is a natural safe haven from the unpredictable North Sea weather the Port of Wells was one of England's major harbours in Tudor times.

In 1663 under the reign of Charles Il, the Harbour Improvement Act established the appointment of Commissioners for repairing and better preserving the key and Port of Wells.

This gave the Commissioners the power to place a levy of 6d for every 'tun' of goods and 'last' of grain loaded or unloaded.

Subsequent Acts followed one being in 1844 for the building of the present day quay, which was constructed in 1845

The Port was a thriving, centre for shipping and maritime industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its greatest period of prosperity was probably from 1830 to 1860. The coming of the railway in 1857 marked the beginning of decline though there was resurgence from 1960 to 1989 when coasters bringing fertilizer and animal feed came in some numbers. The railway closed in 1964.

The Granary with its distinctive gantry was built around 1904 and allowed grain to be transferred between the building and ships without disrupting road traffic.

Ships from all over Europe unloaded soya beans, grain and other cereals which were stored in silos within the building.

The last coaster to unload cargo into the granary was the MV Palbro Pride in 1990 with soya meal from Rotterdam. The last large coaster carrying cargo to visit the Port was the Insistence in 1992 and the final.commercial ship to unload cargo in the Port was the sailing vessel Albatros in 1996.

(c) Wells Harbour and Commissioners - Reproduced from the harbour information board.