◊ Loving Wishing From Ilfracombe - The Cardiff Steamer, & Hillsborough, Ilfracombe. The verse echoes my thoughts when spending nights away from home whilst working at the Caberboard works in nearby South Molton. I detested the place but found solitude and peace at Ilfracombe harbour ; followed by a warm meal and a few beers in the town above on those lonely winter nights.

Ever and evermore
Down by the rippling sea.
Like waves returning to the shore
My thoughts return to thee.

A Moment Captured in Time from a Jackson & Sons of Grimsby postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001] [20181014]

◊ The Harbour, Ilfracombe - An idyllic postcard view dating from the 1920' or 30's which belies the dangerous nature of the coast as this report from 1889 illustrates :

Wrecks and Casualties - 'An Ilfracombe telegram states that a small steamer drove ashore at Lee, near the Bull Lighthouse, at dead low-water, on Friday night. The Ilfracombe rocket apparatus was taken out, and the line tied over the vessel, but, unfortunately, too late to save any of the crew. A lifeboat was washed ashore marked "s.s. Lymington, London." The vessel became a total wreck. Strong gale from the north-west. A telegram from Lloyd's agent at Bridgewater, dated Saturday afternoon, states that the steamer Lymington, of London, has been a total loss on Bull Point ; all hands lost.' - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 4th February 1889.

A Moment Captured in Time and a postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001] [20181014]