And here we are at last! 176 very narrow and steep steps up (more like climbing a ladder at times). Thankfully no passing on these spiral stairs. And on such a beautiful day.
The legend is that a watch was kept for Excise boats from St Michael's Loft in the Priory and then the salmon was turned to warn the smugglers. It seemed to always point west when I worked nearby - not that that was in the same era! The Excise boats had to lurk outside the harbour as it was allowed to silt up to prevent them entering - which just shows that rather prominent people were involved in the trade!
Oh yes, this was the home of smuggling with trails leading out of town across the New Forest and into Cranborne Chase. I always took the stories with a pinch of salt until I worked in the museum neaby and saw the documentary evidence!
3 comments:
From the closeup picture of the weathervane, it appears they've attached the fish upside down.
Wonder why?
I just re-read your post. Is that what you meant by "the salmon is turned"?
If so, how could they tell it was upside down from such a long distance? I couldn't even tell from the photo until I saw the closeup!
Sorry Marcheline that my answer has taken so long. I think my photo is at a weird angle: from the ground the fish looks perfectly normal (apart from no water and hanging in midair of course!). By "turning" I meant from north-south to east-west.
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