Branscombe
Branscombe is a village in the county of Devon in south west England .
The place is located on the coast between Sidmouth and Beer and has only a little more than 500 inhabitants, who live mainly from tourism or agriculture. Fishing and silk embroidery no longer play the role they did in centuries past.
The village is elongated in a narrow valley that opens towards the coast in Branscombe Mouth . There is a pebble-covered beach. The steep cliffs of the Jurassic Coast rise to the east and west ; the South West Coast Path is ideal for long walks.
In addition to its natural surroundings, the local attractions include a number of historical buildings. The church of St. Winifred from the 12th century is particularly worth mentioning , the central tower of which with its square floor plan clearly testifies to the Norman architecture. The Masons Arms is a 14th century inn that is still in operation today, and the Great Seaside Farm dates from the same period . The thatched Branscombe Forge is possibly one of the oldest still active blacksmiths of this type of construction. In the immediate vicinity there is a restored mill ( Manor Mill ) and an old bakery, which presents fresh tea and pastries in addition to historical equipment. This museum ensemble provides an insight into the craftsmanship of past centuries and is under the administration of the National Trust .
The rather quiet and historic place suddenly hit the headlines in January 2007 when the freighter MSC Napoli , which was wrecked in Hurricane Kyrill, was carried out on the coast off Branscombe in a controlled manner with cargo classified as dangerous (mainly pesticides ). A number of the overboard containers were washed up on the beach and looted before the police could cordon off the site. These incidents and the lengthy rescue work off the coast, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 , were followed with concern. The salvage work was completed with the removal of the last parts of the wreck in July 2009.
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Coordinates: 50 ° 41 ′ 28 " N , 3 ° 8 ′ 20" W.