SIR — The delightful picture acquired for Somerset recently shows the thriving Oyster Fleet at Porlock at work (Free Press July 31).

It also shows something else - note the waterfall in the background.

In those days the Worthy Water flowed through the Marsh and over the weir into Porlock Bay. Maps of this time, and earlier, show a pebble ridge evenly spread as at Bossington today.

There is a theory that had the weir not been replaced with the lock gates in 1909(?) the natural forces of the sea would have rebuilt the beach annually after winter storms.

After the weir gates were introduced and the gates closed regularly at high tides, the build-up of weir water would have gone back up the marsh and built up pressure.

Anyone who has built dams on beaches with children and grandchildren knows what happens next!

So, it did, and the Worthy Water now flows to its current exit straight down the Coombe and onto the beach.

Fiddling with nature, and captured in the charming picture! You won’t see that view now!

Rollo Clifford,

West Porlock.