THE life and times of Porlock Weir will be the focus of a major exhibition which will also coincide with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. The exhibition 500 Years of Porlock Weir will take place in Porlock Village Hall next weekend, March 24-25, and will chart the influence of the sea on the small West Somerset community. It will reveal how national events impacted on people's lives, such as the Western Rebellion and the Spanish Armada, and how the desire to explore the New World and the slave trade itself affected villagers. There will also be details of the many boats which plied their trade from Porlock Weir, while long forgotten local names have been rediscovered and researched. The exhibition has been put together by a small group of local enthusiasts led by Derek Purvis, pictured, kneeling, with Noah and Mary Perkins and his wife Lyn. It will be open from 11am to 5pm on both days, with all proceeds being donated to the Porlock Information Centre. Photo: Steve Guscott.