Gruffydd Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 This is on a hill above a beach in west Wales. Looks as though it would have been used for pulling something up - but what? Boats, perhaps? Any ideas? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inchiquin Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Are you sure it's not just a sculpture? Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
York Photographer Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Looks like a disused winch for dragging small boats on to the beach.Rob Cook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 40 minutes ago, York Photographer said: Looks like a disused winch for dragging small boats on to the beach.Rob Cook Those winches tend to look like this, though the Welsh ones might be different it also looks like it’s too high and far away from the beach to be used for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Clemson Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Speculating... I don't think it's a winch as the spindles are too small to hold much rope or cable. The cog is a ratchet, intended to restrict movement in one direction. The device is also a long way from the beach and its hard to image anybody placing a boat winch so far away. It has multiple spindles which can only be used one at a time, assuming there is a square drive on the left hand end of the spindle and room for a removable winding handle. A winch to bring goods up an incline form the beach? But why then the multi-spindle if you can only use one at a time? I'm guessing there was another similar post somewhere nearby and something was stretched between them and held taut - several lines of rope or cable? Producing nets? rope? I've looked at old maps of the area and can't see any clues. I think we need a knowledgeable local or specialist in industrial heritage. ETA. Still guessing. It has the right proportions for tensioning a wire fence, though I can't find anything else like it on google in a quick trawl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starsphinx Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 My thought was are there any old mines in the area? Might be related to those if so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aphperspective Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 4 minutes ago, Joseph Clemson said: Speculating... I don't think it's a winch as the spindles are too small to hold much rope or cable. The cog is a ratchet, intended to restrict movement in one direction. The device is also a long way from the beach and its hard to image anybody placing a boat winch so far away. It has multiple spindles which can only be used one at a time, assuming there is a square drive on the left hand end of the spindle and room for a removable winding handle. A winch to bring goods up an incline form the beach? But why then the multi-spindle if you can only use one at a time? I'm guessing there was another similar post somewhere nearby and something was stretched between them and held taut - several lines of rope or cable? Producing nets? rope? I've looked at old maps of the area and can't see any clues. I think we need a knowledgeable local or specialist in industrial heritage. Just an idea but it would make more sense being horizontal instead of vertical, may be a piece of old machinery that's just been up ended and buried in the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Knight Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I came across this site that may shed some light https://tinyurl.com/ycrfl54v and if you read the section East Blockhouse to Freshwater West you may find that it had something to do with remains of anti-invasion beach obstacles cleared and buried by German prisoners of war (most old metal removed in December 2007). I may be wrong but again it may help you. Regards Mal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Clemson Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Bingo, more or less. A fence post with ratchet wire tensioners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inchiquin Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 2 hours ago, Joseph Clemson said: Bingo, more or less. A fence post with ratchet wire tensioners. Surely it's far too elaborate and heavily engineered for that? I like Mal's suggestion of something military. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Clemson Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Inchiquin said: Surely it's far too elaborate and heavily engineered for that? I like Mal's suggestion of something military. Alan It may or may not relate to military use, but the main point of it being a fence tensioning post I feel fairly sure of. Something like this would stand at the end of a long line of posts carrying fence wire running through holes or loose staples. The sturdiness required to tension several hundred yards of fence wire is quite considerable, eve for an ordinary agricultural wire fence. Any old farmers or militarists out there who can give a positive ID? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruffydd Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 Well, thank you so much to everyone who contributed here; I really appreciate all your help. It never ceases to amaze me the effort the people on this forum are prepared to put in to help others. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi i gyd! I think you solved it, Joseph - thank you. PS I have some flowers in need of identifying, so I am afraid I am going to bombard you with those over the next few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandyD Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 my thought was something survey related... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shergar Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Ah Ha! I have seen something like this before. It is was used by the coastguard years ago for target practice . They would fire a rocket at it to practice getting a breeches buoy to a ship in distress . Here is one in use. These things weren't mass produced so you might see some differences . https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205136018 Cheers and gone Shergar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shergar Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 So my answer is a breeches buoy practice post https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-breeches-buoy-practice-post-at-trevose-head-cornwall-50789216.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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