An Elephant for the Town of Bridport

Earlier this year, Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis welcomed a herd of colourful elephants as part of the Stampede By The Sea event. Organised by Weldmar Hospicecare, the elephants formed a Trail across West Dorset that was enjoyed by tens of thousands of local families and guests visiting the area. The aim was simple – raise awareness and vital funds for Weldmar, a Dorset hospice who provide specialist end of life care for local adults with a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones.

Elephants were chosen as talking about end of life care can often be seen as the “elephant in the room” and a difficult subject to discuss. The charity aims to raise awareness about the importance of talking with your loved ones about this and other difficult topics. The sculptures were funded by generous sponsorships from local businesses and decorated by a range of artists who produced some incredible pieces of art.

Many people were sad to see the elephants leave at the end of the 8-week event, when the sculptures were auctioned off to raise even more money for the charity. Some were bought by local businesses, and others by private individuals. Not wanting the message behind the Trail to be forgotten, West Dorset Leisure Holidays decided to purchase one of the elephants on behalf of the town of Bridport, to be appreciated by everyone at pop-up appearances at events and local businesses for years to come.

Ropey the Elephant

There were some incredible designs created by a range of skilled artists, and we would have been proud to support any number of them, but one in particular really captured the hearts of the people of Bridport.

Ropey (or Knotty as he has also been called), was located outside of Bridport Museum during the Trail, and we think he is the perfect tribute to the Town’s history. Designed by Deven Bhurke, and initially sponsored by Amsafe Bridport, he’s a little different to the majority of the other elephants, who were painted. Instead, he’s completely wrapped in rope, to celebrate the town’s traditional industry of rope-making.

He’ll be looked after by Bridport Town Council, who have proudly proclaimed themselves zookeepers, and will soon be beginning a tour of the town, starting at Highlands End Holiday Park. We can’t wait to see where else he visits!

Bridport’s Rope-Making History

Bridport has been associated with the rope and net industry for hundreds of years, dating back as early as the 9th century. The coastal climate and geology of the soil was perfectly suited to growing flax and hemp, which were some of the main raw materials required for production.

Over hundreds of years, Bridport became one of the main producers of rope and nets for the British Navy. In fact, Henry VIII decreed that the Navy not use rope made any further than 5 miles from Bridport, a rule that stood for 60 years. In the 1870’s, Bridport-based firm Edwards & Son became the official supplier of nets for Wimbledon, and later were given exclusive rights for the production of goal nets for the English Football Association.

Rope and net-making continues today in Bridport, and throughout the town you’ll find lots of nods to the industry, with roads and even a few pubs named after the industry. The Ropemakers pub’s name speaks for itself, while the more recently opened Bridport Dagger is a more morbid reference to a commonly used hangman’s knot. Rope Walks lane and Spinning Way are named as such because the long narrow streets were used to roll our huge lengths of rope, and Gundry Lane references the Gundry family who founded one of the leading netting companies. There are also numerous roads named after mills, including Thread Mill Lane, Folly Mill Lane, North Mills Road and South Mill Lane.

Find Out More

Fundraising for Weldmar

It has recently been announced that the Stampede by the Sea Trail raised a total of over £180,000 for Weldmar Hospicecare. The money was raised through donations, app downloads, merch sales, raffles, sponsorship and of course, the auction of the elephants at the end. With so many thousands of visitors enjoying the Stampede by the Sea Trail, it’s safe to say that the elephants also helped boost the local economy during the shoulder season before the Summer began.

Caroline Hamblett, CEO of Weldmar Hospicecare is thrilled at the support shown for the Trail, saying “Stampede by the Sea has been an absolutely incredible first art trail for Weldmar Hospicecare in partnership with Wild in Art, and has truly exceeded all expectations. We know that the wonderful elephants not only brought lots of joy to our local community, but also hope that it has significantly raised awareness of the vital services that Weldmar provides. The funds that have been raised will be crucial in allowing us to continue providing specialist care and support to patients and their families across Dorset. A huge thank you to everyone who visited the trail to see the elephants, to our valued partners and sponsors, and of course to those people who attended the auction and placed a bid to buy one of the magnificent sculptures.”

We hope that through our purchase of Ropey, and his planned appearances at events and businesses across the town, that the message of the Trail is remembered and continues to raise awareness and money in the future.