photogr aphy: Nigel Jones
Salcombe
a Visit...
by Philip Hawkins
Question: What do the following people have in common? Former Rugby player and England coach Sir Clive Woodward, singer Kate Bush, chat show legend Sir Michael Parkinson and members of the band Led Zeppelin. Well, apart from the obvious that Sir Michael Parkinson has probably interviewed them all at some point; all have or have had holiday homes in Salcombe.
East Devon Coast & Country
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Messing around in boats, the order-of-the-day at Salcombe
This popularity among the rich and famous has
comfortably way back in our history, it is in fact
but a small fishing hamlet in its very early days.
definitely had its effect on the housing market in
rather late, considering that most settlements in the
However archaeologists have identified Stone Age
Salcombe, where some of the properties that enjoy
area had already been identified centuries before.
settlements on the cliff tops on both sides of the
estuary or sea views can easily be worth around
estuary mouth and a recently discovered shipwreck
£1.5 million pounds and some can be rented for
demonstrates the existence of intercontinental
as much as £12,000 per week during the peak
trade. Today’s tourists can envelop themselves
summer season.
in nautical history through wreck diving, which is a very popular pursuit in Salcombe.
One might be forgiven for deducing that Salcombe has an air of exclusivity about it. On the one hand
By the 1790’s Salcombe had begun to develop
it most certainly does but on the other this does
a significant ship building industry. Around 300
not mean that we ordinary mortals cannot enjoy
sailing vessels and a handful of steamers were built
this most beautiful South Devon town.
in Salcombe and around the estuary area during the 19th century, almost all for local owners. Today
So, what is the great attraction of Salcombe? The
many local residents still own their own boats but
phrase ‘situated in an area of outstanding natural
these are mainly used for sport and pleasure, not
beauty’ is a very good indication and together
for trading.
with its almost Mediterranean micro climate and perfect sea conditions for sailing and water sports
I do not believe that we need to consider that
In Salcombe’s early days there was a thriving
in general, we definitely seem to have a tourist
Salcombe deliberately kept itself anonymous to
coastal trade; salt to Newfoundland in Canada
hotspot. It would appear however that Salcombe
hide a history of smuggling and piracy nor to
and salted fish to Europe. In 1815 the fruit trade
has not always been so attractive or indeed well
intentionally deter tourists! The more likely cause
developed and with it the ‘Fruit Schooner’ ships
known. There seems to be no written record of
is a lack of literate inhabitants (the illiterate leave
were developed – speed being the key factor.
the town until 1244, whilst this appears to be
no records). It is also likely that Salcombe was
Transporting perishable fresh cargo from Spain
A Celebration of Life in East Devon
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