Area History

A short history of Lynton and Lynmouth

There is some evidence that many areas around Lynton were settled in prehistoric times, but it appears that Lynton itself was originally a Celtic settlement.

Until the 18th century, Lynton was a small isolated farming settlement. Later on in the century, as a result of improved roads, increased leisure and wealth, Lynton and Lynmouth were transformed into tourist resorts. Among the earliest visitors were Gainsborough, Coutts the banker and the poets Coleridge, Wordsworth and Shelley. During the latter half of the 19th century development was rapid, with many new hotels and houses being built. The original hydroelectric power station was one of the first in the country, supplying both villages with electricity before many major cities had street lighting. Electricity, the installation of a pure water supply, the completion of the Cliff Railway and Lynton to Barnstaple Railway made life easier.

Sir George Newnes, the magazine magnate who was responsible for the publishing of "Tit-Bits" and "Country Life", was a great benefactor to both villages. He financed most of the Cliff Railway and was behind construction of the Lynton to Barnstaple narrow gauge railway, which was in service from 1898 to 1935. He built the Town Hall to celebrate his son's coming of age; this was opened by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Sir George built and lived in Hollerday House, which was on the hill behind the Town Hall. The remains can still be seen, the house having been destroyed by fire at the beginning of this century.

Local builder, Bob Jones, who incidentally built our house in 1889 for a Baronets son as a country retreat, built many of the new buildings and the Cliff Railway with which Sir George was associated.

Lynmouth was a small port until the late 18th century, importing coal and limestone from South Wales and exporting farm produce and oysters. The restored limekilns can still be seen by the Cliff Railway in Lynmouth. Most of the traffic to and from the area was by sea, as tourism grew, access by horse and stagecoach became readily available. The last coach ran in 1920.

On the 15th August 1952 disaster struck the valley after a terrible storm. Lynmouth bore the full force of the flash flood when millions of tons of water poured through the village destroying it and killing 34 (including children).

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