Woody Bay
Encyclopedia
Three miles west of Lynton
and eight east of Combe Martin
on the North Devon
coast of England, stoney-beached Woody Bay nestles among the steep cliffs of the rugged coast below the heights of Exmoor. Although now a relatively remote and unspoilt corner of Devon, at the edge of the Exmoor National Park and a waypoint on the South West Coast Path
, there were once plans to develop the area to become a busy holiday resort to rival the nearby Victorian "Little Switzerland of England".
In 1885 the Manor of Martinhoe, including the then-named Wooda Bay, was purchased by Colonel Benjamin Lake, a wealthy Solicitor from Orpington
in Kent
. Perhaps in an effort to emulate Sir George Newnes
' efforts in the nearby twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth
, Col. Lake planned to develop the bay as an exclusive resort. He converted Martinhoe Manor House into an Hotel, and in 1894, opened a new golf course at Martinhoe common. Plots of land were sold off, and a number of villas started to appear on the wooded slopes overlooking the bay.
A key to the success of Col. Lake's plans would be to bring in more visitors, by improving communications into the area. New roads were built and in 1895, construction of a pier
was started, to provide access from coastal steamers. In 1898, The narrow-gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
arrived, with a relatively substantial station
built high above the bay, and plans (never fulfilled) for a branch line to run down towards the shore.
In January 1897, with the pier almost completed, a major steamship company operating in the area announced that they would be sailing to Woody Bay instead of Lynmouth. This caused considerable alarm among the Lynton and Lynmouth residents, and eventually, the decision was reversed. The official opening of the Woody Bay pier took place on 15 April 1897, however bad weather and low tides prevented the first ships from docking, and this set the scene for future visitors - the pier was not long enough to cater for landings at low tide. And although there was a regular service from Bristol, fewer steamers were calling than had been intended, and plans were drawn up to extend the pier further out into the bay. Again apeing Sir Georges developments at Lynton, a cliff railway was also mooted, to connect with the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, although neither plan ever came to fruition.
On 12 January 1899, perhaps as an omen of what was to come, the pier was severely damaged by a storm, with another a year later. It was never repaired, and the remains were finally demolished for scrap in 1902, although some evidence of its existence can still be seen on the shoreline today.
The Colonel continued pouring money into the area, in an effort to see his dream become reality. Unfortunately however, it wasn't all his money to spend, and in July 1900, he was forced into bankruptcy, with debts of over £170,000. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison, for using clients' savings to fund the Woody Bay developments, and died in 1907 along with any prospect of further intensive developments around Martinhoe.
Lynton
Lynton is a small town in Devon, England. It lies on the northern edge of Exmoor and is located at the top of a gorge above Lynmouth, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway...
and eight east of Combe Martin
Combe Martin
Combe Martin is a village and civil parish on the North Devon coast about east of Ilfracombe. It is a small seaside resort with a sheltered cove on the edge of the Exmoor National Park...
on the North Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
coast of England, stoney-beached Woody Bay nestles among the steep cliffs of the rugged coast below the heights of Exmoor. Although now a relatively remote and unspoilt corner of Devon, at the edge of the Exmoor National Park and a waypoint on the South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
, there were once plans to develop the area to become a busy holiday resort to rival the nearby Victorian "Little Switzerland of England".
In 1885 the Manor of Martinhoe, including the then-named Wooda Bay, was purchased by Colonel Benjamin Lake, a wealthy Solicitor from Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Perhaps in an effort to emulate Sir George Newnes
George Newnes
Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet was a publisher and editor in England.-Background and education:...
' efforts in the nearby twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth
Lynmouth
Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
, Col. Lake planned to develop the bay as an exclusive resort. He converted Martinhoe Manor House into an Hotel, and in 1894, opened a new golf course at Martinhoe common. Plots of land were sold off, and a number of villas started to appear on the wooded slopes overlooking the bay.
A key to the success of Col. Lake's plans would be to bring in more visitors, by improving communications into the area. New roads were built and in 1895, construction of a pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
was started, to provide access from coastal steamers. In 1898, The narrow-gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway slightly over long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England. Although opened after the 1896 Light Railways Act came into force,...
arrived, with a relatively substantial station
Woody Bay railway station
Woody Bay, within the Exmoor National Park, is a station on the former Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line that ran through Exmoor from Barnstaple to Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon. The station was situated inland, about 2 km from Woody Bay itself...
built high above the bay, and plans (never fulfilled) for a branch line to run down towards the shore.
In January 1897, with the pier almost completed, a major steamship company operating in the area announced that they would be sailing to Woody Bay instead of Lynmouth. This caused considerable alarm among the Lynton and Lynmouth residents, and eventually, the decision was reversed. The official opening of the Woody Bay pier took place on 15 April 1897, however bad weather and low tides prevented the first ships from docking, and this set the scene for future visitors - the pier was not long enough to cater for landings at low tide. And although there was a regular service from Bristol, fewer steamers were calling than had been intended, and plans were drawn up to extend the pier further out into the bay. Again apeing Sir Georges developments at Lynton, a cliff railway was also mooted, to connect with the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, although neither plan ever came to fruition.
On 12 January 1899, perhaps as an omen of what was to come, the pier was severely damaged by a storm, with another a year later. It was never repaired, and the remains were finally demolished for scrap in 1902, although some evidence of its existence can still be seen on the shoreline today.
The Colonel continued pouring money into the area, in an effort to see his dream become reality. Unfortunately however, it wasn't all his money to spend, and in July 1900, he was forced into bankruptcy, with debts of over £170,000. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison, for using clients' savings to fund the Woody Bay developments, and died in 1907 along with any prospect of further intensive developments around Martinhoe.