Exmouth, General view 1890 (ref. 26256) | owing to the growth of cheap foreign holidays
and an industrial recession. People do still come
to Exmouth for longer holidays, but the town
does not really have the old August high season
any more, with the consequent sad loss of
some of the older hotels. There is now a greater
emphasis on short breaks, weekend visits, and
day trips. Visitors to Exmouth are more likely
to stay in bed and breakfast establishments
than hotels. Harking back to the Georgian
visitors' practice, today's holidaymakers more
commonly rent an apartment, or perhaps a
caravan at one of the neighbouring camping
sites. Coaches bring day trippers from towns
and cities across the West Country and other
parts of England.
Many have chosen to make Exmouth their
home, and the population has increased
dramatically in the last fifty years; suburbs
now sprawl out into the original parishes of
Withycombe Raleigh and Littleham, though both
of these have somehow managed to preserve
their village hearts.
The closure of the docks at the end of the last
century has led to a massive redevelopment of
the dock area, with luxury apartments standing
where ships once unloaded and men worked
long hours. But boats still set out on fishing
expeditions, and the old ferry bumbles across
the Exe estuary to Starcross. The estuary itself
has now been recognised as a bird sanctuary
of international importance, attracting bird-
watchers from around the world.
The heart of Exmouth is little changed since
these photographs were taken. It is still possible
to promenade along the Esplanade as the
Victorians and Edwardians we see here did, and
to seek the shade of the trees in Madeira Walk,
to explore the dunes of the Maer, or search out
bargains in the shops of the Strand and Rolle
Street. Exmouth is Devon's oldest resort, and still
displays its heritage with pride.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade and the Pier c1955 (ref. E52026) | This fine view looks across the
clock tower and Morton Crescent
to the estuary of the River Exe, with
Starcross and the Haldon Hills in
the distance.
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Exmouth, the Beach 1898 (ref. 42464) | The smaller bathing machines seen here are bearing advertising posters for Pears Soap, one of the most popular and widely
advertised Victorian retail products. Just within the sea are larger, probably cheaper, and communal bathing machines.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade c1955 (ref. E52028) | The wall was designed to deflect the waves that so often come up the English Channel from the south-west on stormy days.
This scene has changed little in fifty years, though now a shelter from the wind stands on the position of the nearest bench
in the photograph. It was donated by local resident William Frederick Stokes in 1964.
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Exmouth, the Sands 1890 (ref. 26261) | Exmouth has been a popular resort for over two hundred years. Its miles of long sandy beaches, gently sloping sands,
and safe bathing offer all that is needed for a perfect seaside holiday. But there would have been little chance of getting
sunburned in Victorian times, thanks to the protection offered by these overgenerous costumes.
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Exmouth, from the Beacon 1922 (ref. 72950) | This fine view looks across the
clock tower and Morton Crescent
to the estuary of the River Exe, with
Starcross and the Haldon Hills in
the distance.
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Exmouth, the Boating Lake c1955 (ref. E52104) | This boating lake has
survived as part of the
present-day Exmouth Fun
Park. Beyond and to the
left is the lifeboat station,
built in 1903 and still in
use for the inshore rescue
boat and as a visitor centre
for the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution.
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Exmouth, from the Pier 1906 (ref. 56775) | The construction of a substantial
sea wall, seen here in section to the
right, led to Exmouth's prosperity
as a seaside resort. Before the
wall was built, much of the sea
front was marshland and sand
dunes, and subjected to constant
flooding. The first section of the
wall was completed in 1842, paid
for by the local landowner John
Rolle. It was 1,900 feet long and
constructed from Devon limestone.
The designer was John Smeaton, a
veteran engineer and the designer
of London Bridge.
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Exmouth, the Miniature Railway c1960 (ref. E52099) | All of this area of the sea
front is now part of the
Exmouth Fun Park, a
modest theme park for the
young and not so young
who want a break from the
miles of sandy beaches.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade c1955 (ref. E52002) | By the middle of the 20th
century we see something
resembling the modern
scene. There is the more
familiar red telephone
box on the traffic island,
a modern post box, and
Belisha beacons to aid
pedestrians wishing to
cross the road. In the
centre of the photograph
is the white tower of the
Pavilion Theatre. Much of
the street furniture was
removed by the start of
the 21st century, leaving
a more traffic-dominated Esplanade.
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Exmouth, Esplanade Gardens c1960 (ref. E52101) | The people of
Exmouth have
always taken a
great pride in the
beauties of the
gardens along the
sea front; each lawn
and flowerbed is
carefully tended by
the skilled workers
of the local council.
They are grand
for relaxation, sun
bathing, or just
sitting and watching
the world go by.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade 1898 (ref. 42458) | This view was taken from the building at the very end of Morton Crescent. To the immediate left is the Imperial Hotel,
seen in its original architectural design, changed now after the fire in the 1970s.
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Exmouth, the Harbour View Cafe c1955 (ref. E52018) | The Harbour View began its existence as a sea water bath emporium, and was latterly the clubhouse for the Exmouth
Yacht Club. It has been a café for well over half a century. The notice board tells us that ice creams, coffee and waffles are
available. This view of the prominent sea front café is remarkably unchanged - even the old lamps remain on site.
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Exmouth, the Swimming Baths c1955 (ref. E52024) | These swimming baths
used sea water, and were
designed for international
competitions. The pool
had a length of just over 50
yards and a width of just
20 yards. An earlier bathing
pool was built in Exmouth
in 1842, offering hot and
cold sea water baths.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade 1925 (ref. 78595) | This view was taken from the building at the very end of Morton Crescent. To the immediate left is the Imperial Hotel,
seen in its original architectural design, changed now after the fire in the 1970s.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade 1925 (ref. 76813) | We are looking in the opposite
direction from 72955 (pages 52-53)
along the Esplanade, with the tower
of the town church of Holy Trinity
to the left of the clock tower. A few
bathing machines survive amongst
the beach huts and changing tents.
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Exmouth, the Esplanade 1922 (ref. 72952) | Motor vehicles have mostly
replaced horse-drawn
carriages by the first decade
after the Great War. Even
so, it is possible to linger in
the middle of the road - not
a pastime to be indulged
in on summer days in the
21st century. The bathing
machines have mostly
disappeared, to be replaced
by beach huts and changing
tents. By the time of the
1925 photograph, an early
telephone box has appeared
on the traffic island.
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Exmouth, the Swimming Pool 1938 (ref. 88618) | Exmouth's sea front swimming pool
was built a few years before this
photograph was taken, but it has
now closed. The white building in the
centre of the photograph is the Royal
Beacon Hotel, and the hotel on the
left, level with the flower beds, is the
Channel View.
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Exmouth, the Harbour Entrance c1960 (ref. E52033) | The channel into
Exmouth's harbour remains
unchanged, but the rest of
this scene is now almost
unrecognisable. The docks
and cranes in the distance
have been swept away,
to be replaced by luxury
apartment blocks and new
shops. The bungalows to the
left were demolished quite
recently, and the site awaits
redevelopment as this book
was being written.
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Exmouth, the Seafront 1918 (ref. 68712x) | This is one of Exmouth's
two bowling greens - the
other is at the back of
the town at Phear Park.
The high ground beyond
is Gun Cliff Gardens, off
Carlton Hill. This was the
location of a fort during
the English Civil War; its
guns controlled the sea
and estuary approaches to
the besieged city of Exeter.
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