On this day in Wembury — 7 January 1915

A letter published in the Western Morning News the following day highlighted the poor state of the footpath from Down Thomas to Plymouth. Signed “A Downthomasian”, the writer complained that the path had been “a complete slush from one end to the other” for at least twenty years, making walking to Plymouth extremely difficult.

With many troops stationed nearby during the First World War, the writer appealed to Wembury Parish Council to take action, suggesting that “the people of Down Thomas should be able to reach Plymouth a little cleaner than they can at present.”

The plea captures a moment of local frustration at neglected rural infrastructure and hints at the strain placed on small parishes by wartime troop movements and muddy winter conditions.

Source: Western Morning News, 8 January 1915 (letter dated 7 January 1915).