On This Day in Wembury — 7 March 1854
The Western Courier reported a notable society wedding at Wembury. William Frederick Collier, second son of the late John Collier MP of Plymouth, married Miss Cycil Christiana Calmady, fourth daughter of Charles B. Calmady of Langdon Court. The marriage took place at Wembury and was described in the language of the time as “a gay affair,” attended by many of the local gentry.
The Calmadys of Langdon Court were among the most prominent families in the South Hams, their estate reaching across Wembury parish, while the Colliers were equally well-established in Plymouth’s civic and political life. The union symbolised the intertwining of two influential Devon dynasties. Weddings such as this were as much public statements as private celebrations, reinforcing ties of land, politics, and influence in the mid-19th century countryside.
Source: Western Courier, 15 March 1854
Entries are summaries and interpretations of historical newspaper reports.