On this day in Wembury — 24 May 1934
The Daily Herald carried a lively advertisement for Wembury Point Holiday Camp, proudly billing it as “The Camp IDEAL — the camp where you FEEL the camp spirit.” Situated on the cliffs overlooking Wembury Bay and the Mewstone, it promised holidaymakers “good food, good spring beds and good service,” along with a full programme of open-air activities.
Guests could enjoy boating, sailing, bathing, riding, shooting, tennis, and the pleasures of “a fully licensed club.” The camp offered chalets, caravans, and tent accommodation, aiming to attract the growing number of middle-class Britons taking advantage of paid holidays and cheap rail travel in the interwar years. The notice was placed by G. L. Williamson, the camp’s proprietor, who promoted it as an affordable seaside alternative to more crowded resorts.
The 1930s were the golden age of Britain’s holiday camps, when fresh air, socialising, and communal recreation were seen as the antidote to city life. Wembury’s version drew visitors keen to combine rustic charm with modern convenience, making use of its dramatic coastal setting. Long before the National Trust reclaimed Wembury Point for nature, it briefly echoed with the sounds of laughter, tennis balls, and brass bands — a snapshot of seaside optimism between two world wars.
(Daily Herald, 24 May 1934)