wemburywaves

On this day in Wembury, 13 August 1994

The Western Evening Herald featured a striking aerial photograph of St Werburgh’s Church and Wembury Beach, using the image to reflect on the long sweep of history that has passed beneath the tower of the village’s most iconic landmark. The article described the church as sitting “atop the curve of the coast,” a place that has witnessed centuries of drama and change, from the passage of the Spanish Armada in 1588 to the quieter rhythms of modern village life.

By 1994 the coastline below the church was becoming increasingly important for national conservation work. The report noted that Wembury had become a centre for a major marine conservation programme, operating from the newly opened building beside the church. This was the early era of the Wembury Marine Centre, which has since become one of the best known coastal education sites in the South West.

The National Trust’s tea room and the mill café were also highlighted, showing how heritage, tourism and environmental education were already closely intertwined at Wembury Point. The page invited readers to obtain prints of the aerial photograph and others in a series showcasing the Devon and Cornwall coastline.

A simple but atmospheric feature, it captured the sense of Wembury as a place where deep history and everyday coastal life meet on the same shoreline.

Source, Western Evening Herald, 13 August 1994.