On this day in Wembury, 17 August 1890
The Express and Echo published the weekly government return of livestock affected by contagious diseases, and the figures for the week ending 17 August 1890 showed a worrying spike for farmers in the South Hams. While cases of swine fever had fallen compared with the previous week, there had been an overall increase in sheep scab, a highly infectious parasitic skin disease that caused serious economic loss in nineteenth century flocks.
Wembury appeared prominently in the list. The return recorded sixteen cases of sheep scab in the parish, a number matched only by Ermington in the same report. Other nearby parishes such as Dodbrooke, Harford and Cornwood also showed smaller outbreaks.
These weekly notices, dry as they seem, mattered greatly to rural communities. Sheep scab was a notifiable disease and could lead to restrictions on movement, compulsory treatment and financial strain for farmers. Seeing Wembury among the worst affected parishes in mid August 1890 offers a small snapshot of the agricultural pressures faced locally at the time.
Source, Express and Echo, 19 August 1890 (figures for week ending 17 August 1890).