On this day in Wembury — 5 December 1973

The Torbay Express and South Devon Echo carried an advert for Brown Hills Farm, Wembury: “ideally suited for the commuter within 7 miles of Plymouth, yet particularly close to the beach of Heybrook Bay,” offering a level-site range of 3- and 4-bed houses and 2- and 3-bed bungalows priced from £10,250. In today’s money that entry-level price is roughly £158,000 using CPI inflation, which underlines how sharply coastal values have outpaced general prices over time. By contrast, recent sales and averages in Heybrook Bay typically sit in the £430k–£800k+ range depending on street and outlook, with an area average around £620k in the last year. 

(Source: Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, 5 December 1973 — Brown Hills Farm housing advert.)