On This Day in Wembury
12 December 1908 — World’s Largest Dock Proposed for Wembury Bay
The Totnes Weekly Times reported on a visit by commercial leaders and public officials to Wembury Bay, where it was proposed to construct what was described as the largest dock in the world.
The plan envisaged enclosing over 1,000 acres of sea with vast breakwaters stretching from Wembury Point to the Mewstone, then seawards and across from Gara Point. An inner harbour of 255 acres, with seven miles of quay space, wharves, piers, and two graving docks up to 1,100 feet long, would have accommodated the largest liners afloat. The total cost was estimated between £1.75 and £2 million, with a railway spur to Plymouth at an additional £150,000.
Had it gone ahead, Wembury would have been transformed into a global ocean gateway, eclipsing even Liverpool or Southampton in scale. The tranquil bay, dominated by the church and the Mewstone, would have become a hub of international shipping and heavy industry.
In reality, the scheme never advanced beyond the planning and publicity stage. Admiralty objections, environmental challenges, and shifting commercial priorities meant the project was quietly shelved. Instead of becoming a dockyard city, Wembury remained a rural parish and beauty spot, later secured by the National Trust for conservation.
Source: Totnes Weekly Times, 12 December 1908.
