THE CAMPING SITE AT
LADRAM BAY 1914/1978
The beach and foreshore at
Ladram Bay had been an attraction for
local people and occasional visitors
since the late 19th century and teas were
being served in the cottage by 1910
1910 Note Cottage left
Coastguard Post centre, High Peak in
background. (not Peak Hill)
In July 1914 The St. Thomas,
Exeter Scout Group is enquiring if they
could camp at Ladram which suggests they
might have been camping earlier. In 1924
Clinton Devon Estates Agent, Mr Foster
gave permission to Mr. Mingo, the farmer
at Sea View Farm to have a Girl Guide
Group camping on one of his fields. He
also had plans for a tea house behind the
cottage, which did not materialize.
In 1929 John Palmer,
builder of Budleigh Salterton is leasing
“ALL the beach and foreshore, down to
low watermark, of sea at Ladram Bay”
which does suggest that a field had been
set aside earlier for a camp site. March
1932 Mr.Palmer is leasing for 99 years,
three fields behind the old cottage and
is erecting a tea house.
Early 1930’s. Fields set
aside.
On the outbreak of war, 1939
the Army Authorities requisitioned the
Camping site and Beach and paying Mr.
Palmer a token rent. Mr. Towell, the
farmer of Sea View Farm had suffered from
the 1930’s Agricultural Depression and had
to give up the farm in 1940. He was
succeeded by Frank (Bill) Carter. The camp
land became derelict although an aerial
view taken by the R.A.F. in 1942 appears
to show crops growing in Palmers fields.
Mr. Carter would have benefitted
financially from wartime conditions with a
much greater demand for agricultural
produce probably including the derelict
camping site on instructions from
Government.
Following the end of
hostilities 1945, Mr. Palmer took over
his lease of the camp site with the 8
years to run and asked for a 6 year
extension which the Estate reduced to 3.
In 1953 Mr. Palmer negotiated new leases
to cover the cottage, watch hut, water
supply, pavilion, beach & foreshore
etc. Mr. Carter at Sea View Farm took
over the leases during the following two
years (65 years ago) and then took over
20 acres pasture for a caravan park, car
park, shops and by 1956 the “3 Rocks
Café” and “Ladram Bay Holiday Camp” are
named.
On 29th. September 1978 the
Freehold of the whole site was sold to
the Carter Family .
1956 View of the Ladrab Bay site &
coastline
Gerald Millington 2018
Sources
Clinton Devon Estates
Archives. Documents, Letter Books
Kelly’s Directories
Charlie Fishers
reminiscences