22nd November 2024 marks the bicentennial anniversary of the Great Storm of 1824, which helped form the beach at Budleigh Salterton and caused a huge amount of damage across the Jurassic Coast.
The Great Storm of 1824, also known as the Great Gale, was a storm surge with hurricane-force winds that hit the south coast of England. The smooth pebbles that can be found on Budleigh Beach are famous for being larger than others in the area and are thought to be a result of the Great Storm, which partially blocked the Otter Estuary and formed the town’s beach.
It wasn’t just Budleigh that saw the impact of the storm – In Sidmouth, several low lying houses along the Esplanade were destroyed and the 40 feet sea-stack at Chit Rock was destroyed. Elsewhere, the esplanade at Weymouth was destroyed and villages around Fleet Lagoon, Chiswell and Chesil Beach were damaged.
In Lyme Regis, the storm topped the Cobb and destroyed about 90m of the famous structure. It was also reported that the house and fossil shop belonging to Mary Anning was flooded and the Portland ferry was washed away. The damage stretched as far along the coast as Dorchester.
Prior to the Great Storm, the area that is now dominated by Budleigh Beach, was an open estuary with salt pans. At the time, Budleigh Salterton was famous for its salt production and the pans belonged to the priory of Otterton. The monks had charge of the salt makers and the pack horses that delivered the salt around the region. The pans were in use as late as the 18th century. Today, Budleigh Beach is a 2.5 mile pebble beach, with the River Otter Estuary at one end and the red cliffs of the Jurassic Coast along the other. During the autumn and winter months, it is a lovely place for a brisk stroll and if you’re around over Christmas, you can head down to the seafront and join in the traditional Christmas Day Swim – if you’re brave enough!
This 22nd November, will you be making your way to Budleigh Beach to help celebrate its anniversary?