On Glorious Devon's Ocean Coast

This is a tourist information film made to encourage visitors to Ilfracombe on Devon's ocean coast in other words North Devon. The film targets honeymooners and families and amusingly states that while husbands play (bowls) wives may explore the shops and the old buildings around the harbour! The shirtwaister or shirtdress is the fashion statement of the day and swimming costumes are rather shapely corset-like affairs of polka dot or floral designs in bright colours.

Swimcaps are also worn to protect hairstyles which necessitated nightly sleeping in curlers. Ilfracombe stretches from Hele Bay past the Torrs to Lee Bay and is dominated by Hillsborough Hill. Today, artist Damien Hirst's bronze Verity depicts a pregnant woman and stands at the harbour entrance. The area is hilly and artificial tunnels were carved out of the rock in the 1820s to provide access to the Tunnels Beaches and tidal bathing pools. Woolacombe features as a destination for surfing and Watersmeet and Valley of the Rocks are seen on a Lynton and Lynmouth trip. There are also trips to Bideford, a white funnel steamer trip to Lundy and Clovelly and a look at the Norman Manor Farm Estate at Chambercombe.