History

Lyme Regis is an ancient town – its roots stretch back to the 8th century when monks distilled salt from the sea. The sea has, of course, been central to the community’s development; the famous Cobb breakwater, first constructed in the 13th century from massive oak beams and boulders, provided essential harbour protection for the development of a thriving trading port.

And a unique spirit of independence which still characterises the town, thrust this small corner of the West Country into the centre of the nation’s affairs when, supporting Parliament, Lyme Regis was caught up in civil war. In 1644 Royalist troops attacked the town. The siege of Lyme lasted two months and claimed many lives. It was here in 1685 that the Duke of Monmouth landed in pursuit of the Royal crown; his subsequent capture at the Battle of Sedgemoor also sent twelve local men, numbered among his supporters, to their deaths.

Today you will find frequent reminders of Lyme’s multi – faceted past: cannons survive as reminders of the past battles; fossils on show in the Museum and under foot on the beaches, hark back to pre – history; the changing strata of the cliffs are tangible evidence of landslips past and present. And there’s much more – do you visit the splendid Lyme Regis Museum (next to the Guildhall), the fascinating fossil shop and, of course, St. Michael’s Parish church where in the quiet churchyard, Lyme Regis’ own palaeontologist, Mary Anning lies at rest.

Also, the Town Mill, a working watermill situated in the heart of Lyme Regis. Dating from the 14th century the Mill has been fully restored. It opened to the public in May 2001 and there are regular demonstrations of milling. In addition to the Mill and gift shop there are two art galleries, which house a number of different exhibitions during the year, an arts and crafts studio, pottery, frame – maker, restaurant and 17th century walled garden.

Periods in History

Saxon and Norman
The Saxon and Norman features of the Parish Church and the character of the streets nearby, suggest the likelihood of an early centre of settlement being focused on the area where the Lim valley meets the sea.

Early Medieval
Corresponding with the town's economic prosperity (enhanced by being made a borough in 1284), and importance as a channel port in the 13th century was the urban expansion of Broad Street with its street market and regular tenements (property divisions). Such expansion might have been planned as a whole rather than incremental.

Economic prosperity encouraged the construction of the protective breakwater and harbour, The Cobb, which served the town and a large hinterland. Goods were transported between the harbour and the town across the beach at low tide on what became known as the Cart Road. It is possible that Cobb hamlet, which developed as a separate entity, dates back to construction of the Cobb.

Later Medieval and Elizabethan
The Cobb was severely storm damaged, and storms and landslips ruined or removed parts of the town, especially, it is thought, in the area where the River Lim enters the sea. It was not until the 16th century that the harbour was repaired, houses restored and rebuilt (establishing an Elizabethan heritage) and prosperity rekindled by sea trade and a woollen and linen industry that developed in the Lim valley at Jordan and Mill Green in the form of weavers' homes and cloth mills.

18th Century and 19th Century
In the early 18th century, the town suffered a severe economic downturn, which was reversed later in the century by the actions of the resident philanthropist Thomas Hollis, who succeeded in turning the town into a health and holiday resort. In order to satisfy the influx of visitors and new residents, many town properties were refashioned in the late Georgian style. Other gentry, wishing to retire near the sea, built elegant Georgian and Victorian houses on the adjoining hillsides, which along with the new boarding houses and hotels encouraged by the town's expansion along Silver Street and Pound Street.

Hollis established the town's first seafront walk or promenade at what is today the eastern end of Marine Parade. This popular walk eventually continued to Cobb hamlet above the ancient Cart Road, and in the following century, the town's seafront buildings extended part way along the Marine Parade.

In 1844 a serious far in Coombe Street, Bridge Street and the lower end of Broad Street destroyed the shambles (meat market), the Customs House, and other commercial premises and irreparably altered the character and appearance of the historic centre.

Despite repairs over the centuries, it was the storm of November 1824 that resulted in The Cobb being rebuilt and given the appearance that is generally known today.

20th Century
The private gardens situated between the seafront and properties on Pound Street were vulnerable to ground slippage and there were attempts to prevent movement by building a retaining wall at the back of Marine Parade. The difficulty of owning such unstable land eventually led to the town acquiring most of the private land as public gardens, Langmoor in 1913 and Lister in about 1965 which continue to provide enjoyment for visitors and residents alike. The creation of public gardens continued the historic physical separation between Cobb hamlet and the town.

This century saw the town expand into the hinterland, predominantly onto higher ground, keeping away from the unstable coastal slopes.

21st Century
Major coastal protection and slope stabilisation works are proposed or underway on the seafront, in Langmoor and Lister Gardens, and Cobb Road. As part of the works, the Cart Road, part of which crosses the beach, will instead be built up for its full length.