Hallsands is a village and beach in south Devon, England, in a precarious position between cliffs and the sea, between Beesands to the north and Start Point to the south.
History
The early history of Hallsands is unknown, but a chapel has existed there since at least 1506. The village was at a cave known as Poke Hole, and probably was not inhabited before 1600. The village grew in size during the 18th and 19th centuries, and by 1891 it had 37 houses, a spring, a public house called the London Inn, and a population of 159. Most residents of Hallsands at that time depended on fishing for a living, particularly crab fishing on the nearby Skerries Bank.
The village grew along a rocky ledge in front of cliffs, with a sea wall, and sand and shingle banks adding some protection from the harsh weather and storms. Immense numbers of pilchards were being caught. The nearest school was 2 miles (3.2 km) from the village.
Impact of dredging
In the 1890s, following a scheme proposed by Sir John Jackson, it was decided to expand the naval dockyard...