History of Watersmeet

The outside of the tea room at Watersmeet, with tables and an umbrella — Take a break at Watersmeet | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Watersmeet’s setting is a haven for many visitors. Built originally as a fishing lodge and romantic retreat, with connections to the romantic poets, it has been a tea-room since 1901. From a factory bottling mineral water to a devastating flood, Watersmeet has had a varied history.

Life at Watersmeet in the late Iron Age

Standing at Watersmeet some 2,300 years ago you would have seen smoke rising from the hilltops, a sign of people living close by. Two fortified farmsteads known as Myrtleberry North and South camp provided a protected home.

Thatched round houses were lived in by Iron Age people and their animals. The village would have been surrounded by ramparts and steep-sided hills. Whilst not much evidence remains, the views are stunning from these now scheduled monuments.

Visitors standing on a bridge over a river in woods, in summer — Visitors exploring Watersmeet | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Lynrock mineral water factory

The Lynrock mineral water factory opened on the East Lyn river in 1911, owned and run by the Attree brothers, who lived at Myrtleberry, a short distance up the river.

It was a popular watering hole for the Edwardians who could sample what was reputed to be the most palatable water in the world with radioactive qualities that could cure gout. The factory bottled mineral water and made ginger beer until 1939 when it closed due to lack of demand.

The factory was destroyed in the flood of 1952 when 23cm of rain fell in one day. Altogether 34 people died, 93 buildings were demolished, and thousands of people were left homeless.

Close up of the river at Watersmeet in winter — The river at Watersmeet in winter | © National Trust Images/Joe Cornish

Electricity pioneer: the East Lyn river

Lynmouth had one of the first hydroelectric power stations in the UK, built in 1890 and fed by the tumbling torrent of the East Lyn River. The station was active until the 1950s when Lynmouth was connected to the National Grid.

This hydroelectricity allowed the residents of Lynmouth to power electric lamps whilst most other households were still reliant on gas. The electricity was on for just a few hours in the evening and during winter mornings.

On the night of the flood, the engineers kept the lights going for as long as possible but were forced to leave the station at 9pm. The station survived the Lynmouth flood of August 1952 but was later demolished to make the river wider.