Morte Point facts for kids
Morte Point is a cool piece of land that sticks out into the sea. You can find it on the north-west coast of Devon, England. This special place belongs to the National Trust, an organization that helps protect beautiful natural areas.
To the east of Morte Point is the small village of Mortehoe. If you head south, you'll reach the popular beach resort of Woolacombe.
During the summer, you can even take a fun tractor and trailer ride! These rides start from the Mortehoe Heritage Centre and go right onto the point. It's a great way for visitors to spot the seals that live on the northern side.
The Story of Morte Point: Shipwrecks and Rescues
Morte Point has a very interesting, and sometimes sad, past. Its name actually means "death-point." This is because it was known for many shipwrecks. Can you imagine? In just one winter, in 1852, five ships were wrecked here!
To help ships stay safe, the Bull Point Lighthouse was built nearby. It stands about 2 kilometers (1¼ miles) north-east of Morte Point. Lighthouses shine bright lights to warn ships about dangerous coastlines.
Grunta Beach: A Piggy Tale
One famous shipwreck involved a ship carrying a cargo of live pigs. This happened near a small cove south of Morte Point. Most of the pigs survived! One pig is even said to have lived wild on seaweed for a whole year. Because of this funny story, the cove was named Grunta Beach.
The Lifeboat Station
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) built a lifeboat station at Morte Bay in 1871. Lifeboats are special boats used to rescue people from the sea. The crews for this station usually came from Ilfracombe. They would travel by carriage when the lifeboat was needed.
However, it was very hard to launch the boat when strong winds blew onto the west-facing beach. Because of these difficulties, the station was closed in May 1900.
