There are no natural harbours along the north coast of Devon and Cornwall for about 25 miles either side of Hartland Point. Before the advent of the railway in the mid nineteenth century, the only economic way to shift heavy loads around was by sea. There were a number of man-made harbour quays to offer sheltered mooring (e.g. Bude, Hartland Quay, Clovelly). However, in most places, goods were delivered or loaded through ‘beach work’. Ships would simply run aground on the rocky shore during the ebb tide, and then float off at the next high water. Hopefully. Coal and lime were delivered this way; practically every single point at which the sea can be accessed along the north shore features old lime kilns.
