‘ON Wednesday the town presented a gay appearance, on account of the great Temperance demonstration,’ reported The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of July 25, 1846, writes Viv Wilson.

‘From an early hour vehicles of all descriptions arrived with throngs of holiday folks, and blooming girls with cheerful beaming faces begrouped the Cliff, The Den, the streets, and then beach, adding attraction to each lovely spot whilst numbers of lusty citizens, and vigorous youths, just arrived per rail, flocked to the shore, eager to taste the unwonted luxury of the briny wave.

‘They soon doffed their toggery, and gambolling disported in old ocean to the terror of shrimps, sprats and flounders, who fled to deeper water, unused to such a simultaneous invasion of their territory.

SEE THE FULL STORY IN FRIDAY’S EDITION OF THE TEIGNMOUTH POST