The white Coastguard Pole at Baggy Point has become an iconic part of the North Devon landscape. It’s wooden steps have been climbed by many a visitor and it has featured in thousands of photographs in all sorts of weathers since the 1930’s. But the weather and the salty coastal environment has finally taken its toll on the pole and it needs to be replaced. North Devon National Trust is launching an appeal to raise funds to preserve this fascinating piece of local heritage.
If you’ve ever walked to the pole and back from Croyde, had a picnic by it, taken a photo with it or even climbed it then please buy a raffle ticket from the Baggy Point car park team or enjoy another visit to the pole and make a donation.
Donations can now be made here https://www.justgiving.com/baggypointpole/
The pole was installed by the Coastguard in the 1930’s as a training tool. Coastguard volunteers would fire their ropes towards the top of the pole, simulating firing ropes up towards a ship that had been grounded on the rocks. The photo below is of a similar pole on the Isle of Wight but shows the same training that would have taken place at Baggy Point.
Once attached to the pole the ropes would be used to slide a “breaches buoy” over to the ship so that stranded mariners could be winched to safety. The photo below is again from the Isle of Wight but shows the same rescue training in effect.
Although it looks like an old fashioned zip slide, this method of rescue saved many lives. With modern technology and navigation ships are less likely to wreck on the North Devon coast, but the Coastguard still responds to all sorts of incidents.
Please help us preserve this icon of local heritage by supporting our appeal and helping raise the £2600 we need to replace the pole with a replica.