Society’s 2026 Annual General Meeting

The History Society’s 2026 AGM took place on 31st March 2026 at Salcombe Rugby Club. As well as regular AGM business, members approved the merger of the History Society with Salcombe Maritime Museum. Roger Tucker gave a most interesting illustrated talk about his family farming in the South Hams since the nineteenth century.

South Hams Vintage Rally – 8th and 9th August 2026

Saturday, 8th and Sunday 9th August 2026. The History Society and Salcombe Maritime Museum will have a joint stand in the Craft Tent. South Hams Vintage Rally, Sorley Cross, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4AF.
https://www.shvmc.co.uk/rally.

Kingsbridge Show – 5th September 2026

Saturday, 5th September. Always the first Saturday in September! We will again join with Salcombe Maritime Museum for our stand in the Craft Tent. Kingsbridge Show @TQ9 7QP. What3Words: pacemaker.perused.eats.
https://www.kingsbridgeshow.co.uk.

Down Memory Lane – 6th October 2026

A Slide Show with audience participation presented by Roger Barrett and Geoff Foale on Tuesday, 6th October 2026, 7 for 7.30 pm at Salcombe Rugby Club, Camperdown Road Salcombe, TQ8 8AX. Everyone welcome. Members free, £5 non-members. Bar open.

Salcombe Regatta through the years

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew McIlwraith – Salcombe’s Greatest Benefactor
By Roger Barrett

Salcombe has been home to a number of illustrious men and women over the years but it was a Scottish shipowner, Andrew McIlwraith (1844-1932), who left the greatest legacy.

Born in 1844 in Ayr, Scotland, he was the fourth son of John McIlwraith, a successful plumber and ship owner. Qualifying as a naval engineer at Glasgow University, Andrew joined his father’s business in 1868.

In 1875, with (Sir) Malcolm McEacharn, he established the London-based shipping and mercantile firm McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co., known as the ‘Scottish Line’. ‘Within 3 years they had built a fleet of 5 ships, initially thanks to an agreement with the State of Queensland to carry migrants from British shores. Soon they were also exporting wool and other primary produce not just to Australia but also to the US and South America. Their handsome clippers were fast ships – the Scottish Wizard was renowned for completing the Bristol to Melbourne route in 92 days.’ (Cliff House website).

Two of Andrew’s brothers settled in Australia – John established a thriving metal works business in Melbourne and Thomas, a railway engineer, rose to become Premier of Queensland. Andrew made a number of trips to Australia but never took up residence.

In 1879, the Scottish Line, in collaboration with Andrew’s brothers, was the first to ship frozen meat from Australia to Britain. It was the start of a flourishing business and, to mark the success of the venture, the company presented a frozen leg of lamb to Queen Victoria.

A keen yachtsman, McIlwraith fell in love with Salcombe when he first sailed into the harbour. In 1906, he purchased Woodcot on Cliff Road and, on his retirement in 1913, he moved there from his home in St. Albans.

Described as ‘a large, handsome, red-bearded man with an outgoing and convivial personality’, McIlwraith soon became a leading light in the local community. A year after settling in the town he became Vice Commodore of Salcombe Yacht Club and, in 1919, when the Club was losing the premises it occupied in Salcombe Hotel, he bought Cliff House to provide the Club with a new clubhouse and function rooms for the community. Income to maintain the building came from properties he bought in the town. His benevolence didn’t end there – other gifts included Cliff House Gardens, the War Memorial, woodlands and – for the National Trust – much of the coastline from Rickham, on the east side of Salcombe Harbour, to Bolberry, on the west.

Though successful in business, McIlwraith’s family life was dogged by misfortune. His two marriages ended in separation and the three sons by his first wife predeceased him (two were lost in the Boer War).

McIlwraith died on 19th October 1932 and is buried at Shadycombe Cemetery. He was survived by two daughters by his first marriage (Margaret and Mabel) and one (Violet Mary) by the second. On his death, the ownership of Woodcot passed to Mabel (1881-1966), whose husband, Thomas Jennings was also a shipowner. It was their daughter Elizabeth who ultimately inherited Woodcot.

Elizabeth Jennings (1903-2006) also inherited McIlwraith’s passion for sailing and his philanthropic zeal. In 1969 she donated Woodcot to the Plymouth Guild of Social Services, who in turn conveyed the property in 1976 to the Voluntary and Christian Service, of which Help the Aged (now Age UK) was a subsidiary.

We owe them both a huge debt of gratitude and, who knows, perhaps their story might inspire a new generation of public-spirited individuals to make their mark on the town. There are plenty of worthy causes!

Regatta images courtesy of Salcombe Maritime Museum and Salcombe History Society.