Morte Bay, Devon

Historical Description

Morte Bay, a bay on the NW coast of Devon, between Barnstaple Bay and Ilfracombe. It is bounded on the S by Baggy Point, which separates it from Barnstaple Bay; is bounded on the N by Morte Point or Morte Stone, " the Rock of Death," on which no fewer than five vessels were wrecked in the winter of 1852; measures 3½ miles across the entrance, and 2 thence to the head; has an outline of proximately half-moon form; is swept by a dangerous tide-race; lies completely exposed to the W; and affords anchorage in 5 fathoms.

Maps

Online maps of Morte Bay are available from a number of sites:

• Bing (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
• Google Streetview.
• National Library of Scotland. (Old maps)
• OpenStreetMap.
• old-maps.co.uk (Old Ordnance Survey maps to buy).
• Streetmap.co.uk (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
• A Vision of Britain through Time. (Old maps)