A Lynmouth Heroine: The Story of Annie Lord
by Nicolas Lovell
Step into the Lyn & Exmoor Museum and discover the inspiring tale of Annie Lord, a local heroine whose courage left a lasting mark on Lynmouth’s history.
A Glimpse into Annie Lord’s Life
Tucked away upstairs, a faded Victorian photograph shows a young woman: Annie Lord. Alongside it sit a Royal Humane Society medal and certificate, awarded for a daring sea rescue in Lynmouth Bay. Remarkably, she would repeat her heroic feat nearly twenty years later and lived until the age of 97.
A Family Rooted in Lynmouth’s Coastal Life
Annie was born in 1853. Her father, John Lord, worked as a lime burner and part-time fisherman. Known for his bravery, John helped rescue sailors from a shipwreck off Foreland Point.
The Lord family lived at Kiln Cottages, near today’s Cliff Railway station. In the mid-19th century, tourism was slowly blooming. Visitors travelled to Lynton and Lynmouth, drawn by the landscape often called “Little Switzerland,” and to “take the waters” from the East and West Lyn rivers, believed to have healing properties.
Seaside Traditions and Early Tourism
In Victorian times, strict bathing rules divided the beaches. Women bathed in front of what is now the promenade, while men swam on the far side of the Lyn. By the 1870s, the Lord family managed the Ladies’ Beach, where women used bathing machines to enter the sea discreetly.
John Lord made sure all his children could swim. That decision proved critical one August morning in 1871.
The Rescue at Lynmouth Bay
On 19 August 1871, members of the Fremlin family, wealthy brewers from Kent, visited Lynmouth. Among them was Fanny Fremlin, recovering from respiratory illness. At 10 a.m., the tide turned as Fanny and her sister-in-law bathed.
Strong currents—still notorious today along the North Devon coast—quickly overwhelmed Fanny. Annie Lord rushed into the dangerous waters. Risking her life, she pulled Fanny safely to shore. For this act, Annie received the Royal Humane Society’s medal, a rare honour for a working-class woman at the time.
A Lasting Legacy in Lynton and Lynmouth
Annie’s bravery captured local admiration. Decades later, she once again rescued a drowning swimmer, proving her instinct for courage never faded.
Today, the Lyn & Exmoor Museum preserves Annie Lord’s story. Her medal, photograph, and certificate serve as a powerful reminder of ordinary people doing extraordinary things on this rugged stretch of the Exmoor coast.
Nicholas Lovell
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