A suppressed report on the destruction of the Devon fishing village of Hallsands nearly 100 years ago, shows villages were cheated out of a promise to rebuild the village in its entirety safely inland.
The report also found that commercial gravel dredging caused the collapse on January 26 1917.
Only 10 houses were built in the new village, North Hallsands, but the promised hall was never built, the shop and post office closed years ago and the pub has just shut. It is claimed the extra cash that was promised – £4,500 would now be worth £150,000 and could make a huge difference to life in the village.
The Guardian 02/05/02 page 6
