Strete is a small parish in the South Hams with a fascinating history. A glance at the rolling landscape and you can see the medieval layout of the land with its long thin fields. The tumuli show the Iron Age activity in the area, and the remains in many of the hedges reveal the occupation of this Parish by the United States forces whilst they were practising for the D-Day Normandy Landings of 1944 and maybe the remnants of the invasion and its repulsion 540 years before.
Not only is the area swathed in history, the village also enjoys stunning views over Start Bay or along the south coast towards Dartmouth. Strete sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on the edge of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is a delightful place to work, live, visit, feast your eyes (and your stomach), and breathe stunning fresh clean air.
After all, people have been living round here for over 40,000 years. Perhaps that is because the South Hams enjoys one of the mildest climates in mainland Britain, sheltered as it is by the granite uplands of Dartmoor.
As a direct result of the mild weather, a wealth of exotic plants and animals inhabit this part of the county.
If that is not enough, STRETE is on the Heritage Coastline with the South Devon Coastal footpath bringing you through the area of Special Scientific Interest and the remains of the sea level part of the Village that was destroyed in storms in the 19th Century. Strete Gate had a piratical heritage that was common to this coast line, and written about in ‘Jim Davis’, by John Masefield, the Poet Laureate for 37 years, who wrote the book whilst he lived in Strete where the book is set (for access to free copy see link below). The pirate reputation for this coast was enhanced by the Royal Licences granted to Local entrepreneurs to set sail under the Kings name to attack and destroy all they could within a specific time frame. For example, in 1379 during the 100 Years War (when English Kings disputed with the French the right to the French throne) Richard II granted licences for six ships out of Dartmouth to ‘go to sea at their own charges under the King’s protection for one year from the feast of the Purification (2 February) to attack and destroy his enemies and during that time they and their men are to be exempt from any other service unless specially appointed'.
One consequence of these skirmishes was the Invasion by the French at Strete Gate when in April 1404 a large French contingent led by du Chatel (together with 300 ships, 2000 knights and assorted crossbowmen) landed hoping to take Dartmouth from the rear. The army advanced through Strete (then the name was spelt Street) but met a well-entrenched local Devon yeoman force at Blackpool. Blackpool was then swamp (from which it got its name) and many knights from the French force drowned when they were dragged from their horses because of the weight of their armour.
So the Parish of Strete witnessed one of the last invasions of England as well as being the location of the fight to repel that invasion force and protect Dartmouth. 540 years later it witnessed the departuree of an invasion force headed for the Normandy Beaches. You can walk the beaches that have seen invasion and invasion forces assemble, and walk the site of the Battle of Blackpool – where Blackpool Sands is now a resplendent Beach ready to welcome you.