Nostalgic postcards show historic views of Milford on Sea

Milford was an Established Saxon settlement named “Melleford” by the 11th century and refers to both a “mill” and a “ford”

It was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, showing two separate estates and it likely had a timber church, later replaced by a stone structure in the 12th century.

The village green remains as a testament to its ancient common land and the manorial estates, vicarage, and mill buildings still exist, though no longer serving their original purposes.

The area was once rife with smuggling and illegal trade, unsurprising given the area’s coastal location.

Late 19th century saw an attempt to transform Milford into a fashionable resort, but financial woes and a typhoid outbreak thwarted plans.

The coastline gradually shifted, bringing Milford to the seaside by 1900, unlike its entirely inland position in 1800.

It was because of coastal erosion and growth of the village that Milford now borders the sea.

Check out pictures from old postcards in the gallery above.