16th centuary Preventative service formed to stop smuggling.

1822 Coast Guard was formed from amalgamating various anti smuggling organisations and for defending the coast. It was a naval reserve in mid 19th Century for Defence of the coast, enabling rapid manning of HM Ships in war and emergency and protection of the Revenue.

1824 national Lifeboat Organisation which later became the RNLI was founded

1825 Greenwood C&J map shows Preventative Station due south of E Prawle village in area where presence of "old coastguards cottage" - The coastguards main job was counteracting smuggling for smugglers as well as watching out for potential invaders (this was not long after Waterloo-1815)

1829 "When a wreck takes place Every individual to use his utmost exertion to save the lives of the persons on board" - Quote first Coast Guard instructions

1868 Sir William Mitchell,Proprietor of the "Shipping Gazette" got permission to place a flagstaff in the field above the Coast Guard Station at Prawle. The coast guard agreed to take signals and the UK Telegraph Co connected the coastguard at Prawle with Kingsbridge. The goverment took it over in 1870 and maintained the wires connected to the Telegraph so that ships returning could signal their identity and the news of their safe return would be telegraphed to London. Allowing the shipping agents to organise berthing, the sale of their cargo etc. in advance.

1888 - Lloyds of London took over the station at Prawle.

1896 - The first Oil tanker disaster in the world with the wrecking of the BLESK in 1896 near Bolt Tail.