Sidmouth had both sewers and gas from a very early stage. The rich who visited the town wanted to have all the mod-cons they were used to in big towns, and of course an insanitary health resort is a contradiction in terms!

It also had a rudimentary fire service, a lifeboat service and its medical facilities and Doctors were of a high standard.

The history of the development of these, and the electricity and telephone services, is a fascinating study.