Like so many horror stories, the tale of England’s sunken city started on a dark and stormy night. The bustling town of Devon's Hallsand, where hundreds had lived and worked for centuries was being battered by a monumental storm and the residents were terrified.

It wasn’t just wind and rain - this coastal town had suffered the loss of its natural defences as the UK Government at the time had taken tonnes of sand and shell from its beaches for construction use in Devonport, despite the protests of locals. This left the town defenseless against the waves and at risk of massive coastal erosion.

On January 26, 1917, gale force winds coincided with an abnormally high six-metre spring tide and by the time night fell over the village, the waves were pounding down the doors of the thatched homes on the coast.

By the morning, almost the entire village had fallen into the sea, but miraculously, no one was hurt. The 79 inhabitants managed to flee during a lull in the storm and sought safety on higher ground.

Only one house was left standing by the 27th, on the road leading down to the village.

It was owned by Elizabeth Prettyjohn who stubbornly refused to leave, and lived there with her chickens until her death in 1964, aged about 80 years.

She acted as a guide to the visitors who came over the years curious to see the remains of the village. Today her house is used as a summer holiday home.

The Mirror reports that shortly before her death, she said: "I have all my memories here, but it's no good sitting down moping. It was the dockyard that took all our beach. It blew for four days and four nights. The sea was like mountains. I prayed god that the wind would stop.

"Once I thought of moving to Dartmouth, but this is where I belong with my memories."