It was initially funded by Virginia House Settlement from money raised at dances and a Country Fair. When it became more established, it was financially supported and organized by the Local Education Authority/Devon County Council through a means-tested funding where parents would contribute to the costs.

Devon County Council ceased funding Maker Camp 1987 because the cost of restoring the site was too expensive. 

Maker memories You Tube

School children from Plymouth and further afield, including East Ham and West Ham in London, spent memorable times at Maker Camp. 

The Maker Memories project interviewed people, some in their 80s and 90s, and heard about how transformative their holidays at Maker Camp were:

Len, born 1925, stayed at Maker Camp in 1937/38
It was really enjoyable and of course we would sleep well at night. But having said that, I can remember that perhaps one or two occasions we slipped out at night and went down to the fish and chip shop. We weren’t really allowed out, Oh no, no, no. We weren’t, we would have to sneak back in again, I don’t know how we managed it, to be honest […] The sun always shone. I thoroughly enjoyed (Maker Camp). For most of us it was the only holiday we ever had. 

Ted, born 1936, stayed at Maker Camp in 1945/46/47
We never had a holiday before. Because of the war the council decided they would pay for us to come to Maker to have a holiday. My first impression of Maker was the space, was the grass, the grass. When we walked to Penlee we saw the golden sands and the cattle roaming around .. We had never seen cows in Plymouth. My playground in Plymouth was bombsites.

I felt as if I was really away from everything because I still had memories of bombs dropping and destruction and all that. It was so peaceful here, and quiet. I didn’t feel homesick at all. 

Lillian, stayed at Maker Camp in the mid-1950s 
We made scrapbooks. We collected by the boys’ block, walking down to Kingsand and Cawsand. We had to collect as many seaweeds and flowers, then put names to them. I still have mine, never going to throw it away. We picked flowers from the pathways down; pink campion always stuck in my mind. 

Diane, born 1950, stayed at Maker Camp in 1962
I was 11 Years of age, last year at primary school […] it was the first time I’s been away from home, being away from my parents […]  I have some poignant memories. It was just one of the best weeks I have ever had, it was so exciting. I just loved everything about it really. Would run up and down the corridor, we were sort of a bit naughty at time and Bobby’s Girl, Susan Maughan, was a hit, you know, in the charts at that time, and we used to run up and down, bump up and down, singing to Bobby’s Girl, and have midnight feasts and have a blast!

Roy, born 1951, stayed at Maker Camp in the 1960s 
I have so many lasting memories [..]. there were about four hundred children and our school took over the whole camp. A lorry took our suitcases and a fleet of green double decker buses took us from Cremyll to the Camp. We were in dormitories, the girls were in the nissen huts. There were various activities over the week. It was an adventure, first time away from home. It cost 27/6d and my grandad gave me half a crown at a time to save up. It was our only holiday. 

School trips to Maker Camp formed a lasting memory for many people, for those getting relief from the war time bombing of Plymouth, for children in London who had never seen the sea before, and for those who found lifelong partners and friendships through their school holidays there. 

Images courtesy Maker Memories, with thanks to all those that have contributed their personal collections.