During World War I it became difficult to find the horses and men necessary for launching boats at Braunton Burrows so it too was closed temporarily in 1918 but this became permanent the following year.
A history of St. Margaret's Leper Hospital at Pilton was written by the genealogist Benjamin Incledon (1730-1796), of Pilton House, whose ancient family had originated at the estate of Incledon, 3 miles north-west of Braunton.