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Barnstaple Introduction Blessed with a beautiful setting on the estuary of the River Taw, Barnstaple lays claim to being the oldest borough in the kingdom. The bustling town centre is just a short walk from the station, over a 13th Century bridge, with fine examples of Medieval, Georgian and Victorian architecture. For a historical perspective, visit the Heritage Centre and the North Devon Museum. Barnstaple
is the commercial centre of North Devon The historic Pannier Market holds craft, antique and general markets throughout the week and the Victorian Butchers' Row boasts an array of specialist shops. There is also the modern Green Lanes Shopping Centre. A tourist information centre in the town centre tells you everything you would like to know about the town's history and its comprehensive range of entertainment and leisure amenities. Whether shopping, sightseeing or simply for a relaxing day out, Barnstaple is certainly well worth a visit - especially between June and September when this multiple 'Britain in Bloom' winner is bedecked with thousands of flowers. Contact Barnstaple Tourist Information Centre on 01271 375000. Click here to see a map of Barnstaple. |
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Live Webcam of the River Taw, Barnstaple
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Barnstaple Heritage Trail
The recommended way to explore historic Barnstaple is to follow the Heritage Trail. The significant buildings on the trail are marked by commemorative plaques. A brief description of the places on the trail is shown on this page. To fully appreciate the trail the visitor is advised to purchase a copy of the Heritage Trail Booklet from the Museum or the Barnstaple Heritage Centre.
Barnstaple
Heritage Centre
Queens Anne's Walk, The Strand, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX31 1EU
Telephone 01271 373003 | website
Tarka Trail
Barnstaple station is the starting point for the Tarka Trail, which offers miles of safe traffic-free cycling. Cycle hire is available at Barnstaple station (Easter-October) with discount for rail passengers.
Barnstaple Fair
The strongest link between the Barnstaple of history and the Barnstaple of today is the Annual Fair, which now begins on the Wednesday preceding the 20th September. It has attained world wide fame with visitors coming from far and wide. The origin of Barnstaple Fair is almost as old as the Town and dates back to the time of Athelstan. In those days the celebrations would have been the aftermath of a great annual market and lasted for a whole week. Today modern markets for the sale of cattle and sheep are held more often and the annual fair has become an occasion of celebration rather than business and only lasts four days. The fair is organised by the Showman's Guild which celebrated its Centenary in 1989.
Guide to Barnstaple
Article from the BBC website, written by by Tom Evans, the Barnstaple town crier. Tom is in charge of the Tourist Information Centre and runs guided walks. Barnstaple, the town on the Taw, is positioned on the first safe fording of the tidal river, six miles from the sea. It's immediately upstream of the tributary River Yeo, the waters of which, when added to the Taw's, made a channel too deep to cross, even at low tide. Barnstaple was built on the northern shore of the Taw, as the southern side was apt to flood on the spring tide. The town evolved firstly as a Saxon burh (a fortified market town) and then later as a Norman garrison town with castle, baileys, town walls and gates. The motte and bailey castle was erected over a Saxon graveyard on the western side of the town, thereby commanding the Saxon town to the east, the river crossings of the Taw to the south, the Yeo to the north.
Fighting ships
Through the centuries Barnstaple's made its mark in history as the premier
town of North Devon, a market town, a trading port, a manufacturer of
woollen cloth (Barnstaple Beys), of terracotta pottery and silverware
(there were silver mines in Combe Martin). In
1588, five fighting ships sailed to join Drake's fleet at Plymouth, ready
to repel the Spanish Armada. In the early 17th century Barnstaple was
a popular port for merchants from elsewhere to base their America-bound
trading ships, affording as it did an altogether safer route to the Atlantic.
Emigrants set sail from here: to America in the 17th and 18th centuries,
and Australia in the 19th. Barnstable, Massachusetts (Cape Cod), was founded
in 1639.
A shopper's paradise
By day, 900 yards of the town centre
shopping streets are pedestrianised. The Green Lanes Shopping Centre,
with over 200 yards of covered malls, sustains various department stores
and many boutiques. The famous Pannier Market, built in 1855, houses a
home-produce market - on Fridays principally but also on Tuesdays and
Saturdays. It's home to an antiques market on Wednesdays, and arts and
crafts on Thursdays and in the summer, Mondays too. Adjacent is the equally
famous Butchers' Row. Rivalry between out-of-town stores and supermarkets
and the town centre's traditional shops, along with the high street regulars
such as Marks & Spencer, BHS, Woolworths, Boots, and the like, has
drawn North Devon shoppers to Barnstaple in ever greater numbers.
Famous for its floral displays
Barnstaple is justly famous for its magnificent floral displays, particularly
from mid-June to a week or two after the ancient chartered fair, which
always starts on the Wednesday before 20th September and culminates on
the following Saturday, with a carnival. If you're in North Devon come
and have a look - maybe even join me on one of the guided walks of Old
Barnstaple Town. And if this has whetted your appetite you can get more
information from the Tourist Information Centre, 36 Boutport Street, Barnstaple.
Tel: 01271 375000.
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Page last updated: 19 July 2003