Barnstaple
Barnstaple is located approximately 34 miles north west of Exeter and is the main town in North West Devon. It is said to be the oldest borough in the United Kingdom and was founded at the lowest crossing point of the River Taw, about 3 miles from the Bristol Channel. Its size and wealth in the Middle Ages was based on it being within the staple, a staple port licensed to export wool, and its importance is still obvious in the town’s name. The wool trade was further aided by the town’s excellent port, with five ships being sent in 1588 to aid the fight against the Spanish Armada.
Barnstaple has an eclectic and somewhat haphazard collection of buildings developed over hundreds of years with the 19th century probably now predominant. There are a number of ancient buildings to see around the town including St. Anne’s Chapel in the central churchyard, Queen Anne’s walk and the Georgian Guildhall. There is also the ruin of Barnstaple castle which originated as a wooden castle built in the 11th century. Stone buildings were added to it in the 13th century but now only the tree covered motte remains.
Barnstaple has been the major market for North Devon since Saxon times. Demands for health regulation of its food market in Victorian times saw the construction in 1855 to 1856 of the town’s Pannier Market, originally known as the Vegetable Market. The building has a high glass and timber roof on iron columns and runs the length of Butchers Row, which was built in 1855. Butchers Row consists of ten shops built with pilasters of Bath Stone, and wrought iron supports to an overhanging roof. Only two of the shops remain as butchers although the new shops still sell local agricultural goods.
The town is at the confluence of three A roads from Exeter, Plymouth and Tiverton but the fastest of these is the A361 to Tiverton which links with the M5 at junction 27. Other roads in the area are largely rural and can get very busy, especially in the holiday season. Barnstaple is the main town nearest to many of Devon’s most popular coastal holiday spots. This ensures that it has its fair share of access to Devon’s tourist attractions such as walks along the Tarka Trail and the South West Coast path.
