BOVEY TRACEY- DEVON

Map ref SX8178

Bovey Tracey is a small cob and Dartmoor-granite built market town, known as the 'Gateway to Dartmoor'- due to its proximity to the spectacular southeastern section of the moor Bovey Tracey is the ideal location for exploring for exploring the southern edge of dartmoor, with its tors; the most famous local outcrop being Haytor.

Bovey Tracey is the location of the Headquarters of the Dartmoor National Park Authority - based at Parke. The house and estate was left to the National Trust (NT) by Major Hole in 1974. The NT lease the house to the Park Authority.

There was a Saxon settlement here before the Norman conquest. The name Bovey is derived from the river Bovey which passes through the town. Tracey comes from the 'de Tracey' family. The de Traceys' were a Norman family- from Traci near Bayeaux - who settled in the area after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The most infamous member of the family was William de Tracey. He was one of the knights who murdered Thomas à Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.

William is said to have rebuilt the town's church of St Peter, Paul and Thomas in penance for his part in the murder. The present church is mainly 14th and 15th century, with a fine coloured rood screen and a carved stone pulpit.

Bovey Tracey, has many shops and an Egon Ronay listed café. In the centre of Bovey Tracey is the restored Riverside Mill building - built in 1850 as a stable. The building was never used as a mill, the waterwheel simply collecting water from the river for use in the stables. Riverside Mill is now the home to the Devon Guild of Craftsmen - providing a showcase for the arts and crafts produced by the Guild members.

To the south of the town is the House of Marbles and the Teign Valley Glassworks where you can watch free demonstrations of glass-blowing and the largest collection of marbles in the world.