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The ancient borough of Totnes enjoys a prominent position above the River dart. The town is one of Devon's gems; full of both colour and character, that stems from a rich cultural, historical and archaeological heritage. It is the second oldest borough in England, and is full of interesting diversions for the visitor — museums, a riverside with steamer quay, an ancient Guildhall and Church, a Norman Castle and the North and East Gates. The town is an architectural feast to those interested in historic buildings - with fine examples of properties dating back to Norman, Medieval and Tudor times. The name Totnes derives from the Saxon for a fort or lookout on a ridge. The town is known to have been a fortified Saxon settlement, built to protect the upper reaches of the river from Viking raiding parties. As a visitor to this fascinating town, take time to hunt out the Leechwells, uncover the legend of the Brutus stone; browse amongst the delightful shops for arts, crafts and unusual gifts or just listen to buskers, especially on market days. The riverside offers you the chance to take a boat trip from the Steamer Quay to the historic town of Dartmouth or for land lubbers, why not take the steam train to Buckfastleigh? Totnes has a long history; it was one of the five Devonshire towns originally mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It was one of the wealthiest towns in medieval and Tudor Devon (second only to Exeter) — the town's wealth, and prosperity, built upon the export of wool from sheep reared on nearby Dartmoor and the export of locally mined tin. The town's location helped contribute to this success - being both the highest port navigable, and the lowest bridging place on the river Dart. A visit to the town is best started from the river side - at the bottom of the town. Here you will find the old steamer quay, in what was once the thriving river port. The quay is now the centre for the local river cruisers - who daily carry the summer visitors on pleasure trips from Totnes to Dartmouth some 6 miles down stream. From the quay, Fore Street rises up into the centre of the town, passing underneath the East Gate Arch - a splendid Tudor structure. On its way up into the town the street winds it way past many fine examples of 16th and 17th century merchant's houses, including the restored Elizabethan House, which serves as the museum. The quality of the architecture found in Totnes was recognised by the Council for British Archaeology, in 1965, which placed Totnes in the CBA's list of top forty towns - towns that are their opinion; 'so splendid and precious that the ultimate responsibility for them should be regarded as a National concern'. This accolade is in part due to the fact that , there are 66 houses in Totnes that date to before 1700. A striking feature from Totnes' past is the Butterwalk (on the north side of High Street) and the Poultry Walk. These are two, covered pavement arcades with stone pillars carrying the overhanging storeys of the houses, that once sheltered markets that were held there. Similar pillared ambulatories can be seen in nearby owns of Dartmouth and Kingsbridge. The red sandstone St. Mary's Church in Totnes has a fine example of a fifteenth century rood screen, carved from stone quarried in Beer. The Guild HallThe Guild Hall, on Ramparts Walk (just after the East gate Arch) in the High Street, is a well-preserved 16th century building. The Hall, which was constructed in 1533, still serves as a council chamber. Visitors to the Guild Hall can see Totnes' Old Jail and the table where Cromwell sat in 1646. Open: Mon. to Fri. 10.30 am. to 1.30 pm. and 2.00 PM to 4.30 PM Tel: 01803 862147.
The Ancient Leech WellsThe Leech Wells can be found at the top of the town in an area known as the 'Narrows' — a collection of claustrophobically narrow streets echoing back to Tones' past. If you follow the High Street up to the top of the town, it levels out and curves round to the left. If you walk along Leechwell Street, you will come to Totnes' oldest pub — the 17th century Kingsbridge Inn . Adjacent to the pub, you will find the narrow passage known as Leechwell Lane, leading back down the hill. The passage leads you to the site of Totnes' three ancient wells, where water flows from springs into three granite troughs. The waters in the wells were believed to have medicinal properties and as such, were administered by specially appointed Town Wardens. The healing waters in the Leech Wells were for a long time a point of pilgrimage for Lepers, in an attempt to cleanse themselves of their terrible affliction. Totnes MuseumSituated on Fore Street, close to the East Gate Arch. The museum is located in a Tudor Merchants House. This half-timbered building is an excellent architectural example of this type of period property. The museum has a good display of local history The museum features an exhibit of early computers. Charles Babbage the father of computer science spent a large part of his early life in Totnes. . Admission: 1st April to 31st October Mon.-Fri. 10.30 am. To 5.00 PM Sat. 2.00 PM to 5 .00 PM All bank holidays in open season 11am to 3 PM Telephone 01803 863821 Totnes CastleTotnes has a fine example of a Norman Castle, with commanding views over the town. Totnes Castle was constructed at a time when feudal Lords ruled over a simple mediaeval society. The presence, power and status of this ruling class of Norman's, was clearly demonstrated to the local people in the form of the castles that they built.William the conqueror, granted Totnes, along with 107 other Devonshire manors to Judel the Breton (three variations of the name are mentioned in the research texts; Judel, Juhel and Judhael). Totnes castle was one of the first three stone castles to be in Devon, in a clear attempt to tighten William's hold over this potentially rebellious shire. Judel built his castle in the most commanding position possible, straddling the original medieval town walls with one of the largest examples of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in the country. A dramatic round shell keep built on top of a huge mound of pounded earth and rock that still evokes a feeling of power today. The castle remains remarkably intact to this day, as it never received the kind of battering usually suffered by castles in the middle ages. MarketsTotnes has regular outdoor markets on Fridays and Saturdays. During the main season, between May and September, there is an Elizabethan market each Tuesday morning, where local people and traders go about their daily business dressed in Elizabethan costume. The Elizabethan market runs alongside the all-day craft market in the town. Totnes Costume MuseumAn exhibition of costumes and accessories, entitled "The age of Victoria 1837-1901", Situated in one of the oldest Tudor houses in Totnes. Admission: Spring Bank Holiday to 1st October Monday to Friday 11.00 am. To 5.00 PM
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Local
Places to Visit
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Where to Stay in the Totnes Area |
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TIC
- Dartington Cider
Press Centre.
A Visitor
and craft centre, with 11 shops set in a village atmosphere, offering
a wide variety of quality products including: crystal, jewellery, pottery,
food, kitchen ware, books, stationary, toys etc. The Arts and Craft
section offers a wide range of top quality designer wares. The centre
provides an excellent range of well prepared, quality meals. 01803 864171
High Cross House,
Dartington.
Assessable
from the Dartington Cider Press Centre, this is a listed International
Modernist Style House, complete with exhibition of paintings, ceramics,private
press books and letters. The house is open from the middle of February
to the middle of November, Tues-Fri. 10.30-16.30. Sat. & Sun. 14.00-16.30.
Closed Monday . Tel. 01803 864114, Fax. 01803 867057.