Everything about Barnstaple totally explained
Barnstaple (; /ˈbɑːnstəbl/) is a town in the county of
Devon in the
south west of England. It is the main town in the
local government district of
North Devon and claims to be the oldest
borough in the
United Kingdom. It was founded at the lowest crossing point of the
River Taw, about 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the Taw's seafall at the
Bristol Channel. By the time of the
Domesday Book, Barnstaple had its own
mint. Its size and wealth in the
Middle Ages was based on it being 'wool staple', a town 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.
It was one of the boroughs reformed by the
Municipal Reform Act 1835. Since
1974, it has been a
civil parish with a town council.
Barnstaple past and present
Barnstaple's population in the
1801 census was 3,748, in the
1901 census 9,698, and in the
2001 census 30,765. The town has swallowed the villages of
Pilton, Newport, and Roundswell through
ribbon development from the 1930s to the 1950s. In April
2006 the population was 34,000.
In
1989 the
A361 North Devon
Link Road was constructed, linking Barnstaple with the
M5 motorway, approximately 40.4 miles (65 km) to the east. Because Barnstaple is the main shopping area for North Devon, retail work is a contributor to the economy. Many
chain stores are located in the town centre and on the Roundswell Business Park located on the western fringe of the town.
Traffic congestion in the town used to be quite severe, but in
May 2007, the
Barnstaple Western Bypass was opened so traffic heading towards
Braunton and
Ilfracombe avoids travelling through the town centre. The bypass consists of an additional 1.6 miles (2.7 kilometres) of new road, and a 447 yards (409 metres) long, five-span bridge. It was expected to have cost £42m.
As part of this work, the town's main square is receiving a facelift as the entrance to the town centre, and it's planned to pedestrianise The Strand. Following this scheme, plans are also being formulated for a regeneration of the town centre, due to commence in 2012, and scheduled to cost around £300 million. The regeneration will centre on the
Queen's Theatre and surrounding areas, with new shopping complexes, houses, flats and communal areas.
Barum
Barnstaple is still sometimes referred to as Barum. The origin of this name is obscure, but has been in use since pre-
Saxon times and is probably of
Roman origin. Mentioned by
Shakespeare, the name Barum was revived and popularised in
Victorian times, featuring in several novels of the time. The name is retained in the names of a football team,
brewery, and several other local businesses.
Butchers Row
Built in
1855, Butchers Row consists of 10 shops 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. There is one
baker, one
delicatessen, two
fishmongers', a
florist and a
greengrocer.
Pannier Market
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 1855-56 of the town's Pannier Market, originally known as the Vegetable Market and designed by RD Gould. The building has a high glass and timber roof on iron columns. At 107 yards (97.5 metres) long, it runs the length of Butchers Row. Market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. According to the UK newspaper '
The Independent' the Pannier Market is voted one of the top ten food markets in Britain.
Railways
Barnstaple has had a number of mainline railway stations, although since the
Beeching Axe fell in the 1960s, only one of these is still in use:
Also built by the North Devon Railway in 1854, Barnstaple Quay was renamed Barnstaple Town in 1886. In 1898, the station was moved to its present site, at North Walk, to accommodate passenger exchange to the narrow gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. The station building still exists, and can be viewed on-line
from a webcam mounted on Barnstaple Civic Centre.
Barnstaple Town (1847–1970), situated close by the Castle Mound was a through station on the Ilfracombe line, running along the north bank of the Taw. Between 1898 and 1935, it was also the terminus of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, with the narrow gauge line's main depot and operating centre at nearby Pilton.
Barnstaple (Victoria Road) (1873–1970) (just Barnstaple until 1949) was built to broad gauge standards as a terminus of the Devon and Somerset Railway (later the Great Western Railway) to the east of the town, with a connection to Barnstaple Junction.
Britain in Bloom
Barnstaple won the Britain in Bloom competition, in the category of Town (Population : 6001 - 12,000) in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2003. The town also won the Abbis Cup in 1996 and 1998 for Regional Supreme Champion (any size town), the Nations in Bloom — Best Town in the World in 1996, the Entente Florale — Best Town in Europe in 1996, and World in Bloom in 1998.
Barnstaple Fair
The ceremonial opening of the fair survives from ancient times. The town council meets in the Guildhall, where various toasts are honoured with a spiced ale which, according to tradition, is made from a jealously guarded recipe handed on from generation to generation. Whilst the toasts are being honoured, "fairings", (a form of sweetmeat) are handed around.
On the reading of the Proclamation a large stuffed gloved hand garlanded with flowers is hung from a window of the Guildhall. The gloved hand represents the hand of friendship and the hand of welcome to the thousands that come to the fair. At 12 o'clock, a civic procession forms at the entrance to the Guildhall and the proclamation is read.
The fair begins on the Wednesday before 20 September each year.
Today the fair consists of rides and amusements located in the car park of the leisure centre.
Twin towns
Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA
Uelzen, Germany
Trouville-sur-Mer, France.
Demographics
Barnstaple, as of 2005 estimates has grown little since the 2001 census. The estimated racial makeup of the town is as follows:
White British 98.7%
White Irish 0.2
Mixed race 0.2
Chinese 0.4
Other 0.5
Economy
North Devon has an under-developed economy for a number of reasons. Firstly it's situated at a distance from the UK's traditional areas of industrial activity and population. Whilst the 1989 opening of the improved A361 (then 'trunk') road connection to the motorway network has helped in some ways (notably weekend tourism), it had a detrimental effect on a number of distribution businesses. The latter previously viewed the town as a base for local distribution networks, a need that was removed with an approximate halving of travelling time to the M5.
Barnstaple gained a number of industrial companies in the late 1970s due to the availability of central government grants for the construction of factories and their operation on low or zero levels of local taxation. This was only partially successful, with few of these lasting more than the few years that grants were available. One success was the manufacturing of generic medicines by Cox Pharmaceuticals (now branded Actavis), who moved in 1980 from their traditional site in Brighton, Sussex. The most lasting consequence for the town was the development of, or increase to, the industrial estates at Seven Brethren, Whiddon Valley and Pottington.
Unemployment in North Devon is 1.8% - 2.4%, and the median per capita wage for North Devon is 73% of the UK national average (2005 data). The level of work in the informal/casual sector is high, partly due to the impact of seasonal tourism like much of the South West of England.
The largest employer in the region by far is local and central Government. The two main central government-owned employers in the area are the Royal Marines Base Chivenor, west of the town, and North Devon District Hospital, to the north.
Education
Barnstaple is well served by all types of education. There is a selection of well regarded primary and secondary state schools in the Barnstaple area.
In the county of Devon 55.9% of students achieved 5 GCSEs grade A* to C. The UK average is 55.7%.
Barnstaple's State Secondary Schools
The Park Community School (External Link) - 50% This school is a specialist technology college.
Pilton Community College (External Link) - 55% This is a specialist language school.
North Devon College (External Link) is a large tertiary college providing a wide range of vocational and academic further education for young people over 16.
Barnstaple's Independent Schools
There are several independent schools in the area, including West Buckland School, to the east, and St. Michael's School (External Link) at Tawstock, to the south. Close by there are also Edgehill (External Link) and Grenville (External Link) colleges on the outskirts of Bideford.
Sport
Senior rugby union is available in the town at Barnstaple RFC who play in south west 1 league (External Link). Barnstaple Town FC play soccer in the Western League.
Many sports are available at the North Devon Leisure Centre. It is the home of Barnstaple Squash Club (External Link).
Cricket is played at Barnstaple and Pilton (External Link)
There are numerous bowling greens and tennis courts
Notable Births
W. N. P. Barbellion : nom-de-plume of Bruce Frederick Cummings - diarist.
Francis Carruthers Gould - caricaturist and politician.
Sir Francis Chichester - aviator and sailor
Giles Chichester - European politician.
Marc Edworthy - Derby County footballer.
Sir Richard Eyre - theatre, television and film director.
John Gay - poet and dramatist.
Tim Wonnacott - antiques expert and television presenter.
Tim Mills - former lead guitarist for Iced Earth.
James Parsons - physician, antiquary and author.
Richard Roach Jewell - architect.
Phil Vickery - rugby union player.
Snowy White - guitarist.
Carrie Davis - BBC Radio 1 sportsreader.
St. Cuthbert Mayne Catholic priest and martyr.
Activities
In Barnstaple
* Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon | Open Monday - Saturday 0930-1700
Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple
Barnstaple Heritage Trail
Pannier Market
Barnstaple Town F.C.
Around Barnstaple
Tarka Trail — The cycling and walking trails were established by Devon County Council, to celebrate Henry Williamson's 1927 novel Tarka the Otter. The book depicts Tarka's adventure travelling through North Devon's countryside.
Arlington Court | Open March - October | 8 miles.
Lundy Island | Ferry sails from Bideford, 10 miles | Costs and Time table
Watersmeet House | Open March - October, Walks are open all year round | 20 miles.
The South West Coast Path National Trail runs through the town, and gives access to walks along the spectacular North Devon coast.
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway | Open Easter - end of December (Daily June to September) | 15 milesFurther Information
Get more info on 'Barnstaple'.
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