Tavistock
Tavistock | ||
---|---|---|
Shire county | ||
Region | ||
Country | England | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Post town | TAVISTOCK | |
Postcode district | PL19 | |
Dialling code | 01822 | |
Police | Devon and Cornwall | |
Fire | Devon and Somerset | |
Ambulance | South Western | |
UK Parliament | ||
Tavistock (
History
Middle Ages
The area around Tavistock (formerly Tavistoke), where the River Tavy runs wide and shallow allowing it to be easily crossed, and near the secure high ground of Dartmoor, was inhabited long before historical records. The surrounding area is littered with archaeological remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages.[4]
The abbey of
In 1105 a
By 1185 Tavistock had achieved
Parish church
The
It possesses a lofty tower supported on four open arches, one of which was reputedly added to accommodate the 19th-century "tinners" or tin miners. Within are monuments to the Glanville and Bourchier families, besides some fine stained glass, one window being the work of
Early modern period
The greater part of the abbey was rebuilt in 1457–1458. The town continued to prosper in the charge of the abbots, acquiring one of England's first
In the 17th century great quantities of cloth were sold at the Friday market, and four fairs were held at the feasts of
Tavistock is tied from late medieval times with the Russells, the family name of the Earls of Bedford and since 1694, the Dukes of Bedford. This is clearly seen from the history of the town. The second title of the Duke of Bedford is the Marquess of Tavistock, taken as the courtesy title of the eldest son and heir to the dukedom, and illustrates the importance of this Devon town, its hinterland and the minerals beneath it to the family's fortunes. It is believed that the Russell family retains considerable interests in the locality. Most recently, Robin, the short-lived 14th Duke, as Marquess of Tavistock, was a frequent visitor to the town along with his wife, Henrietta. Andrew Russell is the 15th Duke of Bedford and Marquess of Tavistock.[11]
It is this Russell family connection through the Bedford Estates which gives the name by ownership to
Francis Drake
Around 1540 (some sources state 1542 as the exact year),
The famous statue of Drake on
Industry
Mines of copper, manganese, lead, silver and tin were previously in the neighbourhood and the town played host to a considerable trade of cattle and corn, and industries in brewing and iron-founding.[5]
By the 17th century,
In 1694,
Late modern period
By 1800, cloth was heading the same way as tin had done a century earlier, but copper was starting to be copiously mined in the area, to such an extent that by 1817 the Tavistock Canal had been dug (most of the labour being performed by French prisoners of war from the Napoleonic Wars)[18] to carry copper to Morwellham Quay on the River Tamar, where it could be loaded into sailing ships. In 1822 the old fairs were abolished in favour of six fairs on the second Wednesday in May, July, September, October, November and December.[10]
In the mid-19th century, with nearby
Tavistock was deprived of one member of Parliament in 1867 and finally disenfranchised in 1885. The
20th and 21st centuries
In 1911, the Bedford influence on the town came to an end after over 450 years, when the family sold most of their holdings in the area to meet
West Devon Borough Council is based in Tavistock, about 500 metres north of Bedford Square at Kilworthy Park. There was a small police station under part of the Bedford building complex on Bedford Square; this has closed and a new one is in Abbey Rise. The adjacent historic Magistrates Court has also closed and the nearest criminal court is now at Plymouth Law Courts.[24]
In 1926 a meeting was held in Tavistock with representatives of the UK government and UK scientific instrument makers. A comparison was made on Dartmoor between UK theodolites and their European competition, especially the Swiss Wild T2 theodolite. One result of this conference was the 1930 "Tavistock" theodolite by Cooke, Troughton & Simms.[25]
In 1933 the long-disused canal was put to use providing hydroelectric power for the area.[26]
A war memorial in Bedford Square commemorates the townsfolk killed in the First and Second World Wars.[27] Many families across Britain exercised their right not to have their family members named on these public memorials. In 2006 it was planned to move the monument to a site in the graveyard of the Parish Church, but due to local opposition this did not happen.[28]
Tavistock had two railway stations, both now closed.
The trackbed of the Tavistock North route is almost intact to Bere Alston, where it joins today's
In 1986, the town's two newspapers, the Tavistock Gazette (founded in 1857) and the Tavistock Times (established in 1920) merged to form the current weekly publication, the
In July 2006 Tavistock was named the eastern Gateway to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, which runs westward through the Tamar Valley and Great Consols Mine, down the spine of Cornwall to Lands End.[35] This £75 million project is likely to bring more tourists to Tavistock. There has been no progress with proposals for a £1.1 million World Heritage Site Interpretation Centre, planned for 2007, to be built in the area of the Guildhall, and overlooking the River Tavy.[28]
A local community group known as "Tavistock Forward" have been negotiating to take over the Guildhall complex with police and English Heritage endorsement, with leaseback of the existing police station to Devon & Cornwall Police, while developing the Guildhall itself.[36]
Geography
Tavistock lies on the edge of Dartmoor, around 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) north of Plymouth on the A386, with a population of 11,018.[37] The town is centred on the paved amenity of Bedford Square, around which are found St. Eustachius' Church and the abbey ruins, to the west, the Grade 2-listed town hall, the disused former Guildhall/magistrates' court buildings, and Pannier Market buildings behind the town hall. Abbey Bridge crosses the River Tavy to the south, while West Street and Duke Street, on either side of the north end of the square, form the main shopping areas, with the indoor [Pannier] market running behind Duke Street.[38]
Plymouth Road, the A386 heading west from the centre of the square, is home to much of the town's
Climate
Tavistock has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb).
Climate data for Tavistock | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8 (46) |
8 (46) |
9 (48) |
12 (54) |
14 (57) |
17 (63) |
19 (66) |
19 (66) |
17 (63) |
14 (57) |
11 (52) |
9 (48) |
13 (55) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3 (37) |
3 (37) |
4 (39) |
5 (41) |
8 (46) |
11 (52) |
13 (55) |
13 (55) |
11 (52) |
9 (48) |
6 (43) |
4 (39) |
8 (46) |
Source: Weather Channel[40] |
Religious sites
- See also Tavistock Abbey
- For the parish church of St Eustachius, see above, Parish church
- The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalene, Fitzford, was built at the expense of the Duke of Bedford in 1867. It is an ambitious building in the neo-transitional style and the tall spire is conspicuous from the high ground surrounding the town.[41] This church was intended as a place of worship for miners. It fell into disuse and was bought in 1952 for use as a Roman Catholic church.
Education
State
Most secondary education is provided by Tavistock College, a state-funded specialist Language College with approximately 2,000 pupils,[42] drawn from a catchment area of about 20 km (12 mi) radius. The college has links with Japan, Uganda, Spain and India where staff exchanges and student visits and projects take place.[42]
Some children who pass the optional
Independent
Life and events
Market village and shopping centre
Tavistock remains a small market town, providing shopping and entertainment for its residents, many small outlying villages and the local farming community. The town is now a centre for the West Devon and Dartmoor tourist trade. It is a fast-growing dormitory area for commuters working in Plymouth and has a sizeable retired population, perhaps drawn by the rural tranquillity and scenery, giving Tavistock an average resident age of 43.[45]
Markets were originally held in Bank Square. A specialist
In 2005 Tavistock was voted 'Best Market Town' in England and in 2006 'Best Food Town',
Events
The biggest event in the town's calendar is the annual Tavistock Goose Fair (known locally as the "
There is an annual two-day garden festival held on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend and a carnival with a two-day Balloon Fiesta each August bank holiday weekend. In May there is an annual Tavistock Music & Arts Festival.[54]
In 2010, the town was chosen to be a stage depart town in the Tour of Britain cycle race.[55]
On the first Sunday in October, the annual Abbots Way Walk finishes in Tavistock. Started in 1962, this challenge walk starts at Buckfast Abbey and participants walk 24 miles (39 km) across Southern Dartmoor to finish at Tavistock.[56]
Transport
Bus services
The main bus operator in Tavistock is Stagecoach South West. Stagecoach's service 1 runs frequently into Plymouth 7 days a week. Other Stagecoach services include the 87 to Bere Alston and service 89 Town Service. Plymouth Citybus run rural services onto Dartmoor from Tavistock. Dartline operate service 118 to Okehampton.
Coach excursions
Lomax Tours run coach day excursions from Tavistock and surrounding areas.
Rail Links
Currently Tavistock doesn't have a railway station although it used to have two. Okehampton and Plymouth are the nearest current stations.
Road
The A386 connects Tavistock to the A30 in the north and the A380 in the south.
Culture and sport
Tavistock's coat of arms is blazoned "Per pale, gules and azure, a fleece banded; a chief, dexter a lion passant gardant, sinister a fleur-de-lys, all or". The earliest record of these arms is in 1684. The fleece refers to the wool trade and the fleur-de-lys probably to Our Lady, joint patron of Tavistock Abbey. The town's motto is "Crescit sub pondere virtus", meaning "virtue flourishes under a burden".[57]
Tavistock Penny Token
Bigbury Mint Ltd, medal makers based near Plymouth in Devon, produce a semi-reproduction of the Tavistock Penny Token[58] which is distinguished from the original by the Bigbury Mint mark stamped on both sides of the coin. There is an example of the original coin held in the Science Museum Collection.[59] The Bigbury Mint reproduction coin is struck in copper as a celebration of the proud mining history of the town, the obverse of the coin features the Tavistock fleur-de-lys and the reverse of the coin has a carving of the mine, along with the words "Devon Mines, 1811".[60]
Literature
Tavistock was the birthplace of the poet
Sport
Tavistock has one senior football team, Tavistock A.F.C. and two junior football teams, Tavistock Town and Tavistock Thistles. Together the three clubs form Tavistock Community Football Club offering coaching and competition to players of all ages from 5 years old to veterans. There is also a rugby team with a large and active minis and junior section, Tavistock Rugby Football Club.[63]
Media
Local TV coverage is provided by BBC South West and ITV West Country. Television signals are received from the Caradon Hill and the local relay TV transmitters.[64][65]
Tavistock's local radio stations are BBC Radio Devon on 103.4 FM, Heart West on 96.6 FM, and Greatest Hits Radio South West (formerly The Breeze) on 105.5 FM.
The Tavistock Times Gazette, published on Thursdays, is the town's local newspaper.[66]
Twin towns
The town has had
-
Coat of arms at sister city Celle (Germany), granite artwork below signpost
Notable people
- Mary Colling, poet and domestic servant of Tavistock.[69]
- Sir Francis Drake was born nearby, and was mayor of, Tavistock[70]
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, a model, grew up on a farm near Tavistock.[71]
- Kinks bass player, was born in the town.[72]
- Olympians Kate Allenby and Heather Fell both have ties with Tavistock.[73]
- Graham Dawe (England, Sale and Bath rugby hooker) and Rob Baxter (the Exeter Chiefs and England rugby coach) were both born in Tavistock.[74][75]
- The hymn writer Elizabeth Parsons was also born in the town.[76]
- Michael Howat (born 1958), cricketer[77]
- William Thomas Goode (died 1932), journalist and academic[78]
See also
- Tavistock Canal
- South Devon and Tavistock Railway
- Tavistock (UK Parliament constituency)
- Exeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWR
Notes
- ^ "Tavistock". City population. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "Tavistock update" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-904959-21-2.
- ISBN 978-1803990682.
- ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911, p. 457.
- ^ "Goose Fair". Tavistock Town Council. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Chisholm 1911, pp. 457, 458.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Eustachius (Grade II*) (1326157)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- ^ Pevsner, N. (1952) South Devon. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; pp. 275-77
- ^ a b c Chisholm 1911, p. 458.
- ^ Burke's Peerage and Baronetage volume 1 (Burke's Peerage Ltd., 2003), p. 318
- ^ "7/7 Anniversary: UK's Risk of Terror Attack Higher Now than Days of London Bombings". Yorkshire Post. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- ISBN 978-1781597033.
- ^ Moseley, Brian (June 2010). "Drake's Statue". The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Plymouth Data. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Buckland Abbey". National Trust website. National Trust. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ Rickard, J. (11 April 2001). "Battle of Braddock Down, 19 January 1643". Military History Encyclopedia on the Web. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ISBN 978-1760465520.
- ^ Devon County Council: Local Studies Archived 2 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Dinner with Alex Polizzi at Hotel Endsleigh". The Polizzi Collection. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-9529922-0-2
- ^ Historic England. "Former Railway Station (1387230)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Mount Kelly Foundation". Charity Commission. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "The 'Sale of the century' in 1911 that changed the face of Tavistock". Tavistock Times. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ISBN 978-0300095968.
- ISBN 978-1850720966
- ^ Greeves, Tom (April 2003). "The Tavistock Canal - A Review" (PDF). Tamar Valley Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
- ^ "Tavistock". War Memorials Online. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ a b Tavistock Town Council (2 August 2006), Minutes of a Town Meeting of Tavistock, Tavistock Town Council, archived from the original on 23 June 2007, retrieved 28 June 2007
- ^ "Tavistock Viaduct Walk". Visit Tavistock. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Tentative Talks Held Over Rail Line Reopening" (Press release). West Devon Borough Council. 27 July 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Updated Position Statement, Tavistock to Bere Alston Community Rail Proposals" (PDF). Kilbride Community Rail. December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ BBC News Online (5 April 2010). "Lib Dems plan rail expansion by cutting road projects". Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Tavistock Times Gazette History|Tavistock Times Gazette". Tavistock Today website. Archived from the original on 27 February 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ Honey, Jane (18 May 2007). "Duke and Duchess join paper's anniversary celebrations". Tavistock Times Gazette. Tindle Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007.
- ^ "Mining landscape of Cornwall and West Devon becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site" (Press release). Department for Culture, Media And Sport. 13 July 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
- ^ "Tavistock Forward Annual General Meeting minutes". Tavistock Forward. 25 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ Office for National Statistics (2001), 2001 Census, statistics for Tavistock Parish, Office for National Statistics
- ^ Historic England. "Pannier Market (1326204)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Whitchurch Down". Dartmoor Links. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Tavistock travel information Archived 18 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine Weather Channel UK Retrieved 4 April 2009
- ^ Pevsner, N. (1952) South Devon. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 277
- ^ a b "The College". Tavistock College website. Tavistock College. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Whitchurch Community Primary School". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "History | Mount Kelly | Kelly College | Mount House School". www.mountkelly.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- ^ Census of 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Cook Stores (Hardware) (1163573)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "About the Pannier Market". Tavistock Town Council. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Tavistock Pannier Market website". Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Tavistock Farmers Market website". Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ Harrison, Peter (12 October 2005). "No need to shop around in Tavistock". Western Morning News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007.
- ^ "Fairtrade towns". Fairtrade Foundation. 18 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "McDonald's forced to shut from lack of patronage in healthy town". Thisislondon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010.
- ^ "Goose Fair". Tavistock Town Council website. Tavistock Town Council. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Tavistock Music & Arts Festival". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "2010 Tour of Britain Stage Five Highlights". YouTube. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "The 52nd Abbot's Way Walk". Dartmoor National Park Authority. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ "Tavistock Town Council; About Tavistock; The Tavistock Coat of Arms". Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ S, +Tim; les (22 March 2016). "Tavistock Pennies | Legendary Dartmoor". Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Tavistock penny token | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Great Britain Penny "Tavistock - Devon Mines" 1811". Coins Catalogue. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ISBN 1-4099-6436-1. Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ Bray, Anna Eliza; Southey, Robert (1879). The Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy Their Natural History, Manners, Customs, Superstitions, Scenery, Antiquities, Eminent Persons, Etc. Vol. 1. W. Kent and Company.
- ^ "Tavistock RFC". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Full Freeview on the Caradon Hill (Cornwall, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Freeview Light on the Tavistock (Devon, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Tavistock Times Gazette". British Papers. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "UK Twin Towns". Dorset Twinning Association. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ^ "Stadt Celle". celle.de. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/61556. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 978-0300084634.
- ^ Pukas, Anna (7 May 2011). "Is this the Sexiest Woman in the World?". Daily Express. UK. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ISBN 9781847923318. Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Bull, Andy (22 August 2008). "Olympics- High five as Fell takes unexpected silver in a true test of endurance". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Graham Dawe England". ESPN. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Rob Baxter". Exeter Chiefs. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ J. C. Hadden, 'Parsons, Elizabeth (1812–1873)', rev. Rosemary Mitchell, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 17 Jan 2016 Archived 24 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Michael Howat". Wisden. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Tavistock". Devon and Exeter Gazette. 12 August 1932. page 13, column 6.
References
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Tavistock". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 457–458. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
External links
- Local government: Tavistock Town Council
- Tavistock information from Devon County Council
- Tavistock Community Information Website
- Local Information
- Tavistock at Curlie