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Barnstaple (: ) is a town in the in the local government district
Districts of England

The districts of England are a level of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of local government. As the structure of local government in England is not uniform, there are currently four types of district level subdivision....
 of North Devon
North Devon

North Devon is a Non-metropolitan district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon district include Braunton, Fremington, Devon, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth....
 in the county of Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
 in the south west of England
South West England

South West England is one of the regions of England. It is the largest such region in terms of area, and extends from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly....
. It lies west southwest of Bristol
Bristol

Bristol is a City status in the United Kingdom, unitary authority area and Ceremonial counties of England in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff....
, north of of Plymouth
Plymouth

Plymouth is a City status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers River Plym to the east and River Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound....
 and northwest of the county town
County town

A county town is the 'capital' of a county in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county....
 of Exeter
Exeter

Exeter Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Roman Britain and has existed since time immemorial. Exeter Cathedral, founded in 1050 is Anglicanism....
.

It is the main town of the district and claims to be the oldest borough
Borough

A borough is an administrative division of various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
. It was founded at the lowest crossing point of the River Taw
River Taw

The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel 72km away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge....
, about 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the Taw's seafall at the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel

The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower Severn Estuary of the River Severn to that part of the North Atlantic Ocean known as the Celtic Sea ....
. By the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book

The Domesday Book is the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William I of England, or William the Conqueror....
, Barnstaple had its own mint
Mint (coin)

A mint is an industrial facility which manufacturing coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is normally related in a fashion that more closely ties to the political situation of an era....
.






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Encyclopedia


Barnstaple (: ) is a town in the in the local government district
Districts of England

The districts of England are a level of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of local government. As the structure of local government in England is not uniform, there are currently four types of district level subdivision....
 of North Devon
North Devon

North Devon is a Non-metropolitan district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon district include Braunton, Fremington, Devon, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth....
 in the county of Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
 in the south west of England
South West England

South West England is one of the regions of England. It is the largest such region in terms of area, and extends from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly....
. It lies west southwest of Bristol
Bristol

Bristol is a City status in the United Kingdom, unitary authority area and Ceremonial counties of England in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff....
, north of of Plymouth
Plymouth

Plymouth is a City status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers River Plym to the east and River Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound....
 and northwest of the county town
County town

A county town is the 'capital' of a county in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county....
 of Exeter
Exeter

Exeter Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Roman Britain and has existed since time immemorial. Exeter Cathedral, founded in 1050 is Anglicanism....
.

It is the main town of the district and claims to be the oldest borough
Borough

A borough is an administrative division of various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
. It was founded at the lowest crossing point of the River Taw
River Taw

The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel 72km away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge....
, about 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the Taw's seafall at the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel

The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower Severn Estuary of the River Severn to that part of the North Atlantic Ocean known as the Celtic Sea ....
. By the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book

The Domesday Book is the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William I of England, or William the Conqueror....
, Barnstaple had its own mint
Mint (coin)

A mint is an industrial facility which manufacturing coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is normally related in a fashion that more closely ties to the political situation of an era....
. Its size and wealth in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages

File:Karl 1 mit papst gelasius gregor1 sacramentar v karl d kahlen.jpgThe Middle Ages of European history are a period in history which lasted for roughly a millennium, commonly dated from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Early Modern Period in the 16th century, marked by the division of Western Christi...
 was based on it being within the staple
The staple

The staple was a system of trade and taxation used during the medieval period in England.Under this system, the government or King required that all overseas trade in certain goods be transacted at specific designated market towns or ports, referred to as the 'staple ports'....
, a staple port
Staple port

A staple port is a port designated by a government or monarch as a place where specific goods may be exported or imported.The most famous example was the England wool staple, often simply known as 'the staple', which was exclusively designated by the English crown as the port of import to Continental Europe of raw wool sent from England....
 licensed to export wool
Wool

Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells, called follicles, of animals in the Caprinae family, principally domestic sheep, but the hair of certain species of other Mammalia such as cashmere goat, llamas, rabbits and keeshonds may also be called 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
Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada was the Habsburg Spain fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Alonso de Guzm?n El Bueno, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, leading to the Drake-Norris Expedition of 1589, also known as the English Armada....
.

It was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Reform Act 1835. Since 1974, it has been a civil parish
Civil parish

In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a civil parish is usually the lowest unit of local government, below district and county councils....
 with a town council.

History

Barnstaple's population in the 1801 census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 was 3,748, in the 1901 census 9,698, and in the 2001 census
2001 Census

During 2001, population censuses were conducted in* Australia: See Census in Australia* Austria: See Demographics of Austria* Bangladesh: See 2001 Bangladesh Census...
 30,765. The town has swallowed the villages of Pilton
Pilton, Devon

Pilton is a suburb of Barnstaple. It is located about half a mile north on the outskirts of Barnstaple in Devon, England. It is home to about 2000 residents, and has its own primary and secondary school....
, Newport, and Roundswell through ribbon development
Ribbon development

Ribbon development means building houses along the roads radiating from a town. Ribbon development generated great concern in the United Kingdom during the 1920s and 30s, as well as in numerous other countries....
 from the 1930s to the 1950s. In April 2006 the population was 34,000.

In 1989 the A361
A361 road

The A361 is a major road in England and at 195 miles is the longest 3 digit A road in the UK. It runs south from Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast to Barnstaple, turning south-east to Tiverton, Devon then, after a break , north east from Taunton in Somerset through Street, Somerset and Glastonbury, past Frome, Somerset and then into Wiltsh...
 North Devon Link Road was constructed, linking Barnstaple with the M5 motorway
M5 motorway

The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from the M6 motorway at Great Barr to Exeter in Devon. Heading south from the M6, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley....
, approximately 40 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
Traffic congestion

Traffic congestion is a condition on networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased Queueing theory....
 in the town used to be quite severe, but in May 2007, the Barnstaple Western Bypass
Barnstaple Western Bypass

The Barnstaple Western Bypass is a congestion-relief scheme designed to take road traffic away from the town centre of Barnstaple, a market town in Devon, South West England....
 was opened so traffic heading towards Braunton
Braunton

Braunton is situated 5 miles west of Barnstaple Devon, England and is claimed to be the largest village in England, with a population in 2001 of 7510....
 and Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. The town stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 6 km along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west....
 avoids travelling through the town centre. The bypass consists of 1.6 miles (2.7 kilometres) of new road and a 447 yards (409 m) long, five-span bridge. It was expected to have cost £42m.

Barnstaplelongbridge
As part of this work, the town's main square is receiving a facelift as the entrance to the town centre, and it is 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.

Etymology

Barnstaple is still sometimes referred to as Barum. The origin of this name is obscure, but has been in use since pre-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons

Anglo-Saxons is the term usually used to describe the invading tribes in the south and east of Great Britain starting from the early 5th century AD, and their creation of the English nation, lasting until the Norman conquest of England of 1066....
 times and is probably of Roman
Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
 origin. Mentioned by Shakespeare, the name Barum was revived and popularised in Victorian
Victorian era

The Victorian Era of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the period of Victoria of the United Kingdom reign from June 1837 to January 1901....
 times, featuring in several novels of the time. The name is retained in the names of a football team, brewery
Brewery

A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made in the home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, and several other local businesses.

Butchers Row

Built in 1855, Butchers Row consists of 10 shops with pilaster
Pilaster

A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s of Bath Stone
Bath Stone

Bath Stone is an Oolite Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, Somerset, England its distinctive appearance....
, 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
Baker

A baker is someone who primarily bakes and sells bread. Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades....
, one delicatessen
Delicatessen

Delicatessen is a term meaning "delicacies" or "fine foods". The word entered English via German language,with the old German spelling , plural of Delicatesse "delicacy", ultimately from Latin delicatus....
, two Fishmonger
Fishmonger

A fishmonger is someone who sells fish and seafood. In some countries modern supermarkets are replacing fishmongers who operate in shops or markets....
s, a florist and a greengrocer
Greengrocer

A greengrocer is a retail trader in fruit and vegetables; that is, in green groceries. Greengrocer is primarily a United Kingdom and Australian term, and greengrocers' shops were once common in suburbs, towns and villages....
.

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 R D Gould. The building has a high glass and timber roof on iron columns. At 107 yards (97.5 m) long, it runs the length of Butchers Row. Market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. According to the UK newspaper 'The Independent
The Independent

The Independent is a United Kingdom Compact newspaper published by Tony O'Reilly's Independent News & Media. It is nicknamed the Indy, with the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, being the Sindy....
' the Pannier Market is voted one of the top ten food markets in Britain.

Transport


Railway

Barnstaple has had a number of railway stations, although since the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe

The Beeching Axe is an informal name for the HM Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom....
 fell in the 1960s, only one of these is still in use:

  • Barnstaple railway station
    Barnstaple railway station

    Barnstaple railway station is the terminus of a long branch line, known as the Tarka Line, north west of Exeter St Davids railway station, in Devon....
     was opened on 1 August 1854 by the North Devon Railway
    North Devon Railway

    The North Devon Railway was a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland railway company which operated a line from Cowley Bridge Junction, near Exeter, to Bideford in Devon, later becoming part of the London and South Western Railway's system....
     (later the London and South Western Railway
    London and South Western Railway

    The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth, Dorset....
    ), although a goods service had operated from Fremington
    Fremington, Devon

    Fremington is a village and civil parish in North Devon three miles west of Barnstaple. It was formerly a borough that sent members to Parliament in the reign of Edward III....
     since 1848 for goods traffic only. The station became Barnstaple Junction on 20 July 1874 when the railway opened the branch line
    Ilfracombe Branch Line

    The Ilfracombe Branch of the London and South Western Railway , ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened as a single-track line in 1874, but was sufficiently popular that it needed to be upgraded to double-track in 1889....
     through to Ilfracombe
    Ilfracombe

    Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. The town stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 6 km along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west....
    , reverting to just plain Barnstaple again when it closed on 5 October 1970. Located to the south of the town and the River Taw
    River Taw

    The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel 72km away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge....
    , now a terminus, the station is much reduced in size, and part of the site is now to be used for the bypass
    Barnstaple Western Bypass

    The Barnstaple Western Bypass is a congestion-relief scheme designed to take road traffic away from the town centre of Barnstaple, a market town in Devon, South West England....
    .


Barnstablemap
* Also built by the North Devon Railway in 1854, Barnstaple Quay
Barnstaple Quay railway station

Barnstaple Quay was an intermediate station on the LSWR line to Ilfracombe in Devon, England. The station opened in 1854, and located on the north bank of the River Taw close to the centre of Barnstaple, was renamed Barnstaple Town railway station in 1886....
 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
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway just over 19 miles long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England....
. The station building still exists, and can be viewed from a webcam
Webcam

File:Logitech E2500 webcam.jpgWebcams are video capture connected to computer or computer network, often using Universal Serial Bus or, if they connect to networks, ethernet or Wi-Fi....
 mounted on Barnstaple Civic Centre.

  • Barnstaple Town
    Barnstaple Town railway station

    Barnstaple Town was an intermediate station on the London and South Western Railway line to Ilfracombe Branch Line. The station replaced Barnstaple Quay railway station ? opened in 1854, and renamed Barnstaple Town in 1886 ? which had been located on the Junction side of the Commercial Road crossing, a short distance up-line....
     (1847–1970), situated close by the Castle Mound was a through station on the Ilfracombe line
    Ilfracombe Branch Line

    The Ilfracombe Branch of the London and South Western Railway , ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened as a single-track line in 1874, but was sufficiently popular that it needed to be upgraded to double-track in 1889....
    , running along the north bank of the Taw. Between 1898 and 1935, it was also the terminus of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
    Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

    The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway just over 19 miles long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England....
    , with the narrow gauge line's main depot and operating centre at nearby Pilton
    Pilton railway station

    Pilton Yard, in the village of Pilton, Devon, to the north of Barnstaple was, between 1895 and 1935, the main depot and operating centre of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway , a narrow gauge railway line that ran through Exmoor from Barnstaple to Lynton and Lynmouth in north Devon....
    .
  • Barnstaple (Victoria Road)
    Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station

    Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station was the terminus of the Devon and Somerset Railway line from Taunton railway station. It served the town of Barnstaple in Devon, England and was opened when the Devon and Somerset line was extended from Wiveliscombe railway station to Barnstaple on 1 November 1873....
     (1873–1970) (just Barnstaple until 1949) was built to broad gauge
    Broad gauge

    Broad gauge railways use a rail gauge greater than the standard gauge of ....
     standards as a terminus of the Devon and Somerset Railway
    Devon and Somerset Railway

    The Devon and Somerset Railway ran from near Taunton in Somerset to Barnstaple in North Devon. It was operated from the outset by the Bristol and Exeter Railway which became part of the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1876....
     (later the Great Western Railway
    Great Western Railway

    The Great Western Railway was a History of rail transport in Great Britain that linked London with the south west and west of England and most of Wales....
    ) to the east of the town, with a connection to Barnstaple Junction.


Buses and Coaches

The Barnstaple bus network is privatised and run by many bus operators including FirstGroup and the Stagecoach Bus Group. The main bus station is located on the junction with Summerland Street and Silver Street. National Express
National Express

National Express is the brand under which the majority of long distance bus and Coach services in Great Britain are marketed, and also the company that manages this network and operates some of the services....
 also run services from here. Service 1 and 2 operate towards Bideford and Westward Ho!
Westward Ho!

Westward Ho! is a seaside resort near Bideford in Devon, England. The A39 road provides easy access from the towns of Barnstaple, Bideford and Bude....
, service 3 and 4 runs in the direction of Braunton and Illfracombe, while sevice 5 runs towards Swimbridge and Landkey.

Road

Barnstaple's nearest motorway is Junction 27 of the M5. away along the A361.

Air

The nearest airports are Exeter
Exeter International Airport

Exeter International Airport is an airport close to the city of Exeter in the county of Devon, England.The airport handled 1,024,730 passengers in 2007, the first time over 1 million passengers have used the airport in a single year, which represented a 4.3% increase on the 2006 passenger total of 982,804....
, , and Pymouth
Plymouth City Airport

Plymouth City Airport is an airport located north northeast of Plymouth, Devon, in England. The airport opened on this site in 1925 and was officially opened by the Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, as Prince of Wales, in 1931....
, , both within around an hour's car journey of Barnstaple.

Britain in Bloom

Barnstaple won the Britain in Bloom
Britain in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is a horticulture competition in the United Kingdom. It was first held in 1963, initiated by the British Tourist Board based on the example set by Fleurissement de France....
 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
    Barnstable, Massachusetts

    Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County, Massachusetts....
    , USA
  • Uelzen
    Uelzen

    Uelzen is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, capital of the Uelzen .The Polabian language name of Uelzen is Wilcaus , possibly derived from wilca or wilsa ?alder?....
    , Germany
    Germany

    Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
  • Trouville-sur-Mer
    Trouville-sur-Mer

    Trouville-sur-Mer, commonly referred to as Trouville, is a Communes of France in the Calvados Departments of France in the Basse-Normandie Regions of France in northern France....
    , France
    France

    France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
    .
  • Susa, Italy.


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
North Devon

North Devon is a Non-metropolitan district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon district include Braunton, Fremington, Devon, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth....
 has an under-developed economy for a number of reasons. It is situated at a distance from the UK's traditional areas of industrial activity and population. Whilst the 1989 opening of the improved A361
A361 road

The A361 is a major road in England and at 195 miles is the longest 3 digit A road in the UK. It runs south from Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast to Barnstaple, turning south-east to Tiverton, Devon then, after a break , north east from Taunton in Somerset through Street, Somerset and Glastonbury, past Frome, Somerset and then into Wiltsh...
 (then 'trunk'
Trunk road

A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more city, ports, airports, etc.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic....
) 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
M5 motorway

The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from the M6 motorway at Great Barr to Exeter in Devon. Heading south from the M6, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley....
.

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
Brighton

Brighton is a city on the south coast of England and, with its neighbours Hove and Portslade, forms the Brighton and Hove.The ancient settlement of Brighthelmston dates from before the Domesday Book , but it emerged as a health resort during the 18th Century and became a destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in...
, Sussex
Sussex

Sussex , from the Old English Su?seaxe , is a Historic counties of England in South East England England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of 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
Unemployment

File:World map of countries by rate of unemployment.pngUnemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work, but the person is without Wage labour....
 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
Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
. The two main central government-owned employers in the area are the Royal Marines Base Chivenor
Royal Marines Base Chivenor

Royal Marines Base Chivenor is a United Kingdom military base used primarily by the Royal Marines. It is situated on the northern shore of the River Taw estuary, adjacent to the South West Coast Path, on the North coast of Devon, England....
, west of the town, and North Devon District Hospital
North Devon District Hospital

North Devon District Hospital is an National Health Service district general hospital in the town of Barnstaple, North Devon, England. It has an Accident & Emergency department, an Intensive care medicine and a day case unit, and is operated by Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust....
, to the north.

Education

Barnstaple is well served by all types of education. There are a selection of well-regarded primary and secondary state schools, independent school
Independent school

An independent school is a school which is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operation and is instead operated by tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the investment yield of an financial endowment....
s and a tertiary college in the Barnstaple area.

Secondary Education

In 2007 the county of Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
 46.6% of students achieved 5 GCSEs grade A* to C. The UK average is 46.7%.

 Percentage of students achieving 5 GCSEs grade A* to C
School NameType2004200520062007
The Park Community School State37%38%44%41% 
Pilton Community College State50%50%48%46% 
West Buckland School
West Buckland School

West Buckland School is an England Independent school located on the outskirts of the village of West Buckland, Devon on the edge of Exmoor, 8 miles east of Barnstaple, Devon....
 , 		Independant75%84%89%78% 
Grenville College , Independant48%63%59%66% 


Tertiary Education

North Devon College
North Devon College

North Devon College is a further education college in Barnstaple, North Devon.On 31st January 2008, the college secured funding worth ?100 million for a new campus at Seven Brethren, Barnstaple....
  is a large tertiary college providing a wide range of vocational and academic further education for 3000+ young people over 16. The college is due to spend £100m on a new campus, opening on Seven Brethren in 2011

Sport


Cricket

Cricket
Cricket

Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games team sport that originated in southern England. The earliest definite reference is dated 1598, and it is now played in more than 100 countries....
 is played at Barnstaple and Pilton.

Football


Rugby

Senior rugby union
Rugby union

Rugby union is a competitive outdoor contact sport, played with an oval ball, by two teams of 15 players. It is one of the two main codes of rugby football, the other being rugby league....
 is available in the town at Barnstaple RFC who play in South West 1 league.

Other

Many sports are available at the North Devon Leisure Centre. It is the home of Barnstaple Squash
Squash (sport)

Squash is a racquet sport game played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. Squash is characterized as a "high-impact" exercise that can place strain on the joints, notably the knees....
 Club . There are numerous bowling greens and tennis courts.

Notable Births

For full list, see :Category:People from Barnstaple


Activities


In Barnstaple

  • Museum Icon
    * | Open Monday - Saturday 0930-1700
  • Barnstaple Town F.C.
    Barnstaple Town F.C.

    Barnstaple Town F.C. is a association football club that play in Barnstaple, Devon, England. They are currently members of the Western Football League, a league covering south western England....


Around Barnstaple

  • Ukal Icon
    ? Tarka Trail
    Tarka Trail

    The Tarka Trail is a series of footpaths and cyclepaths around north Devon, England that follow the route taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of that name....
     — The cycling and walking trails were established by Devon County Council, to celebrate Henry Williamson's
    Henry Williamson

    Henry William Williamson was a prolific England author known for his natural history and social history novels....
     1927 novel Tarka the Otter
    Tarka the Otter

    Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers is a novel by Henry Williamson. The book narrates the experience of an European Otter....
    . The book depicts Tarka's adventure travelling through North Devon
    North Devon

    North Devon is a Non-metropolitan district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon district include Braunton, Fremington, Devon, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth....
    's countryside.
  • Nte Icon
    | Open March - October |
  • Nte Icon
    Lundy Island
    Lundy

    Lundy is the largest island in the Bristol Channel, lying off the coast of Devon, England, approximately one third of the distance across the channel between England and Wales....
     | Ferry sails from Bideford
    Bideford

    Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England England. It is also the main town of the Torridge Districts of England....
    , |
  • Nte Icon
    | Open March - October, Walks are open all year round |
  • Ukal Icon
    The South West Coast Path
    South West Coast Path

    The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked Long-distance footpaths in the UK and a National Trails . It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset....
     National Trail runs through the town, and gives access to walks along the spectacular North Devon coast.
  • Hr Icon
    Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
    Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

    The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway just over 19 miles long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England....
     | Open Easter - end of December (Daily June to September) |


See also

  • Barnstaple Castle
    Barnstaple Castle

    Barnstaple Castle stood near the centre of the town of Barnstaple, Devon A wooden castle was built by Geoffrey de Montbray, Bishop of Coutances in the 11th century, clearing houses to make room for it....
  • Henry de Bracton
    Henry de Bracton

    Henry of Bracton, also Henry de Bracton, also Henrici Bracton,or Henry Bratton also Henry Bretton was an England jurist....
  • Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple
    Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple

    The Queens Theatre, Barnstaple assumed its current form in 1993, but the history of theatre in Barnstaple can be traced back to at least 1435, when Minstrels, Players, Jugglers and Buffoons were an established feature of Barnstaple's annual fair....


External links