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| North Tawton | |
  North Tawton shown within Devon |
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| Population | 1,752 (FHSA 2005) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | West Devon |
| Shire county | Devon |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NORTH TAWTON |
| Postcode district | EX20 |
| Dialling code | 01837 82 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Devon West and Torridge |
| List of places: UK • England • Devon | |
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw.
Contents |
History
The Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newland Mill, a little outside the present town, and established a succession of military camps there over the years. By the time of the Domesday survey (1086), there were six farm / manor holdings in what is now North Tawton Parish, including that of Tawton which was the forerunner of the town we know today.
St Peter's Church is first recorded in 1257. Only the tower of the present building dates from that time, with the rest being mostly 14th and 15th century. An unusual feature is the oak-shingled spire.
North Tawton was already a market town by the end of the 12th century. Agriculture and the woollen industry provided the chief sources of employment for many centuries, but the former has much declined as a source of employment and the latter has gone altogether, the last town woollen mill closing in 1930.
The railway came to North Tawton in 1865. North Tawton railway station (now closed) lies a mile or two outside the town on the line from Exeter to Okehampton which continued on to Plymouth and Cornwall. It closed to through passenger traffic in 1968, although a shuttle service between Okehampton and Exeter continued until 1972.
Modern day North Tawton
The town has become something of a centre for light industry. There are three significant employers in the town: the haulier Gregory Distribution, which grew from a local concern founded in the 1920s and now employs 300 locally, the Taw Valley Creamery - a cheese factory originally built by Express Dairies in 1974, employing over 100, and the petfood wholesaler Vital Dog Supplies, also employing over 100.
The population currently stands at around 1,750. This is small for a "town", but as a former market town North Tawton has retained this title, and is designated a Post Town by the Royal Mail.
Famous connections
William Budd
The doctor William Budd (1811-1880) was born in the town, son of Samuel Budd, the local surgeon. His researches into the incidence of typhoid during an epidemic in the town led to him establishing that typhoid fever was spread contagiously, and in particular that the infection was excreted and could be contracted by drinking contaminated water. This discovery contributed to national improvements in public health through improved sanitation.
Ted Hughes / Sylvia Plath
The poet Ted Hughes (1930-1998) bought a house in North Tawton in 1961 with his then-wife Sylvia Plath (1932-1963), who lived there briefly with him until their separation in 1962. In due course Hughes made North Tawton his permanent home. He died there in 1998.
"Jam & Jerusalem" / Clatterford
In 2005, North Tawton was chosen as the location for the filming of Jennifer Saunders' BBC television series "Jam & Jerusalem". The town represents the fictional Clatterford St Mary. The Church and Town Hall feature prominently in the series, and some of the acting 'extras' for the series were recruited locally.
References
Alison Baker, David Hoare & Jean Shields, The Book of North Tawton: Celebrating An Ancient Market Town (Halsgrove, 2002, ISBN 1-84114-156-9)
Links
- North Tawton Community Website
- North Tawton page on Devon County Council website
- Photo gallery on BBC website
