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Totnes (TOT'ness — emphasis on the first syllable) is a market town in South Devon, England.
Description
Indications of its former wealth and importance are given by the number of merchants' houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries, one open to the public in the guise of the town museum. The remains of the Norman Totnes Castle, now owned by English Heritage may also be visited. It was built during the reign of William I. Equally notable is the late medieval church of St Mary built of rich red Devonian stone. The ancient Leechwell (so named because of the supposed medicinal properties of its water, and apparently where lepers once came to wash) still provides fresh water, and is preserved from former days. At the western edge of the town is the Dartington Hall Estate, which includes the Schumacher College and Dartington College of Arts.
A prominent feature of the town is the Eastgate — an arch spanning the middle of the main street. This Elizabethan entrance to the walled town was destroyed in a fire in September 1990, before being rebuilt again. The town is built on a hill above the River Dart, which divides Totnes from the suburb of Bridgetown, and is tidal up to Totnes, where it meets a 17th century weir. It provides navigation to seagoing boats and until 1995 was used for the import and export of goods.
Totnes railway station is situated on the Great Western Main Line, and has trains direct to London and Plymouth. Totnes is the southern end of the South Devon Railway Trust which runs a tourist steam engine from Buckfastleigh. The A38 passes within 10km.
Totnes gained a reputation of being a haven for "new age" followers in the 1990s, but the rapid rise in rents and house prices over the past ten years has now dispersed most of them. In their place are wealthy retirees, and incomers with money setting up businesses to serve them. One by one the hippie shops have disappeared, to be replaced by upmarket clothes shops, expensive restaurants, and art galleries with works bearing five figure prices. Despite this, there is still some attachment felt, by the peoples of Totnes, to an alternative style of living.
History
According to much disputed local folklore, Totnes was the site where Brutus of Troy founded Britain in ancient times.
Despite this legendary history the first authenticated history of Totnes is in AD 900 when it was fortified as part of the defensive ring of castles built around Devon by King Alfred, replacing one built a few years earlier at nearby Halwell.
The origin of the name 'Totnes' itself is unclear. It may either be Celtic or Saxon in origin.
Totnes' borough charter was granted by King John, probably around 1206. Totnes lost its borough status in local government reorganisation in 1974. As a former borough and mint, Totnes was once a place of some significance. Totnes celebrates the 800th anniversary of its charter in 2006.
Totnes was served by Totnes electoral borough from 1295 until the reform act of 1867, but was restored by the 1884 Franchise Act. The constituency of Totnes was abolished a second time in 1983, and formed part of the South Hams constituency until 1997, when it was restored as the Totnes constituency.
Notable people
- The explorer William John Wills of the Burke and Wills expedition fame was born in Totnes. A memorial to William John Wills was erected, using the money from public subscriptions, in 1864. It can still be seen on the Plains. There were originally two gas lamps attached to the monument, but both have since been removed.
- Charles Babbage had a strong family connection with the town and returned to attend the grammar school for a period before going up to Cambridge.
- Eminent Hebrew scholar, Benjamin Kennicott was also born in Totnes.
- William Stumbels, a clockmaker lived and worked in Totnes in the 18th Century. (His workshop was possibly at No. 4 Castle Street, within the town walls.) Two of his clocks: a longcase (grandfather) and a turret clock are displayed in the museum.
Miscellany
- Totnes is twinned with the French town of Vire, after which Vire Island nearby the 'Plains' is named.
- King Edward VI Community College (KEVICC) celebrated its 450th anniversary in 2003.
See also
External links
"Totnes"