Barnstaple

Barnstaple sits along the River Taw estuary and serves as the main center for commerce and services in the North Devon district at 51.0823 degrees north latitude. Brick buildings and stone fronts line the narrow streets of the old town center, while newer housing areas spread over gentle hills at the edges of the settlement.

The settlement received its charter around the year 930, making it one of the earliest boroughs in England. It built a profitable wool trade with Ireland during medieval times and exported cloth by sea.

The name comes from Old English meaning the place of Bearda, a person who may have owned land here long ago. Market stalls fill the covered hall each weekday with flowers, cheese, baked goods and handmade items from Devon producers.

The central location offers connections to Exeter, roughly 55 kilometers (34 miles) southeast, and Bristol, about 109 kilometers (68 miles) northeast, through a network of roads and railway services. Most shops and public buildings lie within walking distance from the train station, so visitors can explore the center on foot.

St. Peter's Church features a 13th-century broach spire that marks the skyline as vessels approach from the Bristol Channel through the River Taw. The spire is one of the few in Devon that still carries this original medieval form.

Location: North Devon

GPS coordinates: 51.08041,-4.06005

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:37