Tawstock, Barnstaple, EX31 3HT

Barnstaple is a town in Devon, England. It is a river‑port town and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. The town lies at the River Taw’s lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool from which it earned great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, but its harbour silted up and other trades developed such as shipbuilding, foundries and sawmills. A Victorian market building survives, with a high glass and timber roof on iron columns. The town’s historic character is evident in its market building, and its location on the River Taw gives it a distinct riverside setting within Devon. Residents benefit from the town’s long heritage and its position on a significant river crossing in the region.