タヴィストックの一日：歴史、遺産、そしてマーケットタウンの魅力

タヴィストックの一日：歴史、遺産、そしてマーケットタウンの魅力

Tavistock is a classic West Country market 
town situated on the dramatic western edge of Dartmoor National Park. Nestled beside 
the fast-flowing river Tavy.    Join us for a wonderful adventure digging up its 
history, enjoying its architecture, walking its abandoned railway line, and finding 
out why it’s such a popular place to visit. Its fascinating history spans over a millennium 
and was initially shaped by the powerful Benedictine Abbey founded in Saxon times. After 
the abbey’s dissolution, the town’s fate became intertwined with that of the Russell family, 
the Dukes of Bedford, who oversaw a dramatic transformation in the 19th century, fueled by the 
wealth from mining. This rich history is evident in the town’s architecture, from medieval 
remnants to grand Victorian structures. We came by car and parked at the Abbey 
car park just outside the town centre,   on the banks of the river Tavy. Parking for up to 6 hours costs £4.40. Other car parks are available For those arriving by public 
transport. The nearest station is Okehampton via Exeter.    It’s then a 45-minute bus ride on the 
118 to bring you to Tavistock. Alternatively, Plymouth offers another option with a 1-hour 
bus journey on the number one route to reach the town. Current times are available from 
the bus service, Stagecoach.   Tavistock is right on the border with Cornwall. Travel 
from London takes approximately 4 hours 36 minutes with GWR, including train changes 
and the Stagecoach bus service to Tavistock. Tavistock’s enduring appeal lies in its 
remarkable ability to adapt and reinvent   itself through centuries of change. Its 
heritage is marked by cycles of prosperity tied to the different dominant forces. The 
medieval abbey, the wool trade, tin mining, and the 19th century copper boom under the Dukes 
of Bedford. Yet through these shifts, Tavistock has constantly maintained its core identity as 
a thriving market town. These roots trace back to an Iron Age fort recorded around 800 AD as 
“Tavy Stoc”, deriving its name from the river Tavy and the old English word for settlement. 
Its location was strategically important, near the easily crossable river, the secure heights 
of Dartmoor and close to the border with Cornwall. There is a beautiful riverside walk 
along these banks and the canal,   which we’ll share later in the video. The pivotal moment in Tavistock’s early 
history was the founding of a Benedictine   Abbey dedicated to the Virgin Mary and 
St. Rumon around 961-74 AD. This was established by the Saxon of Devon, Ordwulf, 
brother-in-law to the Saxon King Edgar. The abbey was part of a wave of 
monastic foundations during King   Edgar’s reign aimed at consolidating 
control over the countryside. A very successful and influential abbey, 
it rose to become the wealthiest   and most powerful monastery in Devon and 
Cornwall, endowed with extensive lands. Key moments were the royal charter granted 
in 1105, a thriving wool trade renowned for its Tavistock “Kersies” and its designation 
and critical role as a stannary town for the   tin industry. The abbey’s dominance ended 
abruptly with King Henry VII’s dissolution of the monasteries in March 1539. The abbey 
church and cloisters were soon destroyed, and other buildings were unroofed or 
repurposed. Sadly, we can’t appreciate   the magnificent buildings of today. However, 
there are remnants of the abbey dotted around this area of the town, like the outer 
perimeter wall here beside the river. Crossing Abbey Bridge, built in 1762, brings 
us into the historic footprint of Tavistock Abbey. Following Henry VIII’s dissolution of 
the monasteries, the abbey’s extensive land   holdings were granted in 1540 to John Russell, 
the first in a succession of Earls and Dukes of Bedford to own most of the town. A notable 
building still standing is the Abbey Chapel. It wasn’t always a place of public worship. 
It was built in the 15th century with some 12th-century remains adjacent to the monastic 
infirmary and was the dining hall for the use of the sick monks. The earliest mention of the 
building is in documents from 1348. The bishop urged the abbot of Tavistock to dine with 
the brethren in the refectory. It is only open for very short periods each week and 
not during our visit on Saturday in mid-May. Across the road, we find Guild Hall 
Square. Notice the Court Gate.    This likely served as the main entrance into the 
abbey’s precinct and into the great court, which would have encapsulated Guild 
Hall Square and the road we see today. A study in the 1990s identified five 
different structural phases for the building, starting in the late 12th century. This 
suggests it was rebuilt and modified over   time with the 12th century gate house being 
encased into later medieval structures. We’ll explore Guild Hall and 
Bedford Square in more detail later. Opposite Bedford Square is Tavistock’s Parish 
Church.    The Church of St. Eustachius is named after a second-century Roman general martyred 
for his Christian faith.   In the churchyard, you will find a significant part of the northwest 
corner of the Abbey Cloister. This is a grade one listed building, marking it as a nationally 
important historical ruin. It consists of an L-shaped wall fragment that includes the 
upper part of a molded 13th century arch. For more perspective, here are the places we’ve 
already seen from within the abbey grounds. Perhaps the most famous abbot of Tavistock was 
Ealdred, who later became Bishop of Worcester   and crowned William the Conqueror William I at 
his coronation ceremony on Christmas Day in 1066. The story of the current church building 
began after the original 1265 church was rebuilt and dedicated to Bishop Stapleton in 
1318. This quickly fell into disrepair and was largely rebuilt and enlarged again between 
1350 and 1450 in the perpendicular Gothic style, constructed primarily from Herdwick stone 
and shale, much like the original abbey. Interestingly, many of the town’s 
buildings were created using salvage   stone from the abbey. A notable feature is 
the lofty tower supported on open arches. Inside the church has wagon roofs with 
a regular succession of smaller and of larger bosses at junctions or rafters and braces. The present pipe organ was built 
by J. W. Walker and Sons and was   installed in the north aisle in 1845 
and 1846. It was opened with a recital by the renowned organist and composer 
Samuel Sebastian Wesley on June 25th, 1846. The organ’s elaborately carved oak casework 
was created by local craftsman Edward Trundle. Reflecting the importance of the medieval 
wool trade to Tavistock’s prosperity,   a fourth aisle, known as the Clothworkers’ 
Aisle, was added to the south side, funded by a bequest from Constance Cofynn, 
the widow of three wealthy wool merchants. One notable monument in the church is of Sir 
John Fitz. His wife, Mary Sydenham of Fitzford, with their young son, also John, kneeling piously 
before a praying desk in the background. Sir John Fitz died aged 61 in 1589. He was a well-respected 
lawyer and gentleman from a prominent local family. His son, who inherited the estate, was, 
however, known for his violent and debauched   behaviour despite his privileged background. After 
killing a neighbour, he fled to France, returning only after his family secured him a pardon from 
Queen Elizabeth I.   Quite briefly, his reckless behaviour continued even after being knighted in 
1603. His mental state deteriorated, and he terrorised Tavistock, banishing his family and ultimately 
murdering an innkeeper in London before taking his own life. Fitz’s tragic end marked the downfall 
of his family’s dynasty, leaving only remnants,   like the Fitzford gatehouse, the entrance to 
their family mansion to the west of Tavistock. The stained glass window behind the Fitz 
memorial was designed by William Morris   and Edward Burn-Jones in 1879. Morris had 
family links to the Devon Great Consols copper mine. It is dedicated to the memory 
of John Hornbrook-Gill, who died in 1874. Morris’s sister-in-law, Alice Morris, was 
married to John Hornbrook-Gill’s son, Reginald. The notably large chancel suggests 
its original construction served a   grander purpose, likely linked to the abbey. The three-hare carving, also known as the rabbit 
boss, is a prominent medieval motif found on the church’s ceiling boss. This design depicts three 
hares chasing each other in a circular pattern. While commonly interpreted as a 
representation of the Holy Trinity,   local tin miners, referred to as 
tinners, adopted it as their emblem. The current pulpit was installed during the 
extensive church renovation in 1845. It was crafted by Knight of Exeter, an artisan 
of the time. It is made of Caen stone, a fine, creamy white limestone from 
northern France, which was popular   for decorative carving in the Victorian 
era due to its softness and light colour. On Plymouth Road, opposite the Cloisters remains,   stands the renowned Bedford Hotel. We will 
discuss this building shortly. But first, behind it is the Betsy Grimble Tower, 
another surviving Abbey Gate House. Its name is thought to be a corruption of the Blessed 
Grimald. A saint revered by the Benedictines. After the abby’s dissolution in 1539, the 
Russell family and later dukes of Bedford acquired the lands from King Henry VIII. John 
Russell had been a faithful servant of the king, and his reward began their long association and 
influence with the town. Much of their visible impact on the town’s architecture comes in the 
19th century. And as we are on Plymouth Road, I wanted to highlight one notable building. The 
Victorian Grammar School on Russell Street. It was built in 1837, and a famous former pupil 
was a young man named William Henry Smith II, who attended the school in the 1830s. We know him 
as WH Smith on the high street, joining the family news agent business and seeing the potential 
of the new railway network, pioneering the   idea of railway bookstalls. This innovation helped 
transform the company into a national institution. In 2025, the high street retail arm of WHSmith 
was sold and is now being rebranded as TG Jones. Let’s turn to the Bedford Hotel. Its foundations 
are steeped in history. Quite literally, it’s built on the ruins of the abbey. In 1822, the Duke of Bedford commissioned the famous architect Jeffrey Wyatt, the same man that remodeled Windsor 
Castle, to transform the building into the town’s principal inn. Wyatt gave it the Gothic style we 
see today, complete with crenellated parapets. It is also widely regarded as the birthplace 
of the Devon cream tea. The legend goes that monks from the original abbey would 
treat their workers to bread, jam,   and clotted cream. The hotel has carried 
on this delicious tradition ever since. Tin mining in the Tavistock area dates back to 
pre-Roman times. Tin was one of the earliest metals exploited in Britain. Traded across Europe 
for use in making bronze. Tin mining became more organised and important during the Middle Ages. 
   In 1305, Tavistock was established as one of the four Stannary towns in Devon by King Edward I. A 
Stannary town was a hub where all tin was weighed, stamped, and sold, and monthly courts 
were held to regulate the mining industry. The town’s prosperity was further fueled by the 
success of copper and tin in the 19th century. This industrial growth brought an influx of 
people, transforming a quiet market town into a bustling centre. The Russell family channeled 
vast income from mining royalties back into the town, changing it forever. To accommodate 
this new population, Francis Russell,   the 7th Duke of Bedford, embarked on a 
series of ambitious building projects. Here is the 7th juke standing 
proud in Bedford Square,   commemorating his role in 
the town’s redevelopment. The medieval guild hall stood on the site of 
the main original abbey cornmills and was no longer fit for purpose. So the Duke 
commissioned a new building in 1848.   The result was a revolutionary structure, one of 
the first purpose-built combined police stations, fire stations, and courthouses in England. 
After serving the town for over 150 years, the building has been magnificently restored and 
is now the Tavistock Guild Hall heritage centre, telling the story of the town’s mining legacy and 
the history of justice. The museum opening times and ticket prices are on this website.   Through Court gate, a stones throw from the guild hall, is the equally impressive Tavistock Town Hall. 
Designed by the Duke’s architect, Edward Rundle, this grand building was opened in 1864 with 
a magnificent grand ball that lasted until 4:00 a.m. Constructed in the late perpendicular 
Gothic style, the town hall was built not for law, but for community. It was designed to 
be the main venue for balls, events,   and civic gatherings, providing a place for the 
town’s growing society to come together. Today, it remains a central point for 
community events and celebrations. The history of Tavistock’s market is much 
older, with a royal charter granted in 1105. For centuries, it was held in an open square 
bustling with farmers and traders.    In 1860, The 7th Duke of Bedford had the River Tavy 
moved to make way for the new town hall, a grand market hall and shops on Duke 
Street. This building became the new   home of the Pannier market. It was the 
Victorian equivalent of a supermarket, where people would bring their goods in 
panniers (baskets carried by donkeys or horses), to sell to the town people. The consolidation of 
all the market stalls under one roof, so to speak, made it easier to manage, collect rents and stopped unauthorised markets popping up around the 
town. The investment from the mining royalties   is one of the big reasons the town is designated a 
UNESCO Cornish mining world heritage site. , Today, the award-winning Pannier market is still a 
vibrant mix of stalls with fresh produce and local crafts, proving that this historical 
hub of commerce is still as vital as ever. Exiting the Pannier market, we find ourselves 
on Duke Street, which transitions into Brook Street. This area, now a broader thoroughfare, was 
once a complex network of old and narrow streets and houses. Its current layout is the result 
of the ambitious redevelopment project that cleared the old to make way for the new.   While the street retains much of its Victorian charm, it’s not entirely unchanged. For example, a 
striking Gothic congressional church with its tall spire, once stood proudly on Duke Street, 
built in 1873, and was demolished in the 1960s. As the road becomes Brook Street, look out 
for a hidden gem, Paddons Row. The charming and slightly bohemian nook is a true delight. 
It’s an unexpected arcade of independent shops, a hidden gem that transports you to a 
quieter, more intimate side of Tavistock. The buildings that now house these 
eclectic businesses weren’t always shops. They originally served a very practical 
purpose: the stable yard for the White Heart Pub. This historic inn, now the 
Oggy Oggy Pasty Shop on Brook Street,   would have been a bustling hub and its stables 
essential for travellers and merchants. While much of Tavistock was flattened and rebuilt 
during the 19th-century Duke of Bedford schemes, the buildings on Paddons Row are believed 
to have survived this transformation,   allowing them to retain their 
unique historic character. Brook Street, which curves to the east of 
the town centre, has a long history that   predates the 19th-century redevelopment. 
The street is located on the site of one of the earliest known settlements in the 
area, dating back to the Iron Age.   You’ll  find a lovely area of interesting shops, 
boutiques, and eateries along this stretch. Lawson’s is a historic building that 
originally served as the town’s cornmill,   established around 1846 and powered by the 
Milbrook Leat, an artificial water channel still running beneath the building.   In 1992, the Lawson family business acquired the site, transforming the historic mill into 
its popular hardware and homeware   store while preserving its heritage as a 
celebrated part of the building’s identity. We are very close to the River Tavy at this point.   Let’s take a stroll down to 
the Vigo Bridge and see it. The Tavistock ironworks, established by James 
and Henry Pierce in the mid-19th century east of the Vigo Bridge on the River Tavy, was vital 
to the local economy, providing goods ranging from stoves to mining equipment. The water wheel 
powered the complex, which spanned both sides of the river. After mining declined and 
World War I, the foundry closed and its leat and turbine provided Tavistock’s first 
electricity in 1914. Today, its Grade 2 listed buildings are apartments with a blue plaque 
on Foundry Mews marking its industrial legacy. 1911 was another milestone for the town when the 
11th Duke of Bedford, Herbrand Russell, sold off much of the family’s property in Tavistock. 
He sold due to a combination of political and   economic pressures, most notably the 1909 budget 
introduced by Chancellor David Lloyd George, who imposed new taxes on land values and increased 
death duties, seen as a direct attack on the landed gentry. This political catalyst coincided 
with the long-term economic decline of the estate   as revenue from both its agricultural holdings and 
the once immensely profitable Devon Great Consol’s copper mines was significantly diminished. 
The sale enabled many tenants in Tavistock to purchase their homes and businesses, thereby 
fundamentally shifting the town’s social structure   from one dominated by a single landowner to one 
characterised by greater individual ownership. While we have seen wonderful examples 
of the grand Victorian architecture,   West Street offers a glimpse into a much 
older era. As one of the original main thoroughfares for centuries, it reveals 
the town’s evolution from its medieval   origins to its industrial peak. Unlike 
the spacious planned Victorian streets, West Street’s winding path and narrow plots 
reflect an older medieval street plan. Long before the 19th-century mining boom, it 
was a bustling commercial and residential area, serving as the original market where locals 
traded fish and meat. During the Victorian era, it became home to a diverse community of 
miners, tradespeople, and merchants whose lives   were intertwined with the town’s prosperity. The impressive corn market built in 1835 by   the sixth Duke of Bedford is a testament to the 
Duke’s influence. Designed by Charles Fowler, this neoclassical masterpiece was the central hub 
for grain trading, vital to the town’s economy. Although its function has changed over 
time, serving as a cinema, hardware store,   and currently a retail outlet, its inscription, 
‘Corn Market,’ erected by John, Duke of Bedford, KG, in 1835, proudly declares its 
original purpose and patronage. Before the Pannier Market was built, Market Street 
was the heart of Tavistock’s medieval market, with stalls and traders spread 
across the older streets. Today, it boasts some of Devon’s best-preserved 16th- 
and 17th-century timber-framed buildings. West Street is a fascinating blend of old and 
new. It perfectly encapsulates Tavvertock’s layered history, reminding us that every corner   of this beautiful town holds a 
story waiting to be discovered. Do take the time to walk further up the 
hill, not only to explore the shops and pubs, but to look back on the town from an elevation.  As we climb, imagine the hustle and bustle of this thoroughfare in past centuries. Travellers passing 
through, livestock being herded down the street to market. People are going about their business, 
visiting bakers, shoemakers, and saddlers. Reaching Rock Hill, which is not far or 
strenuous, look back for just a glimpse of the Dartmoor National Park that hugs this historic 
town. It’s also a wonderful photo opportunity. There is an even better viewing 
location. Come back down to King Street. Back down at the corn market on King Street, 
I forgot to mention that Charles Fowler, the designer of this building, was the 
same man who redesigned Covent Garden   in London in the 19th century. Also of 
note is that the first Earl of Bedford, John Russell, was not only gifted land here 
by King Henry VIII, but also in London, including the land in Covent Garden. On 
our right to the car park was Bank Square, taking the name from the Tavistock Bank 
that was founded in the late 1700s. Ahead of us is an incredible viaduct 
that dominates this part of town.   It’s time to speak about the railway 
and how that shaped Tavistock. Its arrival was driven by the booming 
copper mining industry.   The town needed an efficient way to transport 
copper ore from the surrounding mines to the port in Plymouth and 
to bring supplies into the town. Tavistock actually had two stations at one 
time, run by competing railway companies. Nothing remains of the older South GWR line 
opened in 1859. Tavistock North opened in 1890 and provided the London and Southwestern 
Railway with its own direct route from London Waterloo to Plymouth and was a vital 
link for both goods and passengers. For over a century, the railway was a lifeblood 
for Tavistock. It facilitated commerce,   enabled tourism, and allowed locals to travel 
more easily. However, in the 20th century, the railway faced increased competition from cars 
and buses. The decline of the mining industry, which had been its original economic 
driver, also eroded its profitability. This led to the line’s eventual demise as 
part of the beaching cuts in the 1960s. The last passenger train left Tavistock 
North Station in 1968, marking the end of an era. The tracks were dismantled, and 
the stations were either sold or demolished. Just over these gates is 
the North Station building,   that is now converted into Holiday Cottages. And this is now the railway line. 
This is where the railway tracks   would have come into the station, and the 
platform just behind that fence there. Construction on the overall line began in March 
1887 with the viaduct being one of the final structures completed. The main piers were built 
using high quality Dartmoor granite.   The arch barrels themselves were formed using huge concrete 
blocks, then faced with more granite ashlar. The Plymouth Devonport and South Western 
Junction Railway leased the line and viaduct to be operated by the London and South Western 
Railway for their direct route to Plymouth,   bypassing their powerful rival, the Great 
Western Railway, which ran via the South Station. Having the railway back in operation 
would certainly be a wonderful asset   for the town today. The views from 
this incredible viaduct are quite outstanding. You can just imagine 
the smoke, the steam, and the chug as   passengers looked out of the window in awe 
of the town disappearing in the distance. Today, the disused track bed across the 
viaduct has been repurposed as a highly   popular walking and cycling trail, offering 
stunning panoramic views of the town and the surrounding Dartmoor area. We’re going to walk some of that track bed about a mile and then we’ll head back into the town 
because there’s still much more to show you. This is the route we took on the map. It’s just   a 20-minute walk. And here are 
a few highlights along the way. There we are. That was a little bit of the 
viaduct and the railway line. Nice little walk. just outside the centre of the 
town. We’ll head back in now. As we walk down Crease Lane to join Callington 
Road, the church in the distance is the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. Commissioned 
by William Russell 8th Duke of Bedford and built in 1865-67 as an Anglican church designed by the 
renowned architect Henry Clutton. The chapel was intended to serve the large influx of miners 
and their families who settled on the western side of Tavistock. Having closed and reopened 
a few times due to the changing congregation,   it was purchased by the Catholic Diocese 
of Plymouth, consecrated and opened in 1952 under the new dedication, Our Lady 
of the Assumption and St. Mary Magdalene, a duel dedication, giving the town its 
first Catholic church since the Reformation. We are walking this busy road to reach the statue 
of a famous Tavistock son that sits at the top of the Plymouth Road. Sir Francis Drake was born 
around 1540 at Crowndale farm just outside the town. He was a famous Tudor mariner and explorer 
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.    He was seen as a hero for being the first Englishman to 
sail around the world, earning him a knighthood. However, his early voyages were financed by 
his involvement in the brutal transatlantic   slave trade, where he assisted his cousin John 
Hawkins in the forced transportation and sale of enslaved Africans in the 1560s. Later, 
he became renowned for his piracy against Spain. Drake cemented his legendary status in 
1588 by serving as vice admiral in the English fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada. He 
died at sea in 1596 off the coast of Panama while leading an unsuccessful campaign against 
the Spanish Empire.   There is a lot of debate as to whether this statue should remain due to his slave trade involvement. At least the information boards now detail this awful part 
of our history. Opposite the statue is the Fitzford gatehouse. All that is left of Fitzford Manor from the 16th century. You may recall we mentioned it earlier when we spoke of the Fitz 
family at their memorial in the Parish church. Behind it are the Fitzford cottages, a product 
of the 19th century, you guessed it, the Russell family. When Tavistock experienced its massive 
population surge during the discovery of the rich copper loads nearby, it led to severe overcrowding 
and sanitary conditions and a housing crisis in the town. The Duke of Bedford was committed to 
providing model cottages for his workers.    This initiative aimed to house families in sanitary, 
functional, and aesthetically pleasing dwellings. The Fitzford cottages were built in 1862 
on land overlooking the Tavistock Canal. The scheme comprised a group of 36 terrace 
dwellings arranged in rows. The houses were  designed simply but effectively following similar 
plans to other cottages built around the town. They were constructed primarily of stone rubble 
with gabled slate roofs and brick chimney stacks   and collectively became known as the “Bedford 
Cottages”. For the time, the cottages were well provided for, each having a small garden, an ash 
pit, and access to running water. Amenities far superior to the slum housing many miners were 
forced to occupy. The cottages represent one of the last major groups of model worker housing built by 7th Duke of Bedford’s estate before his   death and the eventual decline of the copper 
mines. Today, they remain desirable homes, prized for their character, central location, 
and association with the town’s history. If we cross over the River Tavy at West Bridge,   we might be able to see more 
examples of the Bedford cottages. Well, the hedging is quite high 
here on this busy main road,   so it’s not easy to spot the cottages, 
but I think you get the idea. So the river Tavy and the canal go parallel to 
each other back into the centre of town. So,we’re dividing and conquering. And 
Will’s walked up, and he’s going to   walk along the towpath of the canal. And 
I’m going to walk along the River Tavy. The serene canal walk leading us back to 
Abbey Bridge, where we started our video,   hides a story of incredible industrial ambition 
and engineering genius. The rich deposits of copper, tin, and lead being extracted from 
the mines were in landlocked locations, and abysmal local roads made transporting the 
heavy ores to the nearest deep water port, Morwellham Quay on the River Tamar, a logistical 
nightmare.    The solution was proposed by John Taylor, a talented local civil engineer and mining expert. In 1803, Taylor secured an act of Parliament to build a canal that would effectively 
link the town’s mines to the sea. Crucially, the Duke of Bedford donated the necessary land, 
betting on the prosperity the project would bring. Construction on the 4 1/2-mile route began in 1803 
and was a massive undertaking, primarily completed by 1817. The most ambitious obstacle was Morwell 
Down, a high ridge separating Tavistock from the Tamar Valley. Taylor’s solution was the Morwell 
Down tunnel, a 1 and a half mile long passage that was one of the deepest canal tunnels below 
ground in Europe when it was built and took over a decade to complete. You can see it here on my 
rudimentary map. This shows you the tunnel cutting   through the down to arrive at Morwellham Quay 
for transfer to barges travelling primarily to the Swansea area in South Wales for smelting 
or to Plymouth for further transportation. Morwellham Quay is just 5 miles, a 
10-minute drive from Tavistock. Sadly,   it’s not accessible by public transport. 
Information on tickets and opening times are available here, but not always up to 
date as we would find out on our arrival. Well, the plan was to come here and make a full 
video at Morwellham Quay and follow on from our trip to Tavistock. But unfortunately, it’s 
closed today and I really have no idea why. It’s the height of peak season. We’re 
almost into the end of May Bank holiday   and it’s not open. I really don’t know why 
the website doesn’t give any information, but a real shame, but there are a few bits we 
can walk around even though it is closed. So, we’ll take you to those. I also have 
a few photos from a previous visit,   over a decade ago, that can help us 
tell the last part of the history. Taylor’s waterway had some unusual features 
not seen on other canals. His design included a slight continuous downward slope of 
about 1 foot per mile.   This steady, gentle flow aided the barges carrying heavy 
copper ore downstream. But more significantly, the flowing water powered up to 30 water 
wheels along its route, providing a central motive power for local industries and mines. 
Effectively acting as a linear power station. Here at its southern terminus, the canal reached 
the cliff edge high above Morwellham Quay,   sitting 235 feet above the tidal 
river Tamar. To bridge this gap, Taylor engineered a water-wheel powered inclined 
railway that raised and lowered the barges and their cargo. A groundbreaking solution 
to the problem of differing elevations. We can still see the tracks of the railway 
crossing the cobbled street of the quay. So, we’re right down here. if we were able 
to walk up, which we can’t. You can see the Tavistock canal coming in, and that’s where it 
stops, and there’s an incline railway that brings the ore down to the harbour here. Then it can be 
put on the River Tamar and onto the waiting ships. But the path, I mean, it’s completely overrun with 
weeds. It’s not been open this year. What a shame. And so I’m guessing you’d be walking up here. You can see the tracks here from the railway. So they would have come from up there 
down here, and then made their way to the waiting ships on the river Tamar 
ahead of us. The canal was a huge success, providing a cheap and reliable transport system 
for the flourishing mining district. It played a vital role in supporting the region’s prosperity 
until the second half of the 19th century. Morwellham Quay became known as the richest copper 
port in Queen Victoria’s empire during its peak, handling enormous quantities of ore. This massive 
overshot water wheel, known as the great wheel, was used to power a manganese mill, a facility 
built around 1820 for crushing locally mined manganese ore before it was exported. You 
may recognise Morwellham from the TV show The Edwardian Farm, when archaeologists Alex 
Langlands, Peter Ginn, and domestic historian Ruth Goodman filmed an epic 12 episodes 
following life on the farm at Morwellham over a whole calendar year. The commercial life 
of the canal and ore transport to the quay was ultimately short-lived. The opening of the 
railway in Tavistock in 1859 quickly provided a faster, more flexible alternative, and by 1873, 
commercial barge traffic on the canal had ceased. Morwellham’s trade did not immediately vanish. But 
when the great Devon Consol’s mineral mine closed in 1903, that was it. With no cargo, Morwellham 
Quay prosperity was officially over. The docks began to silt up and the historic buildings fell 
into disrepair and decay. The canal, however, did not become a ruin. In the 1930s, the constant flow of water, its original secondary design feature, was exploited to supply a hydroelectric 
power plant built at Morewellham Quay. Will is reaching the end of the 
canal as he approaches the centre   of Tavistock. Let’s briefly walk along the 
parallel river to complete our entire loop. Visiting Tavistock has been a wonderful adventure 
through many centuries and layers of history, which meets the buzz of a thriving market town. 
All set against the stunning backdrop of West Devon’s landscape. From exploring the evocative 
ruins of its once mighty abbey and tracing the   impact of the mining boom that reshaped its 
streets to browsing unique independent shops, the town provides a rich and varied experience. 
Whether drawn by the echoes of the monks and the miners, the call of the Dartmoors tors or 
the simple pleasure of a riverside stroll, Tavistock leaves a lasting impression and we hope 
you are inspired to visit this beautiful part of the country. Check out “Visit Tavistock” for 
lots more helpful information about your visit. Thanks for watching our Tavistock video. 
Hope you enjoyed it. Join us again for   another video really soon. Take care. 
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Tavistock: Where History, Mining Riches, and Devonshire Charm Meet!
Welcome to the stunning West Country! Have you ever wanted to explore a town so rich in history that it’s been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site? Then join us as we uncover the secrets of
Tavistock, a classic West Country Market Town nestled right on the edge of the dramatic Dartmoor National Park, beside the fast-flowing River Tavy.

This adventure will take you through a millennium of incredible history, from the powerful Benedictine Abbey that first shaped the area in Saxon times to the grand Victorian structures built on the back of a copper and tin mining boom.
This thriving market town has consistently reinvented itself, driven by the wool trade, the tin industry (as a crucial stannary town), and the later copper boom under the Dukes of Bedford, whose influence is evident everywhere. We’ll even find out how Tavistock is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Devon Cream Tea!

Why should you visit Tavistock?
Experience the vibrant, award-winning Pannier Market, which continues the tradition established by a Royal Charter granted way back in 1105. This indoor market hall, a grand Victorian-era “supermarket,” is still a central hub of commerce today, offering everything from fresh produce to local crafts.
Wander through a town that is essentially a living museum. Explore grand Victorian buildings like the Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre (a revolutionary, purpose-built courthouse, police, and fire station) and the impressive Town Hall. Look for remnants of the original Abbey, including the 15th-century Abbey Chapel.
The town is situated on the border of Dartmoor National Park, offering breathtaking views. You can also walk or cycle the popular trail along the disused trackbed of the old railway, including over the incredible Tavistock Viaduct, built with high-quality Dartmoor Granite.

Take a serene stroll along the Tavistock Canal, an astonishing feat of engineering from the early 1800s. It was built to transport ore from the landlocked mines to Morwellham Quay, and its water powered up to 30 waterwheels, for local industries.

From the history of famous sons like Sir Francis Drake (born just outside of town) to the beautiful riverside walks, Tavistock leaves a lasting impression. We hope this video inspires you to visit this beautiful and historic part of the country!

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00:00 Coming up in Tavistock
00:55 Getting to Tavistock
01:53 Tavistock Early History & Abbey
05:51 St. Eustachius Church Tavistock
11:53 Betsy Grimble Tower
12:58 WH Smith
13:40 Bedford Hotel Tavistock
15:16 Guild Hall and Bedford Squares
17:12 Tavistock Pannier Market
19:07 Duke Street
19:51 Brooke Street
24:09 West Street
25:13 King St Corn Market Building
25:46 Market Street
26:22 West St to Rock Hill
28:26 Tavistock Viaduct – Railway History
32:17 Trackbed Railway Walk
35:57 Sir Francis Drake Born here
37:30 Bedford Cottages
41:11 Tavistock Canal History Morwellham Quay
48:49 River Tavy

#visittavistock #tavistock #devon