10 Things You Didn’t Know About Devon, UK

As a county, Devon is well known for its cathedral city of Exeter, its beaches, and for the wildlife and scenery of Dartmoor National Park. A holiday in Devon is one of the most popular options to take in the UK, with the county only being a few hours from London, and easy to get around by public transport. However, there are some facts about Devon that you might not have been aware of, from Dartmouth having the UK’s oldest steam engine, to the county’s connection to Greek myth.

1 – Oldest Steam Engine

The town of Dartmouth is home to the oldest working steam engine in the UK; built in the late 18th century from the designs of Devon engineer Thomas Newcomen, the engine was a forerunner of the later expansion of steam power, which became crucial to 19th century Britain.

Dartmouth Steam Engine by Barry Lewis

2 – Exeter’s Water System

The capital of Devon is significant for its cathedral, Roman settlements, and for its importance to merchant trading up to the 20th century, but in the 14th century was also one of the first English cities to pump in pure spring water. The underground passages used for this task can still be accessed if you’re visiting Exeter.

3 – Westward Ho!

The only town in the UK that’s named after a book, and one of the few in the world to have an exclamation point, Westward Ho! was originally a novel by Charles Kingsley. When the town was first developed in the 19th century, the name was used as a way to attract new residents and tourists.

Westward Ho! by xlibber

4 – Hound of the Baskervilles

Dartmoor National Park was chosen as the setting for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles, and has also recently been used as a backdrop in the Steven Spielberg film War Horse.

5 – Two Coastlines

Devon is notable for being the only English country to have two separate coastlines, with the North opening out into the Bristol Channel, and the South into the English Channel.

6 – Oldest Civil Building

The Guildhall on the main high street of Exeter is the oldest civic building still in use within the UK; although some form of building has been on the site since the 12th century, the building was used full-time for council meetings and events from around 1468.

Guildhall, Exeter, Devon, UK by Robert Cutts

7 – Famous Devonians

Some of the famous historical figures to come from Devon include Agatha Christie, Francis Drake, Peter Cook, Richard Burton, and Sir Walter Raleigh.

8 – Ottery St Mary Barrels

One unusual tradition held in Devon is the practice of racing burning hot barrels through the streets of the village of Ottery St Mary on Bonfire Night; the event attracts large crowds, who watch as carriers try to get the barrels to a bonfire before the barrels disintegrate.

9 – Brutus of Troy and Totnes

Legend has it that Trojan warrior Brutus founded London, but first settled in ancient England in the Devon town of Totnes, which has a landing stone claiming to mark this visit.

10 – Haunted Buckfastleigh

The Devon town of Buckfastleigh has a local ghost story that involves Richard Capel, a 17th century squire who was notorious for his violence against women; his ghost is believed to be visible on midsummer’s eve.

Author Bio

Kevin Maddox is a freelance travel writer and Devon native who is always happy to recommend her home county. She recommends renting out a cottage through Cottages Direct if you’re planning a holiday in Devon, as this will give you a good base to explore the county from.

Tags: dartmoor national park, Devon, Exeter, Westward Ho

Category: Travel Tips, United Kingdom