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Coordinates: 50°25'56?N 3°41'02?W? / ?50.43216, -3.68391
Totnes (pronounced /'t?tn?s/ or /t?t'n?s/) is a market town in South Devon, England.
Indications of Totnes' former wealth and importance are given by the number of merchants' houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries, one open to the public as 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. 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 London to Penzance 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 locomotive from Buckfastleigh. The A38 passes within 10km. Today Totnes is also a thriving centre for music, art, theatre and natural health, and its blend of traditional and alternative culture lends it an atmosphere. Totnes has a reputation of being a haven for "new age" people. There is a sizeable alternative community, and the town is known as a place where one can live a bohemian lifestyle. There are a number of facilities for artists, painters and musicians, and at the twice-weekly market you buy antiques, musical instruments, second-hand books, handmade clothing from across the world, and local organically produced products.
[edit] History
the Brutus Stone in Totnes
According to local legend, Totnes was the site where Brutus of Troy, the mythical founder of Britain, first came ashore on the island. Indeed, eagle-eyed visitors can see the 'Brutus Stone' set into the pavement of the High Street; the stone onto which he is reputed to have stepped from his ship. Nennius' version of the Old Chronicles states that there were already some relatives of Brutus in possession of Alban, and presumably at the tin-mines in Cornwall, before the arrival of Brutus.
Totnes High Street in 1983
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 the Great, 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, but is thought to refer to a lookout (Anglo-Saxon tota) on a "headland" (A-S naess, "ness"); this refers to the hill upon which stand Fore Street, High Street and, at its summit, the town's motte and bailey castle which was built during the reign of William the Conqueror. In early medieval times the low-lying areas around this hill were largely marsh or tidal wetland, giving the hill much more the appearance of a "ness" than today.
Totnes' borough charter was granted by King John, probably around 1206; at any rate, the 800th anniversary of the charter was celebrated in 2006. 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 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.
[edit] The Totnes Pound
Totnes has become noted in the UK as the first town to introduce its own local alternative currency, the Totnes Pound, in order to support the local economy of the town. It is not widely used and is seen more as a gimmick.[citation needed] The initiative is part of the Transition Towns concept, which was pioneered by Rob Hopkins, who happened to recently move to Totnes.[citation needed]
[edit] Notable people
Notable people from Totnes include:
- The explorer William John Wills of the Burke and Wills expedition fame was born in Totnes. A memorial to 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.
- Admiral Sir Frederick Michell KCB (1788-1873) died in Totnes.
- 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.[1]
- John Prince was vicar of Totnes in the late 17th Century, was author of The Worthies of Devon, a major biographical work. He was also involved in a scandal, the court records of which have been made into a book, The Curious Sexual Adventure of the Reverend John Prince. This book has now also been adapted for the stage.
- Pop music prankster Jimmy Cauty (one half of The KLF) was born in Totnes.[2]
- Novelist Mary Wesley, author of The Camomile Lawn, spent her final years in Totnes.
- Humorous poet Matt Harvey is a resident.
- William Brockedon, Artist and inventor, 1787-1854. Son of Philip Brockedon, Clockmaker.
- Joseph Mount, a musician who records under the name Metronomy, lived in Totnes for a while.
- The novelist Desmond Bagley lived in Totnes from 1964 to 1976.
- Historian James Anthony Froude, author of ''History of England From the fall of cardinal Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, was born in Totnes. His brother Richard Hurrell Froude was a theologian; he originated the Tractarian or Oxford Movement which created the High Church.
- Botanist Francis George Heath was born in Totnes.
- Margaret Isherwood, writer on religion and education, lived in Totnes. She wrote several books including Searching for Meaning and The Root of the Matter.
- Linguist Edward Lye, who wrote the first dictionary of Anglo-Saxon, was born in Totnes.
- Playwright Sean O'Casey lived in the town from 1938 to 1964.
- Critic, author and playwright Allen Saddler lives in Totnes.
- Vian Smith was born in Totnes, lived in the area for most of his life (excepting war service), and wrote extensively on Dartmoor.
- Rik Mayall previously lived in Totnes. [3]
[edit] Miscellany
- Totnes is twinned with the French town of Vire, after which Vire Island nearby the 'Plains' is named.
- King Edward VI Community College is the local secondary school which shares its name with the former grammar school set up by King Edward VI over 450 years ago.
- In March 2007 Totnes launched a local currency, the Totnes Pound, accepted as legal tender at some shops[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- , J. K. Bellchambers: Devonshire Clockmakers, The Devonshire Press Limited, Torquay; 1962
- , Peter Frame, "Rockin' Around Britain"; Omnibus 1999, p29
- , Knowhere: Totnes, Devon, Local Heroes, Famous Residents
- , "Take note - Totnes will be quids in!" in Totnes Times 7 March 2007, p.6
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |
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