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Barnstaple is a town in the county of Devon in the South West Of England . It is the main town in the Local Government District of North Devon and claims to be the oldest Borough in the United Kingdom. It was founded at the lowest crossing point of the River Taw , about 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the Taw's seafall at the Bristol Channel . By the time of the Domesday Book , Barnstaple had its own Mint . Its size and wealth in the Middle Ages was based on it being 'wool staple', a town licensed to export wool, and its importance is still obvious in the town's name. The wool trade was further aided by the town's excellent port, with five ships being sent in 1588 to aid the fight against the Spanish Armada . It was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Reform Act 1835 . Since 1974 , it has been a Civil Parish with a town council. Barnstaple History Website BARNSTAPLE PAST AND PRESENT Barnstaple's population in the 1801 census was 3,748, in the 1901 census 9,698, and in the 2001 census 30,765. The town has swallowed the villages of Pilton , Newport, and Roundswell through Ribbon Development in the 1930s–1950s. In April 2006 the population was 34,000. In 1989 the A361 North Devon ''Link Road'' was constructed, linking Barnstaple with the M5 Motorway , approximately 65 kilometres to the east. Because Barnstaple is the main shopping area for North Devon, retail work is a contributor to the economy. Many Chain Stores are located in the town centre and on the Roundswell business park located on the western fringe of the town. Traffic Congestion in the town used to be quite severe, but in May 2007 , the Barnstaple Western Bypass was opened so traffic heading towards Braunton and Ilfracombe avoids travelling through the town centre. The bypass consists of an additional 1.6 miles (2.7 kilometres) of new road, and a 1341 foot (409 metres) long, five-span bridge. It was expected to have cost £42m. As part of this work, the town's main square is receiving a facelift as the entrance to the town centre, and it is planned to pedestrianise The Strand. Following this scheme, plans are also being formulated for a regeneration of the town centre, due to commence in 2012, and scheduled to cost around £300 million. The regeneration will centre on the Queens Theatre and surrounding areas, with new shopping complexes, houses, flats and communal areas. Barum Barnstaple is still sometimes referred to as Barum. The origin of this name is obscure, but has been in use since pre-Saxon times and is probably of Roman origin. Mentioned by Shakespeare , the name Barum was revived and popularised in Victorian times, featuring in several novels of the time. The name is retained in the names of a football team, brewery, and several other local businesses. Butcher's Row Built in 1855, Butchers Row consists of 10 shops with Pilaster s of Bath Stone , and wrought iron supports to an overhanging roof. Only two of the shops remain as butchers although the new shops still sell local agricultural goods. There is one baker, one delicatessen, two fishmongers, a florist and a greengrocer. Pannier Market Barnstaple has been the major market for North Devon since Saxon times. Demands for health regulation of its food market in Victorian times saw the construction in 1855-6 of the town's Pannier Market. The building has a high glass and timber roof on iron columns. At 320 ft (97.5 metres) long, it runs the length of Butchers Row. Market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. According to the UK newspaper ' The Independent ' the Pannier Market is voted one of the top ten food markets in Britain. RAILWAYS Barnstaple has had a number of mainline railway stations, although since the Beeching Axe fell in the 1960s, only one of these is still in use:
BRITAIN IN BLOOM Barnstaple won the Britain In Bloom competition, in the category of Town ''(Population : 6001 - 12,000)'' Britain in Bloom Website in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2003. The town also won the Abbis Cup in 1996 and 1998 for Regional Supreme Champion (any size town), the Nations in Bloom — Best Town in the World in 1996, the Entente Florale — Best Town in Europe in 1996, and World in Bloom in 1998. BARNSTAPLE FAIR The ceremonial opening of the fair survives from ancient times. The Town Council meets in the Guildhall, where various toasts are honoured with a spiced ale which, according to tradition, is made from a jealously guarded recipe handed on from generation to generation. Whilst the toasts are being honoured, "fairings", (a form of sweetmeat) are handed around. On the reading of the Proclamation a large stuffed gloved hand garlanded with flowers is hung from a window of the Guildhall. The gloved hand represents the hand of friendship and the hand of welcome to the thousands that come to the fair. At 12 o'clock, a civic procession forms at the entrance to the Guildhall and the proclamation is read. The fair begins on the Wednesday before 20 September each year. TWIN TOWNS ECONOMY North Devon has an under-developed economy for a number of reasons. Firstly it is situated at a distance from the UK's traditional areas of industrial activity and population. Whilst the 1989 opening of the improved A361 (then 'trunk' ) road connection to the motorway network has helped in some ways (notably weekend tourism), it had a detrimental effect on a number of distribution businesses. The latter previously viewed the town as a base for local distribution networks, a need that was removed with an approximate halving of travelling time to the M5 . Barnstaple gained a number of industrial companies in the late 1970s due to the availability of central government grants for the construction of factories and their operation on low or zero levels of local taxation. This was only partially successful, with few of these lasting more than the few years that grants were available. One success was the manufacturing of generic medicines by Cox Pharmaceuticals (now branded Alpharma), who moved in 1980 from their traditional site in Brighton . The most lasting consequence for the town was the development of, or increase to, of the industrial estates at ''Seven Brethren'', ''Whiddon Valley'' and ''Pottington''. Unemployment in North Devon is around 9%, and the median per capita wage for North Devon is 73% of the UK national average (2005 data). The level of work in the informal/casual sector is high. The largest employer in the region by far is local and central Government . The two main central government-owned employers in the area are the Royal Marines Base Chivenor , 5 km west of the town, and North Devon District Hospital , 1.5 km north of the town. EDUCATION
Barnstaple's Secondary Schools
NOTABLE BIRTHS
ACTIVITIES In Barnstaple | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "http://wwwnationaltrustorguk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-arlingtoncourt/" class="copylinks" target="_blank">Arlington Court Open March - October 8 miles |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lundy" class="copylinks">Lundy Island Ferry sails from Bideford , 10 miles Costs and Time table |
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| "http://wwwnationaltrustorguk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-watersmeethouse/" class="copylinks" target="_blank">Watersmeet House Open March - October, Walks are open all year round 20 miles |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lynton_and_Barnstaple_Railway" class="copylinks">Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Open 31st January (every day during Summer) - mid-December 15 miles |
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