Newton Abbot

An ancient market town, Newton Abbot took on a quite different character in the 1850s when the Great Western Railway established its locomotive and carriage repair works here. Neat terraces of artisans’ houses were built on the steep hillsides to the south; the more well-to-do lived a little further to the north in Italianate villas around Devon Square and Courtenay Park.

The town’s greatest moment of glory was on 5 November 1688 when William, Prince of Orange, “the glorious defender of the Protestant religion and the liberties of England”, was first proclaimed king as William III. This climactic moment of the Glorious Revolution took place in front of St Leonard’s Church of which only the medieval tower now remains. The new king had landed at Brixham and was on his way to London. Stopping off in Newton Abbot, he stayed at the handsome Jacobean manor, Forde House, which is now used as offices by the District Council.

To the south of the town is a delightful attraction in the shape of the Hedgehog Hospital at Prickly Hill Farm – where else?

On the northern outskirts of the town is Newton Abbot Racecourse where National Hunt racing takes place from the spring through to the autumn. For the rest of the year, the site is used for country fairs and other events.

On the western edge of the town stands Bradley Manor (National Trust), a notable example of medieval domestic architecture. Most of it dates from around 1420 and includes a chapel, Solar, Great Hall and porch. By the mid 1750s this quaint style of architecture was decidedly out of fashion and the building became a farmhouse with poultry occupying the chapel. The house was given to the National Trust in 1938 by the then owner, Mrs AH Woolner. Her family continue to live here and manage the property.

Newton Abbot also boasts the only traditional working malthouse open to the public. Tuckers Maltings has been malting in Newton Abbot for more than 100 years and claims to offer the finest selection of bottled beers to be found in Devon. The speciality beer shop is open throughout the year and guided tours of the maltings are available during the summer months.