History and Heritage

Through an experienceDevon bespoke itinerary you can experience the history and heritage of North Devon by visiting historic churches, long bridges, great British pubs with local real ales, civil war battle sites and gain expert knowledge of shipwrecks, pirates and the maritime past of Sir Richard Grenville, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada.
Historically, North Devon is millions of years old, dating back geologically to the Devonian Period of 395-435 million years ago. There are pre-historic remains of human ancestors, but modern history points to early settlers from Saxon and Roman times. North Devon has stayed traditional and is a taste of old England. Even now the towns have more independent shops and much more character - happily they are not carbon copies of other larger towns further North in England.

Before the ‘link road’ was constructed in the late 1980’s, access from other parts of the country to visit the area on holiday was frustratingly slow, with traffic creeping through the towns and villages en route to Barnstaple and destinations beyond. The new link road helped create an infrastructure for transportation of people and goods in and out, but the area is still relatively less visited compared to the South coast.Historically, trading and the development of ports around the major rivers have been the local industry, with fishing; trading of tobacco, pottery, wool and cloth - traded with America, the New World, Wales and Ireland; silver and lead mining and shipbuilding dominating. Ports are still active today at Bideford, Appledore and Ilfracombe.

On the West Exmoor Coast, North Devon Coast and its estuaries, old lime kilns still remain as a reminder of the heating of coal and limestone, brought across the Bristol channel. Lime counteracted the acidity of the soil and so was used in agriculture and also in mortar and lime wash for buildings. The railways came to Devon in the 19th century offering opportunities to transport freight and goods as well as bringing tourists to the area. Some of the old lines are now disused and are used as cycling and walking trails. The Tarka Trail still operates as a local service between Barnstaple and Exeter.

North Devon played its part in World War 2 with much of the coast being used for US military training in preparation for the D-Day landings as its similarity to the coast of Normandy made it an ideal location.

About experienceDevon

Visit http://www.experiencedevon.com/ or email us at info@experiencedevon.com

Are you an independent traveller at heart but sometimes need a helping hand?
Do you like to visit new places and see them from the eyes of a local?
Do you appreciate the arts and culture?
Are you a lover of the natural environment and hiking?
Would you rather be off the beaten track?

experienceDevon's customised holiday itineraries can help you achieve this.
We work with you to give you a customised vacation itinerary, giving you a taste of old England that is North Devon, based on authentic experiences and a flavour of the culture, traditions and history.
experienceDevon treat you to an orientation session and Welcome Pack in North Devon, to help you find your feet. We give you use of a mobile phone and we are only a phone call away if you need us. experienceDevon save you money and your precious time. We also make sure you don't miss places that really should be on your list.
We also offer discounts with local businesses.

Arts and Culture

The culture, traditions, legend and folklore of North Devon are reflected through the arts and the many year round community celebrations. People have been making and sharing art in the County for thousands of years through folk music, stories and arts and crafts. North Devon is home to hundreds of creative people; typically small businesses making their art and craft and performing live music, theatre and dance locally. North Devon has gradually changed over the last few decades with a move away from the predominance of agriculture in the rural areas, to an increasing population of creatives. The Creative Industry sector in the whole County now makes up 11% of the workforce, (2006) creating a wealth of talent for visitors to seek out and enjoy.
Gardens are open to visit in North Devon, ranging from those owned by National organisations, such as the Royal Horticultural Society or the National Trust, to smaller privately owned gardens that only open in the Summer. Very often the gardens have good tea rooms and can be ideal places to stop for lunch or afternoon tea. They may also feature exhibitions by local artists. experienceDevon can add these visits into your itinerary if gardens appeal and you wish to learn about local plants and garden birds on your vacation. North Devon is also full of historic houses, churches and old country pubs dating from the 13th Century and onwards and these can be seen whilst following town and historic trails. experienceDevon can add exploring some of these to your itinerary and help you to see some of the wonderful old buildings. Some of these are open in September, as part of the annual Heritage Open Days. North Devon’s many Museums will also provide the visitor with agricultural, maritime, social and cultural history.
Farmers markets take place in historic Pannier markets and outdoor venues year round, but are more plentiful in the summer months. These can be found in many towns and farmers and local makers bring their own produce – a delicious and environmentally conscious way to shop for local cheeses, cream and butter; home made jams and chutneys; pies, pasties and baked goods; meat and fish; fruit, vegetables and plants.