About Newton Abbot.
Newton Abbot is located in the county of Devon, with a population of approximately 24,000 residents. The town enjoys a strategic position on the main railway line to London, Penzance and The North, and excellent trunk road and motorway connections, situated off the A380 Exeter to Torquay Road. Newton Abbot is often known as the Gateway to Moor and Sea because of its closeness to Dartmoor National Park and the coastal resorts of Torbay and Teignmouth.
It holds a weekly farmers market on Wednesday's were cattle and sheep are brought to auction sales, there will be trade stands selling local produce and the usual market traders found in Newton Abbot on a Wednesday and Saturdays.
Newton Abbot also has a Racecourse and boasts three country parks: Decoy, Stover and Bradley. Part of Newton Abbot's heritage is the historic Cheese and Onion Fayre, originally held from the 5th to 7th of November in honour of Saint Leonard, but now celebrated at the beginning of September.
The Markets
The New Town of the Abbots (of Torre Abbey) was given the right to hold a weekly market on Wednesdays sometime between 1247 and 1251. By 1300 the two settlements were renamed as Newton Abbot (taking the low ground) and Newton Bushel (taking the high ground). On the strength of the market it quickly became a successful thriving town and a good source of income for the Abbots.
Over the river on the Highweek side another weekly market was created. This one ran on Tuesdays and because the Bushel family were the landowners this community became known as Newton Bushel. Over the next 200 years Newton Bushel ran more annual fairs, a number of mills were set up and the leather and wool trades started. Newton Bushel was also a convenient place for travellers to stay. Torre Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and ownership of Wolborough was granted to John Gaverock who built himself a new house at Forde.
The twin markets of Newton Abbot and Newton Bushel continued until they were merged together in 1633 as a Wednesday weekly market under the ownership of Bradley Manor. By 1751 there was also a smaller Saturday market and three annual fairs – a cattle fair on June 24, a cheese and onion fair in September and a cloth fair on 6 November. The markets continued to expand so in 1826 a new market was built. Over the next 50 years the buildings became dilapidated so a substantial new market was built in 1871. The buildings included a pannier market, a corn exchange and a public hall – the Alexandra (now a cinema). The river Lemon was also covered over. Further enlargement took place in 1938 as a new cattle market and corn exchange were built. There has been a thriving market in Newton Abbot for over 750 years.
Other places of interest include :- Ye Olde Cider Bar Said to be one of only two remaining cider houses in the United Kingdom, Ye Olde Cider Bar in East Street sells only cider perry,country wines and soft drinks. Its interior and the simple wooden furniture have remained relatively unchanged for over thirty years.
Newton Abbot is located in the county of Devon, with a population of approximately 24,000 residents. The town enjoys a strategic position on the main railway line to London, Penzance and The North, and excellent trunk road and motorway connections, situated off the A380 Exeter to Torquay Road. Newton Abbot is often known as the Gateway to Moor and Sea because of its closeness to Dartmoor National Park and the coastal resorts of Torbay and Teignmouth.
It holds a weekly farmers market on Wednesday's were cattle and sheep are brought to auction sales, there will be trade stands selling local produce and the usual market traders found in Newton Abbot on a Wednesday and Saturdays.
Newton Abbot also has a Racecourse and boasts three country parks: Decoy, Stover and Bradley. Part of Newton Abbot's heritage is the historic Cheese and Onion Fayre, originally held from the 5th to 7th of November in honour of Saint Leonard, but now celebrated at the beginning of September.
The Markets
The New Town of the Abbots (of Torre Abbey) was given the right to hold a weekly market on Wednesdays sometime between 1247 and 1251. By 1300 the two settlements were renamed as Newton Abbot (taking the low ground) and Newton Bushel (taking the high ground). On the strength of the market it quickly became a successful thriving town and a good source of income for the Abbots.
Over the river on the Highweek side another weekly market was created. This one ran on Tuesdays and because the Bushel family were the landowners this community became known as Newton Bushel. Over the next 200 years Newton Bushel ran more annual fairs, a number of mills were set up and the leather and wool trades started. Newton Bushel was also a convenient place for travellers to stay. Torre Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and ownership of Wolborough was granted to John Gaverock who built himself a new house at Forde.
The twin markets of Newton Abbot and Newton Bushel continued until they were merged together in 1633 as a Wednesday weekly market under the ownership of Bradley Manor. By 1751 there was also a smaller Saturday market and three annual fairs – a cattle fair on June 24, a cheese and onion fair in September and a cloth fair on 6 November. The markets continued to expand so in 1826 a new market was built. Over the next 50 years the buildings became dilapidated so a substantial new market was built in 1871. The buildings included a pannier market, a corn exchange and a public hall – the Alexandra (now a cinema). The river Lemon was also covered over. Further enlargement took place in 1938 as a new cattle market and corn exchange were built. There has been a thriving market in Newton Abbot for over 750 years.
Other places of interest include :- Ye Olde Cider Bar Said to be one of only two remaining cider houses in the United Kingdom, Ye Olde Cider Bar in East Street sells only cider perry,country wines and soft drinks. Its interior and the simple wooden furniture have remained relatively unchanged for over thirty years.