Great Torrington — Devon, England
Great Torrington, also referred to as Torrington is located in North Devon in the South West of England; and is an ancient town and parish situated in close proximity to the banks of the river Torridge, which once joined Torrington by way of the Rolle Canal built during the Victorian era; the canal was deconstructed in part in favour of rail travel, which ironically was also deconstructed in the latter part of the 20th century.
This ancient town traces its origins back in prehistory and on to medieval times when Richard de Merton purchased the land and a castle; the castle is now extinct. The borough was incorporated by Queen Mary, and eventually Great Torrington became a market town. The town also has an ancient church, the Church of St Michael and All Saints that has been standing in the same location for more than 700 years. Although the oldest parts of the church date back to the 14th century, a large portion of the church was destroyed during the English Civil War. A great deal of restoration was needed after the Battle of Torrington, when the Royalist army was defeated by Cromwell's men; gunpowder stored in the church was somehow ignited destroying the church and the prisoners being held there. A cobbled mound in the churchyard still covers a mass grave from this time where those who perished in the explosion were buried. Today St. Michael's is still an elaborate church, having many ancient artefacts, stained glass, paintings and sculpture rich in its history and design. Add to this a churchyard that is interesting for some of its unusual and amusing poetic epitaphs, and you have the makings of a pleasing as well as historical visit.
The town is fortunate to have staved off some unwanted development due to being surrounded on three sides by common land that was given to Great Torrington by Baron FitzRobert of Torrington in the 12th century. The residents are assiduous in their efforts to keep the commons in its present state, which is a habitat that is rich in its flora and fauna. There are 365 acres of common land that offers free access to an ancient wood and meadow, and land that leads down to the River Torridge.
Great Torrington is known for its festivals and community events that attract many visitors each year. The attractions that are offered vary throughout the year. A mainstay offering in February is a re-enactment of a major battle from the English Civil War that took place in the town. The centre of town is transformed into a 17th century setting, complete with a rat-catcher, armour from this period of history, as well as weaponry from 1646, in addition to an assortment of other unusual sights from the times. The town is also well known for its fabulous bonfires, put forth by volunteers who are renown as The Torrington Cavaliers who have in the past created a full size replica of HMS Victory to celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar, with a torchlight procession and the free firework display.
Springtime offers a traditional May Fair, which originated in 1554; and Torrington Carnival is also offered in May, with June having musical and arts events as part of the North Devon Festival. There is also a Rose Festival, as well as the opportunity to visit the lovely garden of Rosemoor, always a favourite place to visit; where there are gardens and woodland walks in addition to children's trails. Autumn offers apple days, Halloween events and The Great Torrington Christmas Festival and Big Sing. In addition to all of the community events, the Plough Arts Centre has year round theatre, films, and music for your enjoyment.
It is interesting to note that the Campaign for Better Transport lists Torrington Station, which was closed in the 1960's, as one of the stations they would like to see reopened. The old station is now home to a pub named The Puffing Billy, in addition to several shops and a small diesel engine. Most of the track has been removed with a foot and cycle path in its place, now known as the Tarka Trail, in homage to the novel Tarka the Otter written in 1927 by Henry Williamson who captured the beauty of the local landscape in this famous tale of survival that was later recreated in film in 1979.
Where is Great Torrington?Great Torrington is located on the A386 in West Devon. The nearest populated areas include Bideford and Barnstaple to the north.
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