A-Z of Barnstaple

The North Devon town of Barnstaple has a claim to being the oldest borough in England. Its location on the River Taw, from which shipping could reach the Bristol Channel, enabled it to grow as a major port in the south-west of England in the Middle Ages. The wool trade brought prosperity to Barnstaple and the town that grew up around the port has a recognisable layout from this period. Although th...