Exmouth, Devon
Encyclopedia
Exmouth is a port
town
, civil parish and seaside resort
in East Devon
, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe
. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.
dating back to c. 498–518, with the mark of Anastasius I
, were retrieved on the beach in 1970. More recent human occupation of Exmouth Point can be traced back to the 11th century, when it was known as Lydwicnaesse, "the point of the Bretons".
The two ecclesiastical parishes, Littleham
and Withycombe Raleigh, that make up the town of Exmouth today can be traced to pre-Saxon times. Whilst the name of the River Exe
is an ancient Celtic word for fish, the town has only recently become known as Exmouth.
In 1240 an area known as Pratteshuthe (Pratt’s landing place) was sold to the mayor and citizens of Exeter
. This was the site of the estuary’s ferry dock and over time the name evolved first into Pratteshide, then Mona Island. The original site is marked by a seating area next to the Magnolia Shopping Centre.
For some centuries, commercial trade through the port was limited in part by the shallow waters on the approach to the quay, but mainly by the power of Exeter
, which owned the dock and controlled all estuary traffic. The roads in and out of the area were in a poor state and only occasionally repaired by the parishes through which they ran. A more permanent dock was built in 1825, replacing a series of apparently seasonal docks first noted on maps from 1576 as "The Docke". New docks designed by Eugenius Birch
were opened in 1868, and a short line connected them to the railway goods yard. The area adjacent to the docks once housed a thriving community of some 125 chalets built on the shoreline. These have been replaced by a residential marina complex known as Exmouth Quay.
Human habitation was restricted by the harsh exposed position on the estuary – civilisation took a hold in a greater and more permanent way in the more comfortable outer lying rural areas. The town began to develop in the 13th century . Morin Uppehille owned the land, granting part of it to John the Miller who in turn built a windmill, and earned his living on the exposed point, aided by the prevailing south-west winds. The windmill, the ferry dock and a small settlement of farms began to develop into Exmouth.
Sir Walter Raleigh (born 1544) sailed on many of his voyages from Exmouth harbour.
In the mid 17th century the area suffered from the ravages of Turkish pirates (actually Algerian rovers), who raided the Devon and Cornwall coastlines, attacking shipping and attempting to capture sailors and villagers for sale as slaves in North Africa.
The town established itself during the 18th century. Regarded as the oldest holiday resort in Devon, visitors unable to visit Europe due to the revolutionary turmoil in France were attracted by the views and medicinal salt waters which were then fashionable. Exmouth was renowned as a destination for the wealthy to recover their health. Notable visitors in this time included Lady Byron, and her daughter Ada Lovelace),. Exmouth was also the residence of Lady Nelson, the estranged wife of Lord Nelson
. She is buried in Littleham Churchyard.
Exmouth's first lifeboat
was provided in 1803. A boathouse
was built near Passage House but was washed away in a storm in 1814. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
revived Exmouth Lifeboat Station
in 1858. A new boathouse was built near the beach, although the lifeboat had to be taken across the road before it could be launched. This boathouse was demolished and a one built on the same site in 1903 to accommodate a larger lifeboat. From 1961 the lifeboat was kept afloat in the river near the entrance to Exmouth docks. A boarding boat was kept on a davit that was lowered into the water to ferry the crew to the lifeboat. The old lifeboat station by the beach was retained as a fund-raising display centre and, from 1966, was the base for an inshore lifeboat. The building used by crews at the docks was demolished in 1996 and replaced by temporary portable buildings. On 21 November 2009 both lifeboats were transferred to a new lifeboat station in Queen's Drive at the eastern end of the beach. The old boathouse was retained as a base for the RNLI lifeguard
s who work in and around Exmouth.
High class tourism remained steady for a number of years. This changed when the first railway line into Exmouth was built in 1861, bringing with it mass tourism. It is from this "golden age" for Exmouth that the present form of the town can be traced.
was built by Lord Rolle
, at the cost of £13,000 in 1824 to 1825. Standing on Beacon Hill it was built in the perpendicular style with a tower 104 feet (31.7 m) high, containing a clock and a bell. The interior, which has 1,500 sittings, has a canopy of Beer stone in the florid Gothic style over the altar. Until the erection of this church, Exmouth was without an episcopal place of worship; for though a small ancient chapel, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was standing in 1412, all traces of it disappeared many centuries ago.
Other active churches include Christ Church Anglican Church, the KingsWay independent church the Tower Street Methodist Church
, The Ichthus Community Church, the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church and Exmouth Baptist Church.
district, along with neighbouring coastal towns east of the Exe. It has its own town council, presided over by a mayor
elected from amongst the Councillors. There are five wards each electing five Town Councillors thus 25 town councillors in all. Councillors are entitled by law to claim basic allowance but all have decided not to claim and are volunteers for which they receive no remuneration. The Town Clerk is the Council's senior paid officer with eight part time staff. The town supports Exmouth Town Management Partnership and employes a Town Manager and his assistant with the role of supporting the economy of the town working with businesses and promoting the town.
The town is defined by the sea and river frontages (each about a mile long), and stretches around 2.5 miles (4 km) inland, along a north-easterly axis. The docks lie at the western corner of this rectangle, where the river passes through a narrow passage into the sea, the mouth of the estuary being nearly closed by Dawlish Warren
on the opposite shore of the river. Dawlish Warren is a natural sand spits and is home to rare wildlife and plants, part of which is a nature reserve and restricted access. The sea frontage forms a sandy two mile long beach; at its eastern end, the town is limited by the cliffs of the High Land of Orcombe, a National Trust
-owned open space which rises to a peak at Orcombe Point
.
Geologically, the low hill known as "The Beacon", in the centre of the present town, is formed of breccia
s that are an outcrop of a similar formation on the west side of the Exe estuary. The rising land on which the town has grown is formed of New Red Sandstone
. This solid land is surrounded by mudflats and sandspits, some of which have been stabilised and now form part of the land on which the town is built, and some of which remain as tidal features in the estuary and off the coast. The outflow from the river flows eastwards, parallel to the beach for some distance, limited by sandbanks that are exposed at low tide. Buildings in this reclaimed land during high tide, are often fitted with pumps to pump the water from their basements.
jet-skiing, and wind-surfing, and outdoor activities such as bird-watching, and walking
. The Exe Estuary
is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI) and is noted in particular for its wading and migrating birds. A large part of the estuary lies within a nature reserve
. Exmouth marks the western end of the Jurassic Coast
World Heritage Site
, which stretches eastwards along the coast to Poole
, in Dorset
; the South West Coast Path
allows for walking along this coast. The town is also at the western end of the East Devon Way
path that leads to Lyme Regis
.
Exmouth serves as a commuter town for Exeter
, to which it has good public transport
links by train and bus.
The new features include an additional seating area and bicycle storage; the area has also been completely pedestrianised.
The Strand was partially open for Remembrance Sunday 2010 with the War Memorial area complete.
The 16-sided 18th-century house called A La Ronde
, now in the ownership of the National Trust
, lies on the northern outskirts of the town. At the eastern end of Exmouth is The Barn
, a late 19th century house in Arts and Crafts
style.
Exmouth Lifeboat Station
is situated at the eastern end of the seafront near Maer Road. From here the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
operates a All Weather Lifeboat
(ALB) named Margaret Jean and Ishore Lifeboat (ILB) named Geogre Bearman.
, Victorian
and Edwardian town houses. The seafront has a traditional promenade. High above the promenade is the Beacon terrace, which first became fashionable in Georgian times.
The majority of buildings in Exmouth were constructed during the Victorian era with the arrival of the railway. The area to the west of Exeter Road is land that was reclaimed by the railway, Exeter Road originally being part of the seafront. Some houses near to the station in Littleham were constructed for the workers on the railway.
is the terminus of the Avocet Line
to Exeter St Davids station. The Exmouth to Starcross Ferry
is a passenger ferry
that operates during the summer months across the Exe
estuary to Starcross
, where the pumping station for Brunel
's Atmospheric Railway
can be seen.
There have been three railway stations at Exmouth. The line first reached Exmouth from Exeter
in 1861. In the first five days 10,000 people travelled on the line and property prices increased overnight. By the 1880s commuter traffic to Exeter was considerable. In 1903 a link to Budleigh Salterton
was opened the line going eastward over a viaduct which went from Exeter Road to Park Road where it entered a cutting continuing onto Littleham Cross where there was also a station
(now a private residence), and from there to Budleigh Salterton, there turning north to rejoin the main London and South Western Railway
line. Exmouth Station was rebuilt in 1926. When the line to Budleigh was lifted the viaduct
was left in place for many years, with its final destruction in the late 1980s. Housing marks its position now.
The route of the line continued behind Phear Park, which was once the grounds of a large house belonging to the Phear family, used during the Second World War to station US soldiers. Shortly after the war the house was burnt down and left derelict; eventually it too was demolished, and its grounds were given to the town by the Phear family to become a park. The old railway line behind Phear Park was just left as a bare trackbed for many years. At its far end there was a deep cutting to Littleham, which was filled in when the line was closed. The trackbed has now been tarmaced and now forms an off-road cycle way and footpath from Exmouth to Knowle, close Budleigh Salterton.
had a campus in the town but this closed in July 2008. Rolle College
closed in 2009.
Exmouth Community College
has 2,615 pupils aged 11 to 18.
are based in Exmouth. They play in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference
. Devon County Cricket Club
play their Minor Counties Championship matches at The Maer Ground
.
Exmouth also has a large indoor leisure centre.
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, civil parish and seaside resort
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
in East Devon
East Devon
East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Sidmouth, and the largest town is Exmouth.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Honiton with the urban districts of Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Ottery St. Mary, Seaton, Sidmouth...
, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.
History
Byzantine coinsByzantine coinage
Byzantine currency, money used in the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the West, consisted of mainly two types of coins: the gold solidus and a variety of clearly valued bronze coins...
dating back to c. 498–518, with the mark of Anastasius I
Anastasius I (emperor)
Anastasius I was Byzantine Emperor from 491 to 518. During his reign the Roman eastern frontier underwent extensive re-fortification, including the construction of Dara, a stronghold intended to counter the Persian fortress of Nisibis....
, were retrieved on the beach in 1970. More recent human occupation of Exmouth Point can be traced back to the 11th century, when it was known as Lydwicnaesse, "the point of the Bretons".
The two ecclesiastical parishes, Littleham
Littleham, Exmouth
Littleham is an area of Exmouth in Devon, England. It was historically a village and civil parish, much older than Exmouth itself.The ecclesiastical parish is now known as Littleham-cum-Exmouth . The original parish church dates back to the 13th century and is dedicated to St Margaret and St...
and Withycombe Raleigh, that make up the town of Exmouth today can be traced to pre-Saxon times. Whilst the name of the River Exe
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
is an ancient Celtic word for fish, the town has only recently become known as Exmouth.
In 1240 an area known as Pratteshuthe (Pratt’s landing place) was sold to the mayor and citizens of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. This was the site of the estuary’s ferry dock and over time the name evolved first into Pratteshide, then Mona Island. The original site is marked by a seating area next to the Magnolia Shopping Centre.
For some centuries, commercial trade through the port was limited in part by the shallow waters on the approach to the quay, but mainly by the power of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, which owned the dock and controlled all estuary traffic. The roads in and out of the area were in a poor state and only occasionally repaired by the parishes through which they ran. A more permanent dock was built in 1825, replacing a series of apparently seasonal docks first noted on maps from 1576 as "The Docke". New docks designed by Eugenius Birch
Eugenius Birch
Eugenius Birch was a 19th Century English naval architect, engineer and noted pier builder.-Biography:Both Eugenius and his brother were born in Gloucester Terrace, Shoreditch, to grain dealer John and wife Susanne...
were opened in 1868, and a short line connected them to the railway goods yard. The area adjacent to the docks once housed a thriving community of some 125 chalets built on the shoreline. These have been replaced by a residential marina complex known as Exmouth Quay.
Human habitation was restricted by the harsh exposed position on the estuary – civilisation took a hold in a greater and more permanent way in the more comfortable outer lying rural areas. The town began to develop in the 13th century . Morin Uppehille owned the land, granting part of it to John the Miller who in turn built a windmill, and earned his living on the exposed point, aided by the prevailing south-west winds. The windmill, the ferry dock and a small settlement of farms began to develop into Exmouth.
Sir Walter Raleigh (born 1544) sailed on many of his voyages from Exmouth harbour.
In the mid 17th century the area suffered from the ravages of Turkish pirates (actually Algerian rovers), who raided the Devon and Cornwall coastlines, attacking shipping and attempting to capture sailors and villagers for sale as slaves in North Africa.
The town established itself during the 18th century. Regarded as the oldest holiday resort in Devon, visitors unable to visit Europe due to the revolutionary turmoil in France were attracted by the views and medicinal salt waters which were then fashionable. Exmouth was renowned as a destination for the wealthy to recover their health. Notable visitors in this time included Lady Byron, and her daughter Ada Lovelace),. Exmouth was also the residence of Lady Nelson, the estranged wife of Lord Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
. She is buried in Littleham Churchyard.
Exmouth's first lifeboat
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
was provided in 1803. A boathouse
Boathouse
A boathouse is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats stored are rowing boats...
was built near Passage House but was washed away in a storm in 1814. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
revived Exmouth Lifeboat Station
Exmouth Lifeboat Station
Exmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution search and rescue operations at Exmouth, Devon, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1803 and the present station was opened in 2009...
in 1858. A new boathouse was built near the beach, although the lifeboat had to be taken across the road before it could be launched. This boathouse was demolished and a one built on the same site in 1903 to accommodate a larger lifeboat. From 1961 the lifeboat was kept afloat in the river near the entrance to Exmouth docks. A boarding boat was kept on a davit that was lowered into the water to ferry the crew to the lifeboat. The old lifeboat station by the beach was retained as a fund-raising display centre and, from 1966, was the base for an inshore lifeboat. The building used by crews at the docks was demolished in 1996 and replaced by temporary portable buildings. On 21 November 2009 both lifeboats were transferred to a new lifeboat station in Queen's Drive at the eastern end of the beach. The old boathouse was retained as a base for the RNLI lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
s who work in and around Exmouth.
High class tourism remained steady for a number of years. This changed when the first railway line into Exmouth was built in 1861, bringing with it mass tourism. It is from this "golden age" for Exmouth that the present form of the town can be traced.
Religion
Exmouth has a number of active churches. The Holy Trinity Anglican ChurchAnglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
was built by Lord Rolle
John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle
John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle was a British peer who had served as a Member of Parliament in general support of William Pitt the Younger and was later an active member of the House of Lords...
, at the cost of £13,000 in 1824 to 1825. Standing on Beacon Hill it was built in the perpendicular style with a tower 104 feet (31.7 m) high, containing a clock and a bell. The interior, which has 1,500 sittings, has a canopy of Beer stone in the florid Gothic style over the altar. Until the erection of this church, Exmouth was without an episcopal place of worship; for though a small ancient chapel, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was standing in 1412, all traces of it disappeared many centuries ago.
Other active churches include Christ Church Anglican Church, the KingsWay independent church the Tower Street Methodist Church
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, The Ichthus Community Church, the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church and Exmouth Baptist Church.
Government
Administratively Exmouth lies within the East DevonEast Devon
East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in Sidmouth, and the largest town is Exmouth.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Honiton with the urban districts of Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Ottery St. Mary, Seaton, Sidmouth...
district, along with neighbouring coastal towns east of the Exe. It has its own town council, presided over by a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
elected from amongst the Councillors. There are five wards each electing five Town Councillors thus 25 town councillors in all. Councillors are entitled by law to claim basic allowance but all have decided not to claim and are volunteers for which they receive no remuneration. The Town Clerk is the Council's senior paid officer with eight part time staff. The town supports Exmouth Town Management Partnership and employes a Town Manager and his assistant with the role of supporting the economy of the town working with businesses and promoting the town.
Geography
Dawlish Warren
Dawlish Warren is a small seaside resort near the town of Dawlish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon in England. Dawlish Warren consists almost entirely of holiday accommodation and facilities for holiday-makers especially caravan sites....
on the opposite shore of the river. Dawlish Warren is a natural sand spits and is home to rare wildlife and plants, part of which is a nature reserve and restricted access. The sea frontage forms a sandy two mile long beach; at its eastern end, the town is limited by the cliffs of the High Land of Orcombe, a National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
-owned open space which rises to a peak at Orcombe Point
Orcombe Point
Orcombe Point is a coastal feature near Exmouth, Devon, on the south coast of England. It lies about south of the city of Exeter, southeast of Exmouth town centre and about southwest of Sidmouth....
.
Geologically, the low hill known as "The Beacon", in the centre of the present town, is formed of breccia
Breccia
Breccia is a rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, that can be either similar to or different from the composition of the fragments....
s that are an outcrop of a similar formation on the west side of the Exe estuary. The rising land on which the town has grown is formed of New Red Sandstone
New Red Sandstone
The New Red Sandstone is a chiefly British geological term for the beds of red sandstone and associated rocks laid down throughout the Permian to the beginning of the Triassic that underlie the Jurassic Lias; the term distinguishes it from the Old Red Sandstone which is largely Devonian in...
. This solid land is surrounded by mudflats and sandspits, some of which have been stabilised and now form part of the land on which the town is built, and some of which remain as tidal features in the estuary and off the coast. The outflow from the river flows eastwards, parallel to the beach for some distance, limited by sandbanks that are exposed at low tide. Buildings in this reclaimed land during high tide, are often fitted with pumps to pump the water from their basements.
Demographics and economics
In addition to its substantial summer tourist trade, Exmouth serves as a regional centre for leisure industries, particularly water sports such as sailingSailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
jet-skiing, and wind-surfing, and outdoor activities such as bird-watching, and walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
. The Exe Estuary
Exe Estuary
The Exe Estuary is an estuary on the south coast of Devon, England.The estuary starts just to the south of the city of Exeter, and extends south for approximately eight miles to meet the English Channel...
is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI) and is noted in particular for its wading and migrating birds. A large part of the estuary lies within a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. Exmouth marks the western end of the Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. The site stretches from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset, a distance of ....
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, which stretches eastwards along the coast to Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
; the South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
allows for walking along this coast. The town is also at the western end of the East Devon Way
East Devon Way
The East Devon Way is a long distance footpath in England. It runs for 38 miles between Exmouth in East Devon and Lyme Regis in Dorset.Landscapes seen on the path include; estuary, high open commons, woodlands and river valleys. The route includes some fairly steep climbs but is generally not...
path that leads to Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles west of Dorchester and east of Exeter. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset-Devon border...
.
Exmouth serves as a commuter town for Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, to which it has good public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
links by train and bus.
Regeneration
, £3 million is being spent on regeneration plans for The Strand.The new features include an additional seating area and bicycle storage; the area has also been completely pedestrianised.
The Strand was partially open for Remembrance Sunday 2010 with the War Memorial area complete.
Landmarks
A La Ronde
A La Ronde is an 18th-century 16-sided house located near Lympstone, Exmouth, Devon, England, and in the ownership of the National Trust. The house was built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter.-History:...
, now in the ownership of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, lies on the northern outskirts of the town. At the eastern end of Exmouth is The Barn
The Barn, Exmouth
The Barn, in Exmouth, Devon, England, is a seaside house, now a hotel, dating from 1896 and designed in Arts and Crafts style by the architect Edward Schroeder Prior....
, a late 19th century house in Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style.
Exmouth Lifeboat Station
Exmouth Lifeboat Station
Exmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution search and rescue operations at Exmouth, Devon, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1803 and the present station was opened in 2009...
is situated at the eastern end of the seafront near Maer Road. From here the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
operates a All Weather Lifeboat
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
(ALB) named Margaret Jean and Ishore Lifeboat (ILB) named Geogre Bearman.
Architecture
Exmouth has a wide range of architecture, ranging from small cob cottages in parts of the town that were once villages and are now incorporated into it, such as Withycombe, to the GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Edwardian town houses. The seafront has a traditional promenade. High above the promenade is the Beacon terrace, which first became fashionable in Georgian times.
The majority of buildings in Exmouth were constructed during the Victorian era with the arrival of the railway. The area to the west of Exeter Road is land that was reclaimed by the railway, Exeter Road originally being part of the seafront. Some houses near to the station in Littleham were constructed for the workers on the railway.
Transport
Exmouth railway stationExmouth railway station
Exmouth station serves the town of Exmouth in Devon, England and is south east of -History:The railway to Exmouth was opened on 1 May 1861. New docks designed by Eugenius Birch were opened in 1868 and a short branch was laid to connect them to the goods yard.A branch line with a junction...
is the terminus of the Avocet Line
Avocet Line
The Avocet Line is the railway line in England connecting Exeter with Exmouth. It was originally built by the London and South Western Railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary...
to Exeter St Davids station. The Exmouth to Starcross Ferry
Exmouth to Starcross Ferry
The Exmouth to Starcross Ferry is a passenger ferry which crosses the mouth of the River Exe in the English county of Devon. It links the town of Exmouth on the eastern side of the Exe estuary to the village of Starcross on the western side. The ferry is operated by Exe to Sea Cruises.The ferry...
is a passenger ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
that operates during the summer months across the Exe
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
estuary to Starcross
Starcross
Starcross is a riverside village with a population of 1,780, situated on the west bank of the estuary of the River Exe in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon...
, where the pumping station for Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
's Atmospheric Railway
Atmospheric railway
An atmospheric railway uses air pressure to provide power for propulsion. In one plan a pneumatic tube is laid between the rails, with a piston running in it suspended from the train through a sealable slot in the top of the tube. Alternatively, the whole tunnel may be the pneumatic tube with the...
can be seen.
There have been three railway stations at Exmouth. The line first reached Exmouth from Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in 1861. In the first five days 10,000 people travelled on the line and property prices increased overnight. By the 1880s commuter traffic to Exeter was considerable. In 1903 a link to Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton is a small town on the south coast of Devon, England 15 miles south of Exeter. It is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated East Devon AONB.- Features :...
was opened the line going eastward over a viaduct which went from Exeter Road to Park Road where it entered a cutting continuing onto Littleham Cross where there was also a station
Littleham railway station
Littleham railway station is a closed railway station that served the small village of Littleham, just East of Exmouth in Devon, England. It was opened in 1903 on the Budleigh Salterton Railway, but was closed to passengers in 1967 due to the Beeching Axe....
(now a private residence), and from there to Budleigh Salterton, there turning north to rejoin the main London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
line. Exmouth Station was rebuilt in 1926. When the line to Budleigh was lifted the viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
was left in place for many years, with its final destruction in the late 1980s. Housing marks its position now.
The route of the line continued behind Phear Park, which was once the grounds of a large house belonging to the Phear family, used during the Second World War to station US soldiers. Shortly after the war the house was burnt down and left derelict; eventually it too was demolished, and its grounds were given to the town by the Phear family to become a park. The old railway line behind Phear Park was just left as a bare trackbed for many years. At its far end there was a deep cutting to Littleham, which was filled in when the line was closed. The trackbed has now been tarmaced and now forms an off-road cycle way and footpath from Exmouth to Knowle, close Budleigh Salterton.
Education
The University of PlymouthUniversity of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
had a campus in the town but this closed in July 2008. Rolle College
Rolle College
Rolle College was a teacher training college in Exmouth, Devon, England. The college opened in 1949. It later became part of Plymouth University and was closed in 2009, when Plymouth University relocated the campus, its 3000 students and 400 staff to their main campus in Plymouth.Rolle played a...
closed in 2009.
Exmouth Community College
Exmouth Community College
Exmouth Community College is a comprehensive school in Exmouth, Devon, England. The college provides secondary education for 2,615 students aged 11 to 18, and courses for the community. The principal is Tony Alexander...
has 2,615 pupils aged 11 to 18.
Sport
Rugby league team East Devon EaglesEast Devon Eagles
East Devon Eagles are a rugby league team based in Exmouth, Devon. They play in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
are based in Exmouth. They play in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
. Devon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Devon and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
play their Minor Counties Championship matches at The Maer Ground
The Maer Ground
The Maer Ground is a cricket ground in Exmouth, Devon.The first recorded match played on the ground was in 1874 when Devon played Will-o'-the-Wisp. From 1883 to 1889 the ground played host to eight matches between Devon and the Marylebone Cricket Club...
.
Exmouth also has a large indoor leisure centre.
Notable people
- Alex WadeAlex WadeAlex Wade is a British writer, freelance journalist and media lawyer.-Writer:Wade is the author of Wrecking Machine: A Tale of Real Fights and White Collars and Surf Nation: In Search of the Fast Lefts and Hollow Rights of Britain and Ireland...
, author - Antonio CorbisieroAntonio CorbisieroAntonio Giovanni Corbisiero is an English professional footballer currently playing for Llanelli. He previously played professionally for Swansea City, and he now works part time in St...
, (born 1984), footballer - Brian SedgemoreBrian SedgemoreBrian Charles John Sedgemore is a former Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom; he was a Member of Parliament from 1974 until 1979, and from 1983 until 2005...
(botn 1937), politician - Charles GiffordCharles Gifford (Canadian politician)Charles Gifford was an Ontario political figure. He represented Northumberland West in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Conservative member from 1872 to 1874....
(born 1821), Canadian politician - Collett LeventhorpeCollett LeventhorpeCollett Leventhorpe was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
(1815–1889), ConfederateConfederate States of AmericaThe Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general - Conrad HumphreysConrad HumphreysConrad David Humphreys was born in Exmouth, Devon on the 13th February 1973. He is a professional sailor and has competed in three round the world races. On the 20th of February 2005, he became only the 5th British sailor to complete the Vendée Globe...
(born 1973), sailor - Ed 'Stewpot' StewartEd StewartEd Stewart is a radio broadcaster from England. His real name is Edward Mainwaring but he is known by the nickname Ed Stewpot Stewart.-Early life and career:...
(born 1941), radio DJ and entertainer (born in the town) - Graham HurleyGraham HurleyGraham Hurley is an English crime fiction writer.Based in Portsmouth, he is best-known for creating the character of DI Joe Faraday. He contributed a column to The Portsmouth News...
(born 1946), author - Hugh DaviesHugh DaviesHugh Seymour Davies was a musicologist, composer, and inventor of experimental musical instruments.Davies was born in Exmouth, Devon, England. After attending Westminster School, he studied music at Worcester College, Oxford from 1961 to 1964. Shortly after he traveled to Cologne, Germany to work...
(1943–2005), composer (born in the town) - John Churchill Marlborough (1650–1722), military leader
- John NuttJohn NuttThis article is about John Nutt the English pirate. For John Nutt the 18th century English printer, see John Nutt .John Nutt was a 17th-century English pirate. He was one of the more notorious brigands of his time raiding the coast of southern Canada and western England for over three years...
(fl. 1620–1623), pirate - Pam St. ClementPam St. ClementPamela Ann Clement , known by the stage name Pam St. Clement, is an English actress. She has played Pat Evans in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 1986, and is now one of the programme's longest-serving cast members. St. Clement announced her intention to leave EastEnders on 8 July 2011 and will...
(born 1942), actor (attended Rolle College) - Patricia BeerPatricia BeerPatricia Beer was an English poet and critic.She was born in Exmouth, Devon into a family of Plymouth Brethren. She moved away from her religious background as a young adult, becoming a teacher and academic...
(1919–1999), poet - Pauline CollinsPauline CollinsPauline Collins, OBE is an English actress of the stage, television, and film. She first came to prominence portraying Sarah Moffat in Upstairs, Downstairs and its spin-off Thomas & Sarah during the 1970s. She later drew acclaim for playing the title role in the play Shirley Valentine for which...
(born 1940), actor - Pearl CarrPearl Carr & Teddy JohnsonPearl Carr and Teddy Johnson were a popular English husband-and-wife team of entertainers, during the 1950s and early 1960s.-Early days:They were both successful solo singers before their marriage in 1955...
(born 1923), entertainer (born in the town) - Percy James GriggP. J. GriggSir Percy James Grigg PC , better known as Sir P. J. Grigg was a British civil servant who was surprisingly moved from being the Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the War Office to become Secretary of State for War, the political head of the same department during the Second World...
(1890–1964), politician - Pete Lee-WilsonPete Lee-Wilson-Biography:His first role was in the television show, Metal Mickey. He has also appeared in The Bill, Spooks and was in the 2009 Doctor Who story The End of Time.-Personal life:...
, actor - Peter KnightPeter Knight (composer)Peter Knight was an English musical arranger, conductor and composer.-Career:Knight was born in Exmouth, Devon, England. He worked with Independent Television light entertainment stars from 'Spot The Tune' with Jackie Rae and Marion Ryan to the comedy series 'Home to Roost' ...
(1917–1985), composer (born in the town) - R.F. Delderfield (1912–1972), author (moved to Exmouth in 1923 when his father purchased the "Exmouth Journal")
- Robert DawsonRobert Dawson (cricketer)Robert 'Bob' Ian Dawson is a former English cricketer. Dawson is a right-handed batsman who bowls both leg break and right-arm medium pace. He was born in Exmouth, Devon.-Early career:...
(born 1970), cricketer - Spud RowsellSpud RowsellPeter "Spud" Rowsell is an accomplished yachtsman and boatbuilder based in Exmouth, Devon, England.Rowsell has amongst many racing successes won the Merlin Rocket Class Championships at Abersoch Wales in 1978, crewed by Jon Turner, with a series of results which have never yet been surpassed by a...
, sailor - Tom AndrewsTom Andrews (singer)Tom Andrews currently living in Exmouth, Devon, England is a British singer and the second artist to be signed to Eleveneleven, the record label owned by Ellen DeGeneres. Tom is the label-mate of Greyson Chance, eleveneleven's first artist.-Early life:...
, singer - William Francis de Vismes KaneWilliam Francis de Vismes KaneWilliam Francis de Vismes Kane.Esq was an Irish entomologistBorn in Exmouth, Devon Kane lived at Drumreaske Housein Monaghan. His mother was French....
(1840–1918), Irish entomologist - William KydWilliam KydWilliam Kyd was a 15th century English pirate active in Southwest England from the 1430s until the 1450s. He and others, such as John Mixtow, William Aleyn and Clays Stephen, acted under virtual immunity from the law for over two decades while under the protection of corrupt custom...
(1430–1453), pirate