Totnes

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Coordinates: 50 ° 26 ′  N , 3 ° 41 ′  W

Map: United Kingdom
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Totnes​
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United Kingdom

Totnes ( [tɒtˈnıs, tɒtˈnɛs] ) is a market town in the county of Devon in Great Britain .

location

The city was built on the site of the Dart River , where the tide reaches. The city is connected to the suburb of Bridgetown by a bridge.

history

Brutus Stone on Fore Street

According to a local legend, Totnes was the place where Brutus of Troy , the mythical founder of Great Britain, set foot on the island.

Historically, Totnes is first mentioned in the year 900 when King Alfred the Great had a defensive ring of castles and fortresses built in Devon. Totnes also received a castle that replaced an older one at Halwell .

The origin of the name Totnes itself is unclear, it can be either Celtic or Saxon in origin. -nes could be a derivative of nose and refer to a lookout and observation post on a steep hill (presumably the castle hill). The Totnes Town Guide 2007 states: “The name of the town is composed of 'the fort for defense' ( Tot ) and 'on the ridge of the country' ( ness ).” On the other hand, legend says that Brutus of Troy said the following should have: "Here I stand and here I rest / And this place shall be called Totnes." ( Here I stand and relax. From now on this place will be called Totnes. )

Times of greater prosperity date back to the sixteenth century when Totnes served as an inland port for the export of fabrics to France. Wine was imported from France for this. Today, however, the city is a regional market town, and residential buildings have been built instead of warehouses. The built-up high street and the flower-adorned alleys contribute to the fact that the city participates to a certain extent in the tourism of the nearby Torbay .

Totnes lost its city status in 1974 as part of a municipal reorganization.

Historic cityscape

The high street before the fire
St Marys Church
Totnes Castle as seen from Castle Street

The center of Totnes consists of a long main street. In the upper part, the High Street, a medieval archway, the Eastgate , spans the street. It was badly damaged in a fire in 1990. The building, which has now been reconstructed, now houses the English language school in Totnes .

There are a number of old buildings along the main street, e.g. B. the Gothic House from the 18th century. Many of the facades are of Elizabethan origin, but are now often hidden behind cladding made of slate shingles. The Elizabethan Museum is housed in one of the best preserved houses . The exhibition in the four-story building shows household items and furniture from the times when wealthy cloth merchants dominated social life in the city.

Dartington Hall mansion, Great Hall

There is a path below the Eastgate that runs along the old city walls and around the 15th century Church of St Mary. The exterior of the church building is characterized by red sandstone; inside there is a remarkable stone rood screen . Behind the church, the Guildhall, originally is the refectory and kitchen of a Benedictine - priory , now the Council Chamber.

At the top of the High Street , Castle Street leads to the remains of Totnes Castle , the city's oldest monument. The castle complex dates from the reign of William the Conqueror in the 11th century; it is laid out as a Motte-and-Bailey , typically Norman . Totnes Castle is now owned by the English Heritage .

Not far from Totnes is the Dartington Hall estate, home to the oldest medieval manor house in south-west England. It was built in 1388 for John Holland , Richard II's half-brother . The almost dilapidated mansion and surrounding 12th century houses were bought by American millionaire Dorothy Elmhirst and her husband in 1925 . The couple opened an art and training center in the restored and renovated rooms, which today hosts film and theater performances, concerts and workshops, an annual literature festival and a summer festival with classical music.

Transport links

Totnes Railway Station is located directly on the London - Reading - Plymouth route . Totnes is at the south end of the Totnes – Ashburton railway line . The railway line is operated by the South Devon Railway as a tourist attraction. A connection to the A38 (1st order national road, comparable to a federal road in Germany) is 10 km away.

This and that

In March 2007, a local currency, the Totnes pound , was introduced in Totnes in connection with the growing transition town movement in Great Britain in preparation for the post-oil era . It is intended to strengthen the local and regional economy and is accepted as legal tender in various shops.

Famous pepole

  • The explorer William John Wills (1834–1861), who participated in the famous Burke and Wills expedition , was born in Totnes. A monument erected for Wills in 1864 was paid for with public funds.
  • Charles Babbage (1791–1871) had close family ties to the city of Totnes; he came back and maintained a primary school in Totnes until he left for Cambridge .
  • Benjamin Kennicott (1718–1783), English theologian and Hebraist
  • William Stumbles , an 18th century watchmaker. His workshop was inside the city walls, probably at No. 4, Castle Street. Two of his clocks, a pendulum clock (grandfather) and a tower clock are exhibited in the Totnes Museum.
  • John Pince was vicar in Totnes at the end of the 17th century; he was the author of the Worthies of Devon - a biographical work.
  • Pop musician Jimmy Cauty was born in Totnes.
  • General Sir William Birdwood (1865-1951) was appointed Baron Birdwood , of Anzac and of Totnes in the County of Devon in 1919.
  • Metronomy , British band
  • The musician Ben Howard (* 1987) grew up in Totnes and lives there to this day. Because of its connection with the city, it can also be seen on the Totnes pound ten banknote .

literature

Web links

Commons : Totnes  - collection of images, videos and audio files