Totnes History & Heritage

A walk around the town

Click on a number for more information.

1 Town Mill

We begin at the Town Mill, which houses the Information Centre. There is a restored Victorian water wheel and mill machinery, a display on mill technology in Totnes, and a small interpretative exhibition showing the development of the town. Upstairs, the Image Bank and Rural Archive is an ever-growing collection of photographs covering all aspects of local life from the mid 19th century onwards. Copies of all pictures are available for sale. The Totnes Ghost Walk begins outside the Mill every Tuesday at 8pm from Easter to Halloween.

2 The Plains

The wide area known as The Plains was, like everywhere flat around Totnes, tidal marsh. Many of the buildings were once warehouses. An obelisk commemorates William Wills, explorer of Australia, who was born here in 1834. The two granite pillars were the gateway to Town Marsh, which stretched away to the south towards St Peters Quay; they stood between the converted chapel and the Dartmouth Inn. The date 1687 and the town coat of arms can still be made out. The Royal Seven Stars Hotel dates from the 17th century, with later additions, but there may have been a hostelry here in the Middle Ages.

3 The Bridge

The graceful bridge designed by the Devon architect Charles Fowler was finished in 1828, replacing an earlier one, the foundations of which can be seen at low tide. It leads to the attractive suburb of Bridgetown, riverside walks, Steamer Quay for trips to Dartmouth and the tree-shaded Vire Island, named after the town in Normandy with which Totnes is twinned.

4 Fore Street

Entering Fore Street, take your time as you walk up the hill and remember to look above the modern shops for a rich selection of architectural styles. Many of the houses were built for the town’s wealthy merchants in the 16th and 17th centuries, with the slate-hung frontages added later.

5 The Gothic House and Mansion

Don’t miss the 18th-century Gothic house in Bank Lane, or the imposing Mansion of 1795, once the grammar school and now used for community education. The Mansion is a double-fronted Georgian building further up Fore Street.

Download the FREE Totnes Town Guide Here!

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