Barnstaple lies in a River Taw valley and has for centuries been the administration, commercial and agricultural centre of North Devon.
It is a popular place to live and is a very pleasant town which has remained mostly unspoilt.
Barnstaple has been a market town since the Saxon times. Pannier Market was built when stricter health regulations came into force in the Victorian era and has a high timber and glass roof. Market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and it has been voted one of the top ten food markets in Britain.
In 1855 Butchers Row had ten butchers shops, they were all built with stone and wrought iron. Only two remain as butchers but the rest sell locally produced goods and include a bakers and fishmongers.
A new Union Workhouse was built in 1837 to accommodate 270 people. It had four courtyards, one each for men, women, boys and girls. In 1881 there 189 inmates.
A large chapel was erected in one corner and this is all that remains today. The workhouse later was used as Barnstaple Public Assistance Institution and then in 1948 it became the Alexandra Hospital, this closed in 1978.
Barnstaple has roads leading to Lynton, Taunton, Ilfracombe, Tiverton, Exeter and Bideford. In 1989 the A361 link road was built and this links the town to the M5 motorway making it easily accessible.
The town is North of Dartmoor and west of Exmoor and therefore central for sightseeing.
Property to rent is always available with prices around £380pcm for a studio, £485pcm for a l bed flat, £575pcm for a 2 bed flat and £650pcm for a 3 bed house.
The main employers in Barnstaple are the Local Government, North Devon District Hospital and Royal Marines Base Chivenor.
There has been a fair in Barnstaple since ancient times and starts on the Wednesday before the 20th September each year.
The town has a theatre and plenty of leisure facilities.
Shopping in the town is good with both chain stores and a variety of smaller independent shops. These include Coco, QS, Country Casuals, Calico and Banbury’s with chain stores such as Marks and Spencer, Next and Primark. On the edge of town is the Roundswell Business Park that also has many chain stores.
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