DARTMOUTH

Dartmouth lies at the mouth of the River Dart, a spectacular deep water estuary, and is
one of the great historic towns of England. Dartmouth was visited by the Phoenicians and
later by the Romans. The first recorded reference to Dartmouth is made in the records of
Shaftesbury Abbey in 883AD. For over 900 years, sailors have set out to sail the world, in
times of peace and war, on trading adventures, and to settle new lands:

1147 - 164 vessels assemble for the 2nd Crusade.
1347 - 31 ships (757 men) join the Seige of Calais.
1414 - Fishermen work the Icelandic waters for cod.
1583 - Gilbert, with Raleigh, depart on course for Newfoundland.
1620 - The Pilgrim Fathers sail from Bayards Cove.
1863 - HMS Brittania is moored as a training centre for officers.
1944 - 480 vessels depart for the Normandy beaches.

Dartmouth Castle was started in 1388, but no completed until 1488. The great barrier chain
between the castle and it's twin on the Kingswear side was installed in order to dis-mast
any invaders.

Bayards Cove, with it's cobbled pavement, is little changed from how it looked in 1536.
The Cove was used for the setting of "The Onedin Line" TV series.

To-day the visitor can wander streets full of Elizabethan buildings. At the heart of the town
you will find the Butterwalk, a four-storey building built 1635-1640 by the town's merchants.

Many of the town's twelve art galleries are housed in historic buildings.

The Royal Regatta was established in 1840 and remains the centre-piece of the summer's celebration.

Guided Tours of Britannia Royal Naval College


Home	Towns & City	Villages	Pubs	Activities	Attractions	Beaches	Accommodation	Events	Publications	Contact Us