A Brief History of Ashburton

On the south eastern edge of Dartmoor, Ashburton was formerly a stannary town and remains the largest town within the National Park. The town’s name derives from Old English meaning a farm or settlement with a stream frequented by ash trees and it was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Essebretone. Ashburton is a great base if you’re looking to explore Dartmoor’s many tors, reservoirs and landmarks, and the town is instilled with history.  

It’s believed that Ashburton’s history likely began during the Saxon era, though it’s expected that there would have been settlements predating this as there is evidence of prehistoric settlements across Dartmoor. The town’s crest symbolises its Saxon history by showing St Andrews Church and cross together with a teasel, the sun and the moon which represent the wool, copper and tin industries. Interestingly, teases were used to ‘tease’ woollen cloth to improve its texture, which was important in the town’s wealth.  When the town was named in the Domesday Book in 1086 it contained 60 households, land for 20 ploughs, 3 acres of meadow and around 3 miles of pasture and woodlands. The town played a significant part in the area’s farming industry and boasted an important market from as early as 1309. 

Ashburton prospered early due to the tin mining industry in Dartmoor and the woollen industry with the River Ashburn providing power for the many mills that used to line the banks. It’s only one of four stannary towns in Devon, alongside Chagford, Plympton and Tavistock, where tin has been mined in the area as far back as the Roman era. There’s even been frequent finds of old Roman coins in cob walls, fountains and wells in the area. 

St Andrews Church is the parish church in Ashburton, just a short walk from the town centre. It’s been serving the community since the 12th century, although much of it was rebuilt in the 15th century.  Another historic building in Ashburton is St Lawrence Chapel, a Grade II listed building in the heart of the town centre. It originated as a private chapel for the Bishop of Exeter, but he gave it to the town in 1314 where it became a grammar school for 600 years. It’s now an important heritage community centre.  

The Old Exeter Inn is one of this country’s oldest pubs and it's found in this very town. It was built in 1120 to house workers building the church. It’s been said that Sir Frances Drake was a regular at the inn, as was Sir Walter Raleigh who was arrested here before being imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1603. A mural of Sir Walter Raleigh can be found on the wall of a house next to the inn.  

Ashburton is home to many unique events, with the infamous Ashburton Carnival dating all the way back to 1880, it may well be the oldest one in the Devon. The carnival takes place each summer and the earliest attested record of this comes from 1891, though it is likely to be older than this. 

Of course, the best way to explore Ashburton’s history is to visit the town itself! You can find out more about Ashburton here and start planning your trip today! Remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest Visit South Devon blog posts, competitions and more!