Great Torrington (generally abbreviated to Torrington, though it should be noted that the villages of Little Torrington and Black Torrington are situated in the same region) is a small market town in the north of Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on a cliff top with steep drops down to the River Torridge below. The centre of the town therefore commands spectacular views, though lower-lying parts are prone to occasional flooding. Torrington is in the very heart of Tarka Country, a landscape captured by Henry Williamson in his novel Tarka the Otter in 1927.
The old Town Hall now the town museum in the centre of Great Torrington
Torrington, famous for being the birthplace
of Henry Williamson's Tarka the Otter, is a thriving market town, relatively
unspoilt.
It was the site of the battle which defeated Royalist resistance
in the English Civil War. The Commons which surround the town offer splendid
walking terrain.
Great Torrington had strategic significance in the English Civil War. In the Battle of Torrington (1646), the Parliamentarians, led by Sir Thomas Fairfax, swept into the town and defeated Lord Hopton's forces. This marked the end of Royalist resistance in the West Country. Today the town is recognised as an important heritage centre for the history of the 17th century, and its people can often be seen dressed in costume for historical re-enactments, festivals and celebrations. An interactive museum, Torrington 1646, marks the town's historically important role.
Great Torrington used to have its own railway station. However, the line was closed to passenger traffic as part of the Beeching Axe and to goods traffic in 1984. At the site of the old station there is currently a pub named The Puffing Billy, a cycle hire shop and a few restored carriages. A few small sections of track remain, but most has been removed and replaced with a combined foot and cycle path as part of the Tarka Trail. The Tark Trail continues to Bideford in one direction and to Petrockstowe in the other.
Tesco are currently seeking to open a 30,000 square foot store in the town, however this is opposed by some locals
Mayfair is an annual folk festival believed to date back to 1554 in which the children of Torrington dance around a maypole set up in the town square. The event takes place on the first Thursday in May.
Features of the common
Taddiport Bridge and Rothern Bridge: Prior to the opening of the Town Mills Bridge, these were the only local crossings of the River Torridge.
Rolle Road: This is the site of the Rolle Canal which opened in 1827 to help transport clay, lime and other commodities between the boats on the tidal river at Landcross and the lime kilns, clay pits and farms around Torrington. It ran through common land, but was closed in 1871. Later, it was filled in to create a toll road across the Common.
Waterloo Monument: A stone obelisk erected in 1818 by "the ladies of Great Torrington" to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.
Attractions
Attractions in Great Torrington include:
Rosemoor, a collection of internationally recognised gardens, woodlands and parkland owned by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Dartington Crystal, a factory using traditional glass blowing techniques.
A Victorian pannier market with a glass roof, restored in the early 2000s.
St Michael’s, an Anglican church whose grounds include a mound said to contain the remains of 60 Civil War Royalist prisoners.
The Plough arts centre, a small theatre, cinema and gallery.
Employment
Torrington has long been a factory town. In the nineteenth century it was a centre of the glove making industry. Major employers today include Dartington Crystal, Definitely Devon (a dairy) and North Devon Meat. The shops in the town centre also provide a source of employment. Most of the shops are locally owned, however there are branches of Somerfield, HSBC, Barclays Bank, Lloyds TSB and Lloyds Pharmacy.
Media
Local radio is provided by Lantern FM, a station based in nearby Barnstaple which broadcasts across north Devon.
The town's local newspaper is the North Devon Journal, although the Western Morning News is also widely available. Most households receive a copy of the North Devon Gazette every week. The Crier is a monthly community newsletter and diary delivered free to most households within the town.
Sport
Torrington's local football team is Torrington F.C.
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