22 August 2011

A first visit to Totness in Devon by train.

The river dart from the town bridge.

Totness bridge.

This looks to me like old warehousing next to the river.

The memorial to local man William Wills the explorer who crossed Australia in 1860-61.

Looking up Fore Street towards East Gate.

Looking back down Fore Street.

The King William IV inn on the corner of Station Road.

The Brutus Stone. Read the words below for the history.

East gate.

The ramparts walk and the Guildhall.

This house has connection with the Bodleian library in Oxford. See below.

St Mary’s church

Looking back down Fore Street through East gate.

The Butterwalk.

Near the market place with the Butterwalk opposite.

A street map of the town in the market place.

It was nice to see lots of real shops in the town and not many of the high street chain stores.

The Narrows.

Leechwell street at the top of the town.

The Leach Wells. These natural springs were claimed to have medicinal properties and were often visited by lepers from the nearby colony. Records in Totnes Museum show that in 1444 two wardens were responsible for their care. The three troughs are known as snake, toad and long crippler.

April 2016

A long overdue return visit to Totness. This view is from the top of the Castle looking across the town towards the River Dart.

Looking across towards the railway station.

Inside the Castle Keep.

The Castle Motte and Keep. The motte is made of layers of earth, rock and clay packed down onto a natural rock mound, and was probably built about 1100. It would have been topped by a wooden tower, but In the early 13th century a stone shell keep was added to the top of the motte, and stone walls were constructed around the bailey below.

The top of the High Street near the junction with Castle Street.

The Butterwalk.

East Gate with Fore Street beyond.

A final view through East Gate on our way back to the station.