Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Newton Abbot is a town lying on the River Lemon in southern Devon. The land south of the Lemon was granted to Torre Abbey by William de Briwere in 1196 and a market charter granted around 1220 to 'Nieweton Abbatis'. The land north of the Lemon, owned by the Bushel family, was granted its own market in 1246 and came to be known as Newton Bushel. Both towns thrived through the wool, leather, and sheep trades. The two markets were merged in 1633, though Newton Abbot and Newton Bushel remained in separate civil parishes and (from 1894) separate urban districts until 1901. Newton Bushel is now generally regarded as part of Newton Abbot. The town became a significant industrial hub with the arrival of the railway in 1846. St Leonard's Tower (the Clock Tower) was constructed in the 15th century as part of a Gothic-style church and was the site of William III's first proclamation in England in 1688. Newton Abbot Racecourse was established in 1866. The town is within the council area of Teignbridge (Devon).

Place Type: Town
Historic County: Devon
Lat, Long: 50.53058,-3.609542
Grid Reference: SX 8601 7132
Civil Parish: Newton Abbot CP
Council Area: Teignbridge CA (Devon CA)
Strategic Authority Area: Devon and Torbay SA
Police Area: Devon and Cornwall PA

GBPN ID: 32658
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Newton_Abbot,_Devon_32658

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