Tavistock is an ancient stannary town, lying on the River Tavy in the west of Devon. The abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Rumon (Tavistock Abbey) was founded in 961 by Ordgar, Earl of Devon. The abbey was dissolved in 1539, the ruins lying in the town centre. In 1105 a royal charter was granted by Henry I to the monks to run a weekly "Pannier Market". Tavistock had become a borough by 1185. In 1305, it became one of four stannary towns, controlling tin mining in the region. Tin mining and the cloth trade were the economic mainstays until the 18th century. During the 19th century, copper mining grew to prominence, the Tavistock Canal opening in 1817. The current Pannier Market was completed in 1860. The Corn Market dates from 1835. Tavistock Town Hall (1864) was designed by Edward Rundle in the Gothic Revival style. The Tavistock Goose Fair, first held in 1116, is held on the second Wednesday of October. The town is within the council area of West Devon (Devon).

Place Type: Town
Historic County : Devon
Lat, Long: 50.549223,-4.148398
Grid Reference: SX 4789 7436
Civil Parish: Tavistock CP
Council Area: West Devon CA (Devon CA)
Strategic Authority Area: Devon and Torbay SA
Police Area: Devon and Cornwall PA

GBPN ID: 43931
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Tavistock,_Devon_43931

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