Barnstaple
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Template:GBdot Barnstaple is a town in the county of Devon in the South West of England. It is the main town in the local government district of North Devon and claims to be the oldest borough in the United Kingdom, with a population of 34000 (April 2006). It was founded as the lowest crossing point of the River Taw.
It was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Reform Act 1835. Since 1974, it has been a civil parish with a town council. [1]
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Barnstaple past and present
Until 1987, Barnstaple was a small isolated town, with a population of around 10,000. The mainstays of the economy were the RAF base at Chivenor just north of the town , which was used as a base for Hawk jets up until the mid 90's, and agriculture. This dependence on an agrarian economy that the North Devon region has stubbornly high unemployment — around 10% compared to the English average of just 5.8%.
In 1987 the A361 North Devon link road was constructed. It is a mainly single carriageway clearway, with no houses built along it, and regular overtaking lanes. This accessibility has increased the number of employers in the town, however despite some industrial estates the towns economy is mainly dependant on the farming community around the town and tourism to local beaches like Croyde and Woolacombe, renowned for their surf. However in the summer, the influx of tourists can cause friction with the local population and some strain on the local services.
Because Barnstaple is the main shopping area for North Devon, retail work is another contributor to the economy. Many chain stores are located in the town centre and on the Roundswell business park.
Since the link road was built, the town council have used the accessibility to infill up to the southern Barnstaple bypass (the A39) to try and increase Barnstaple's dominance over the North Devon area. Before the link road was built, the population of the town was similar to other small market towns in Devon, namely Bideford, Tiverton, South Molton and Ilfracombe. However growth in the towns size has cemented its position at the top of the hierarchy for the area.
This growth has come with the construction of new estates and with engulfing surrounding villages, namely Pilton, Newport and Bickington. At April 2006 the population in 34,000, with the town council hoping to push the town's size to 50,000 by 2015.
Traffic congestion can be severe, especially at peak times and in the summer. Due to this congestion a new bypass and downstream bridge is being constructed, due to be completed in spring 2007. However the route of the bypass is unpopular, and is deemed by many to be the wrong route.
Butchers Row
Built around the same time as the market, Butchers Row is 33 shops with pilasters of Bath stone, and wrought iron supports to an overhanging roof. Very few of the shops remain as butchers although the new shops still continue to sell some form of agricultural goods, from bakers and delicatessens to florists.
Western Bypass
The Barnstaple Western Bypass is under construction to take traffic away from the town centre. The project will cost £42 million and will consist of 2.7 km of new road and a 409 metre long five-span bridge named the Downstream Bridge. Construction is due for completion by Spring 2007
Railways
Barnstaple was once home to three mainline railway stations, although since the Beeching Axe fell in the 1960s, only one of these is still in use:
- Barnstaple Junction (just Barnstaple since 1970) opened in 1847. Located to the South of the town and the River Taw, it was built by the London & South Western Railway (LSWR). Now a terminus, the station is much reduced in size, and part of the site is now to be used for the Bypass.
- Barnstaple Town (1847–1970), situated close by the Castle Mound was a through station on the LSWR line, running along the North bank of the Taw. Between 1898 and 1935, it was also the terminus of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, with the narrow gauge line's main depot and operating centre at nearby Pilton.
- Barnstaple (Victoria Road) (1873–1970) (just Barnstaple until 1949) was built to broad gauge standards as a terminus of the Great Western Railway (GWR) to the East of the town, with a connection to Barnstaple Junction.
Britain in Bloom
Barnstaple is a regular winner of the Britain in Bloom competition, in the category of 'Town', winning in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2003. The town also won the Abbis Cup in 1996 and 1998 for Regional Supreme Champion (any size town), the Nations in Bloom — Best Town in the World in 1996, the Entente Florale — Best Town in Europe in 1996, and World in Bloom in 1998.
Barnstaple Fair
The ceremonial opening of the fair survives from very ancient times. The Town Council meets in the Guildhall, where various toasts are honoured with a spiced ale which, according to tradition, is made from a jealously guarded recipe handed on from generation to generation. Whilst the toasts are being honoured, "fairings". (a form of sweetmeat) are handed around.
On the reading of the Proclamation a large stuffed gloved hand "garlanded" with flowers is hung from a window of the Guildhall. The gloved hand represents the hand of friendship and the hand of welcome to the thousands that come to the fair.
At 12 o'clock, a civic procession forms at the entrance to the Guildhall and the proclamation is read.
The fair begins on the Wednesday before 20 September each year.
Twin towns
Barnstaple is twinned with Barnstable, USA , Uelzen, Germany and Trouville, France.
Economy
North Devon's economy struggles due to a number of reasons. Firstly educational achievement is below the national average. In the county as a whole 48% of students achieve 5 GCSEs grade A* to C, compared to UK average of 53.4%. Half of all people living in Barnstaple have no formal qualifications, and 1 in 3 residents of the town are of pensionable age. The area also has amongst the lowest number of graduates per 1000 in England and Wales. Add to this the low population density of the area, and this means that the pool of potential labour is low, and with the areas relative isolation, there is a serious lack of investment in the town.
Unemployment is 10%, and the average per capita wage is 70.8% of the national average (2003 data). Also, the level of work in the informal/casual sector is high, with many people in retail not having full time jobs.
The largest employer in the region by far is the Government. The two main government-owned employers are the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, north of the town, and North Devon District Hospital.
There is little or no foreign direct investment (FDI) in the town, and due to its isolation and low skills base there is unlikely to be any in the near future.
In recent years the economy has suffered, and could be deemed to be in recession. This is due to overdependance on a narrow and agrarian economic base, which has suffered from the BSE crisis, along with foot and mouth more recently.
Demographically speaking, the town is rapidly becoming more elderly, (shown by the latest development in the town being Mccarthy and Stone retirement flats) and although this means more jobs becoming available in health and palliative care, it also increases the burden on Devon County Council taxpayers. It is becoming more apparent that the younger generation in the town are voting with their feet, and leaving for cities across the country in search of a different life elsewhere.
Around Barnstaple
Tarka Trail — The cycling and walking trails were established by Devon County Council, to celebrate Henry Williamson's 1927 novel Tarka the Otter. The book depicts Tarka's adventure travelling through North Devon's countryside.