Tavistock

Tavistock is an ancient stannary and market town in West Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. 

The town is centred around Bedford Square, around which are found St. Eustachius' Church and the Abbey ruins, to the west, the Grade 2-listed Town Hall, the disused former Guildhall/magistrates' court buildings, and Pannier Market buildings behind the Town Hall. Abbey Bridge crosses the River Tavy to the south, while West Street and Duke Street, on either side of the north end of the square, form the main shopping areas, with the indoor market running behind Duke Street.

Sir Francis Drake is Tavistock's most famous son.

The Market continues to operate in the large covered market building, the Pannier Market; the main market is on Fridays, on other days the market hosts specialised events, such as craft fairs and antiques fairs. A Farmers' Market takes place in the Square fortnightly and has been voted Best Farmer's Market in the South West.

The Tavistock Viaduct, a striking relic of Victorian railway engineering, was built in 1859 as part of the South Devon and Tavistock Railway, but the train line was closed in 1968 as part of the Beeching cuts, leaving the viaduct as a scenic reminder of the area's rich transport history.

The biggest event in the town's calendar is the annual Tavistock Goose Fair (known locally as "Goosey Fair") which has existed since 1116. It occurs on the second Wednesday of October, and takes over much of the town for several days either side, drawing crowds which far outnumber the resident population. Traditionally, the Fair was an opportunity for locals to purchase their Christmas goose, allowing plenty of time to fatten the bird before Christmas came; nowadays, along with a multitude of gypsy street vendors selling a vast range of wares, there are all the rides and games associated with funfairs, such as fortune tellers.

There is an annual 2-day Garden Festival held on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend  and a Carnival with a 2-day Balloon Fiesta each August bank holiday weekend. In May there is an annual music Festival "Tavistock Music & Arts Festival".

• Find hotels and guesthouses in the Tavistock area

Photo © Copyright Robin Webster and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.