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South Devon History: Brixham

The picturesque coastal town of Brixham is located in South Devon, in the South West region of England. It is a small fishing town positioned opposite the bay from Torquay at the Southern end of the crescent that forms Torbay. The quaint narrow streets are lined with shops selling local memorabilia, refreshments and of course fresh local fish. It is a town which is rich in maritime history and is still today an active fishing port supplying local businesses throughout the South West.

A Famous Fishing Port

Brixham has a strong marine history. It has been heavily involved in the fishing industry for over two hundred years and is still today a bustling harbour supplying fish to businesses throughout the county.  In the 1800’s Brixham had one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK, with as many as 250 vessels fished out of Brixham and employing over 1,500 people. However, although fishing still plays an active role in the town’s economy, the operation steadily declined to a much smaller scale at the end of the Second World War. The old harbour in Brixham was originally situated in the lower part of the town and had natural protection but it has since been replaced and protected by the new harbour and breakwater.

Brixham’s nautical link is emphasised by the presence of a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s 16th Century ship, The Golden Hind. The town also has its own heritage museum which displays the fortunes and falls of Brixham’s historic and marine events. The museum contains various photographs of local shipwrecks and sea rescues, and contains exhibits of lifesaving equipment which has been used throughout the years.

Berry Head

Berry Head is a stunning coastal point reaching 65 metres from the sea. The limestone peninsula is a popular spot with tourists with its Napoleonic routes, stunning scenery, prominent lighthouse and Nature Reserve. It provides the perfect opportunity for coastal walking and for spotting marine wildlife such as Guillemots. It is the underlying limestone topology which creates an ideal environment for rare species of flora and fauna. The rare plants which grow on Berry Head’s thin limestone soils form a community that is not found anywhere else in the UK.

The Berry Head Nature Reserve also holds two well-preserved Napoleonic War-era Forts and important Second World War heritage. It was a promontory fortress and hospital constructed in the Napoleonic period, but is situated on much earlier settler’s remains which were probably from the Iron Age. The Berry Head earthworks, pottery and coins suggest a late Celtic trading settlement which persisted into Roman times.

About the Author

After visiting South Devon on a number occasions and staying in a number of Devon Hotels I became interested in the area’s history and heritage and subsequently began writing about it.

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