The motte of Barnstaple Castle, a Victorian-era market building and a collection of art pottery show different sides of the town’s history. The Tarka Trail also passes through Barnstaple: as a walking and cycling route in the North Devon Biosphere Reserve, it offers a different focus from the historic buildings. For planning your trip, this gives you a choice of themes: markets, trading history, pottery, architecture and outdoor activity.
Markets and trading history
At Barnstaple Pannier Market, you’ll find stalls selling fresh local produce, handmade goods, special gifts, everyday items, and food and drink. Individual traders’ offerings may vary. The market is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm; check the opening times before your visit. It is housed in a Victorian building listed as Grade II. The market theme therefore encompasses both the changing range of goods on offer and the history of the building.
Queen Anne’s Walk offers a different perspective on Barnstaple’s trading history. The covered stone colonnade, formerly known as Merchant’s Walk, was built as an exchange. It is regarded as an exceptionally well-preserved record of Barnstaple’s trading history and is a Grade I listed building (list entry 1385370). Its former function sets it apart from the market and its stalls: here, the focus is on the colonnade’s historic use.
Crafts and religious history
The North Devon Art Pottery collection comprises art pottery from Barnstaple’s three potteries—C.H. Brannam, William Baron and Alexander Lauder—dating from 1879 to the 1930s. This adds crafts to the picture of the town’s architectural heritage. The collection offers a distinct thematic perspective, focusing on pottery and the work of these three potteries.
St. Anne’s Chapel was originally built in the 14th century as a charnel chapel. Its later history is connected with Barnstaple’s Huguenot community: after the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, French services were held there for the community in exile, for up to 75 years. The chapel thus brings together an early religious function and a later history of exile.
Buildings and historical layers
The motte of Barnstaple Castle is the castle’s earliest surviving feature. It dates from around 1068–1069 and still stands about 14 metres high and 60 metres wide. The Long Bridge is a road bridge over the River Taw whose origins date back to the 13th century. It has sixteen pointed arches. The two structures illustrate different historical dates: the motte reaches further back in time, while the bridge’s arches provide a distinctive architectural feature.
Rock Park also has a notable date in its history: it opened in August 1879 with a large public celebration.
Routes and practical information
The Tarka Trail passes through Barnstaple and crosses the River Yeo, a tributary, on a swing bridge near the town. If you plan to use the walking and cycling route, check the current route before setting out, as outdoor infrastructure may change. Alongside the market and architectural history, the trail offers a distinct focus for planning your trip.
For getting around on foot: the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is about a three-minute walk from the bus station and about an eight-minute walk from the railway station. The approximate walk from the bus station is therefore about five minutes shorter.
Discover more destinations: Pennymoor, Slapton, Burrington, Kingskerswell, Appledore, Longdown, Budleigh Salterton, Two Bridges
For the broader travel overview: Devon.
