Devon

Devon is situated in the south west of England and has a population of over one million and covers an area of 2,591 square miles. The county town is Exeter.

Industry

The chief port and industrial centre for South West England is Plymouth. Devon is a very unspoilt region, with charming villages set in rolling, hilly countryside. It is a mainly rural county raising beef (including the Devonshire Red) and diary cattle. China clay is still mined but in smaller quantities than previously.. Devon is a very popular tourist and holiday area.

Geography

The Exe and the Tamar are the main rivers, with the Exe forming the boundary with Cornwall. It is a land of beautiful rolling hills, including Dartmoor and Exmoor. It has upland areas of forests and rugged stone much of which is in the National Park. Devon is bounded on the North by the Bristol Channel, on the South by the English Channel, and on the West by Cornwall.

History

The county was inhabited from Palaeolithic times. Ror much of it’s early recorded history it was part of the Celtic Kingdom of Cornwall. Many archaeological artefacts can be seen in the local museums. Devon was conquered from the Kingdom of Cornwall by King Ine of Wessex in the 8th cent. In the 17th century many colonists sailed from Plymouth to the colonies in North America.

Devonshire County Flag