Heritage & Culture in Teignbridge

South Devon is home to lots of fantastic things to do and places to visit if you’re interested in history, each town, village and city has their own story to tell and boasts fantastic architecture and informing attractions. Teignbridge in particular has many of these places so read on to find out more about what you can see whilst you’re in the area.

The district of Teignbridge in South Devon provides visitors with ample opportunity to visit historical and heritage sites as well as cultural and art attractions. There’s plenty to do in the area, from hopping aboard a steam railway to visiting some beautiful churches and arts and crafts centres, regardless of your age or interest, there will be a heritage or cultural attraction for you.

Teignbridge War Memorial Heritage Trail

To commemorate the loss and centenary anniversary of the First World War, Historic England put together a thematic listing of WW1 memorials. Teignbridge District Council supported this by putting together their own thematic list of memorials within the Teignbridge area, to find out more or download the list, please click here. 

Ashburton

Ashburton is an ancient stannary town located on the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park. Surrounded by beautiful Devon countryside, the town also has some great historical attractions to be enjoyed.

St Lawrence Chapel

One of Ashburton’s oldest buildings, St Lawrence Chapel is a Grade II listed building and was used as a Grammar School for over 600 years after originally being a Chantry Chapel. Nowadays, the building is used as a Heritage Centre and hosts a wide range of community events.

Ashburton Museum

Open from May through to September, Ashburton Museum is located in the centre of town. The museum includes a range of exhibitions about Dartmoor and the local area as well as other unique collections.

The Parish Church of St Andrew

The Parish Church of St Andrew was first recorded in the 12^th century and later rebuilt during the 15^th century. The church has seen many changes over the years but probably the most notable changes during a restoration project in the Victorian era which saw the addition of the stunning stained glass windows.

Bovey Tracey

A thriving market town, Bovey Tracey is situated to the east of Dartmoor and is a popular hub for those interested in arts and crafts.

The Devon Guild of Craftsmen

Housed within the restored Riverside Mill, The Devon Guild of Craftsmen showcases fantastic work by talented artists and crafts makers and holds great exhibitions throughout the year. Interestingly too, the building was never actually used as a mill, it was in fact built as a stable and the waterwheel purely collected water for the stables and Bridge House.

House of Marbles & Teign Valley Glass

The House of Marbles is a wonderful free attraction open throughout the year and stands on a historic pottery making site. Alongside the main shop there are marble runs, exhibits and Teign Valley Glass. Teign Valley Glass is the working glassworks on site that makes marbles as well as other beautiful glass pieces.

Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre

From March through to October, the Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre opens its doors to visitors and offers a wealth of information about the town. The site of the museum is a restored railway station and is home to plenty of interesting artefacts, photographs and exhibitions which tell the enthralling story of this wonderful market town over the years. 

Buckfastleigh

Perched on the border of Dartmoor National Park just south of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh holds an intriguing history and plenty of attractions that display this.

South Devon Railway

A heritage steam railway, South Devon Railway is perfect for the whole family. Traverse through the magnificent Devonshire countryside along a former Great Western Railway line between Buckfastleigh and the unique, South Hams town of Totnes.

Buckfast Abbey

Famed for its unique tipple, Buckfast Tonic Wine, Buckfast Abbey is a beautiful monastery where a welcoming community of Benedictine monks live. The popular tonic wine is still produced by the monks today and a walk around the tranquil grounds and visit to the Abbey Church is a beautiful experience. Buckfast Abbey is just outside of Buckfastleigh in the small village of Buckfast.

The Valiant Soldier

The Valiant Soldier is an intriguing museum-type attraction and is a pub that closed its doors in the 1960’s. All the furniture and artefacts are as they were during the time it closed and has created a sort of time-warp.

Holy Trinity Church

Perched above the town of Buckfastleigh, the Holy Trinity Church is merely the ruins and shell of a grand church which was sadly destroyed in a fire during 1992. However, the graveyard is still used and is home to the bizarre tomb of Richard Cabell whom supposedly inspired the legendary story, ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Higher Kiln Quarry

Managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust, Higher Kiln Quarry is a disused site that has provided archaeologists with amazing insight into the creatures and animals that roamed this part of the earth as far back as the last Ice Age.

Chudleigh

The town of Chudleigh is located north east of Newton Abbot and just east of the bustling market town of Bovey Tracey.

Ugbrooke House & Gardens

The stately home, Ugbrooke House is surrounded by well maintained gardens and comprises a myriad of history spanning 900 years. Remodelled during the 18^th century, the gardens and house are perfect to explore and can even be hired for private events.

Dawlish & Dawlish Warren

Along the coast from Teignmouth, Dawlish and Dawlish Warren are coastal resorts that are extremely popular among tourists throughout the year.

Riviera Line

From Torbay to Exeter lies the Riviera Line, a most scenic railway route built in the 19^th century and engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. From Teignmouth to Dawlish the route traces the coastline and offers unrivalled views of the rugged South Devon coast. Through magical tunnels and alongside towering cliffs this part of the line is a spectacular sight to behold.

Powderham Castle

Just a short drive from Dawlish and Dawlish Warren in the small village of Kenton near Exeter is Powderham Castle. The manor is 600 years old and welcomes visitors to explore its grandiose building and grounds.

Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot is a flourishing market town with exceptional transport links to the rest of South Devon and further afield as well as being home to some great historical places to visit.

Templer Way

The Templer way retraces the steps of Haytor Granite from Haytor on Dartmoor to the coastal town of Teignmouth and passes through Newton Abbot. The Newton Abbot stretch runs alongside the pretty Stover Canal and the Town Quay, offering splendid walks and plenty of wildlife to spot.

Bradley Manor

A medieval manor house, Bradley Manor is encapsulated by mystical meadows and woodland. The area surrounding the house makes for ample walking opportunities and the house itself portrays a charming array of architecture and artefacts perfect for those interested in historical buildings. 

St Leonard’s Tower

The Clock Tower also known as St Leonard’s Tower sits in the heart of Newton Abbot and is a historical landmark. It was originally part of a medieval chapel but the rest of the building was demolished during 1836 to ease congestion. The tower is open to visitors from May to September on selected days.

Old Forde House

Formerly simply Forde House and now Old Forde House, the Grade I, Jacobean listed building was previously a manor house. The impressive structure can now be hired for private functions and tours are available on certain dates. 

Shaldon & Teignmouth

The gorgeous coastal town of Teignmouth is known for its traditional seaside appeal and Georgian architecture, the village of Shaldon just across the river is also extremely popular among visitors. 

Teign Heritage Centre

The Teign Heritage Centre is home to the Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum, a great family attraction with plenty of history and exhibitions about the area. In addition to information about the heritage of Teignmouth and Shaldon, the building also hosts a number of events throughout the year.

Homeyards Botanical Gardens

With superb views of the Teign Estuary, overlooking Shaldon and Teignmouth and vistas out to sea, Homeyards Botanical Gardens were created in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Within the gardens is a castle, pond, Italian Rockeries and more, the whole site is an attractive place to visit especially for those interested in gardening and/or the history.

Smugglers Tunnel

A visit to Shaldon would not be complete without a trip down to Ness Cove Beach through the Smugglers Tunnel. Its origins are not clearly known but taking the little ones through the tunnel to the beach is exciting and certainly makes for some fantastic pirate and smuggling stories!

Passenger Ferry

Believed to be one of the oldest passenger ferries in England, the Teignmouth to Shaldon Ferry serves as a unique way of getting between the two pretty resorts. The crossing can be linked back to 1296 but some suggest it may be much older, with origins in Saxon times. The ferry continues to run throughout the year servicing visitors and locals.

Teignmouth Grand Pier

A truly traditional Victorian pier, The Grand Pier in Teignmouth offers a fun day out for all the family. While the older generations may be more interested in its history, younger ones will find lots of typical arcade games and attractions to keep them occupied.

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