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Barnstaple’s history dates back to 930 A.D., in those days it was a Saxon Stronghold and surrounded by a strong wall designed to withstand an attack from the Danish raiders. As a strongpoint to the country defensives it was also the centre of commerce for the sub-shire of North Devon. Barnstaple’s old name was Beardestaple, meaning: the market or staple of Bearda. Barnstaple is also recognized as being the oldest Borough in the U.K. and it was King Alfred who declared it as a Burg or Borough in recognition for its achievements. Before the publication of the Domesday Book Barnstaple had its own mint, which was established by King Athelstan and according to tradition granted the town Charter with rights of Market and Fair, King Athelstan also founded the ancient Priory at Pilton. There is the following reference to Barnstaple in the Domesday Book. "The king has a borough called Barnestaple which King Edward held T.R.E. (Tempore Regis Edwardi: often translated as – the day King Edward was alive and dead which was 5th January 1066). There the King has 40 Burgesses within the Borough and nine without and they pay 40 shillings by weight to the King and 20 shillings in number to the Bishop of Coutances. There also 23 houses have been laid in ruins since King William has had England." The Normans came to Britain in 1066 and two years later the proud town fell after holding out against so many Danish attacks, King William held the Borough of Barnstaple for himself. When Henry the first came to the throne, the first Lord of Barnstaple was appointed, Judheal of Totnes, in 1107 Judhael founded the Priory of St Mary Magdalene outside the town defense wall. The famous soldier Henry de Tracey was the next lord of Barnstaple. Henry de Tracey was the uncle of William de Tracey the murderer of Thomas a Beckett. The de Tracey’s later founded a chantry near the Town end of the Long Bridge in expiation of their relative crimes. The town’s defenses were greatly strengthened and Barnstaple successfully defended itself against King Stephen’s rebellion, in 1154 King Henry 11 appointed another charter, another charter was appointed in 1189 by King Richard 1. King John granted another charter to Barnstaple in the first year of the 13th Century and in 1213 another Henry de Tracy the last of his line became Lord of Barnstaple. Henry de Tracy was a great soldier and successfully led the soldiers from Barnstaple during the French wars. Afterwards Henry de Tracy defeated the piratical Lord of Lundy William de Marisco, this secured the island, which he was later appointed the governor of. In 1272 Barnstaple’s status as a Borough was in question and King Edward ordered an inquiry into its status, in 1273 Barnstaple's status as a Borough was granted a confirmatory charter. In the 14th, 15th and 16th century Barnstaple’s importance as a west coast port was greatly strengthened and was represented on the naval Council. Ships from the town fought in many of England's great sea battles, including the siege of Calais and Drake's great victory over the Spanish Armada. There is a commemorated tablet in Queen Anne’s Walk in which the names of the five ships that sailed from Barnstaple to join Drake’s fleet were inscribed. Barnstaple’s importance as a port was further more confirmed as a centre of commerce and then as a Navel dockyard for North Devon. In those days Barnstaple was the centre of a flourishing woolen industry that traded all over the known world. In the 17th century Barnstaple was involved in war again and played its part in the Civil War, the town was taken from the roundheads and changed hands three more time before the end of the war, after the war Barnstaple reconsolidated its position as an industrial centre and port. Over the passage of time most of Barnstaple’s woolen industry moved away from the town to other parts of the U.K. and the larger west coast ports took much of Barnstaple’s trade. Later in 1685 John Gay the famous poet and dramatist was born in Barnstaple, John Gay went on to write the “Beggars Opera”.
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