Why visit Colyton
Townapedia lists 20 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 42 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Axmouth Old Bridge, Beer Quarry Caves, Shute Barton and Colcombe Castle.
Weather in Colyton
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Colyton
Colyton is a town and civil parish in Devon, England. It is located within the East Devon local authority area, and the River Coly runs through it. Colyton is 3 miles (5 km) from Seaton and 6 miles (10 km) from Axminster. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 3,278, with 1,940 living in the built-up area of the town.
From the Wikipedia article Colyton, Devon (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Colyton on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Colyton
Things to do7
Axmouth Old Bridge
Bridge · 2.5 mi
Bridge in Axmouth, Devon, England, UK
Beer Quarry Caves
Monument and historic site · 3.4 mi
Man-made caves in Devon, England
Pecorama
Monument and historic site · 3.3 mi
Tourist attraction in England
Museums and landmarks20
Moridunum
Monument and historic site · 3.8 mi
Roman settlement at what is now Axminster in England
8 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes42
The Malt House
Bar and pub · 2.4 mi
The Square, Seaton
Su-Th 12:00-22:30, Fr,Sa 12:00-24:00
Pebbles Bistro Coffee House
Cafe · 2.5 mi
4 Marine Place
Mo-Su 09:00-16:00
30 more on the map.
History
Colyton first appeared as an ancient village around 700 AD and features in the Domesday Book as Culitone. The third code of law of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This helped to stabilise feudal society, by stating clearly its four pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and neighbourhood. It grew into an important agricultural centre and market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron foundry and an oak bark tannery that is still functioning. Colcombe Castle, now demolished, was situated 0.5 miles (800 m) to the north of the town; it was a former seat of the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon.
Following the attainder of Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, the Courtenay lands escheated to the Crown, and those within Colyton were sold back for £1,000 to various residents of Colyton parish. These were listed in a deed transcribed in the Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII dated 6 January 1547, summarised as: "John Clarke and others. Grant in free socage, subject to rents etc. (specified), for l,000l., of the following lands (extents given) in the parish of Colyton, which are parcels of Colyton manor, Devon, and belonged to Henry Marquis of Exeter, attainted". This was the origin of the Feoffees of Colyton, who continued to hold in common various properties in the parish, and currently meet at Colyton Town Hall.
Read more of the history
The town has been described as "the most rebellious town in Devon" due to the number of its inhabitants who joined the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.
From the History section of Colyton, Devon on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Colyton
Sir George Yonge, 5th BaronetBritish politician (1731–1812)Photo: Brown, Mather,1761-1831, after, Public domain
Francis DrakeBritish diplomatPhoto: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
George Eyre EvansWelsh Unitarian minister and antiquary (1857 -1939)Photo: anonymous, Public domain
Walter YongeEnglish writerPhoto: Lobsterthermidor ( talk ) 17:56, 10..., CC BY-SA 3.0- Rex RichardsBritish scientist and academic (1922–2019)
- Peter WoodEnglish theatre and film director (1927-2016)
- Ted HooperBritish beekeeper (1918–2010)
- Patrick MermagenEnglish cricketer (1911-1984)
Born in Colyton, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay10
Churches and places of worship19
Shopping9
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare3
Map of Colyton
128 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Exeter Airport (EXT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 15 miles away.
- Beer 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Honiton 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Charmouth 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Sidmouth 8 mi southwest, about 13 min by car
- Chard 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
- Newton Poppleford 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Dunkeswell 11 mi northwest, about 17 min by car
- Whimple 13 mi west, about 20 min by car
- Bridport 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
- Exmouth 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Colyton
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Church House (Old Grammar School), Colyton, Devon, Celuici, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colyton Church (St. Andrews), hugh llewelyn, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Colyton Church (St. Andrews) - 49882376041, hugh llewelyn, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Colyton Church (St. Andrews) - 49882375946, hugh llewelyn, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Axminster Church, Sealman ( talk ) ( Uploads ), Public domain
- Colyton-standrew, Erp at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Michael's Church Colyford Devon, Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0
- ColcombeCastleSweteView27Jan1795, Rev. John Swete, Public domain
- OldShuteHouseFromNE, own photo, Public domain
- Colyton Crest FINAL crest 2011-02-24, Bookwork72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Michael's Church, Axmouth, UKgeofan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Gregorys Church Seaton, Pengannel, CC BY 2.0
- Seaton (2021-04-24) 14, Simon Cobb, CC0
- Seaton (2021-04-24) 29, Simon Cobb, CC0
- Seaton (2021-04-24) 08, Simon Cobb, CC0
- Seaton (2021-04-24) 03, Simon Cobb, CC0
- Colyton Grammar School, Bookwork72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Axmouth Old Bridge (2021-08-02) 06, Simon Cobb, CC0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, WaggyDog, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, WaggyDog, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, WaggyDog, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
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