Editing Totnes

{{short description|Town in Devon, England}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| coordinates = {{coord|50.432|-3.684|display=inline,title}}
| country = England
| official_name = Totnes
| population = 9214
| population_ref = (Census, 2021)
| civil_parish = Totnes<ref>{{cite web |title=Totnes Town Council Website |url=https://www.totnestowncouncil.gov.uk/ |publisher = Totnes Town Council |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref>
| shire_county = [[Devon]]
| shire_district = [[South Hams]]
| region = South West England
| os_grid_reference = SX805605
| dial_code = 01803
| post_town = TOTNES
| postcode_area = TQ
| postcode_district = TQ9
| constituency_westminster = [[South Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|South Devon]]
| static_image_name = Totnes High Street Tower.jpg 
| static_image_caption = The Eastgate over High Street in 2019
}}

'''Totnes''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɒ|t|n|ə|s}} {{respell|TOT|nuhss}} or {{IPAc-en|t|ɒ|t|ˈ|n|ɛ|s}} {{respell|tot|NESS}}<ref>Although the second pronunciation is sometimes heard, even in Totnes itself, it not usual.</ref>) is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] at the head of the estuary of the [[River Dart]] in [[Devon]], England, within the [[South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]].  It is about {{convert|5|mi}} west of [[Paignton]], about {{convert|7|mi}} west-southwest of [[Torquay]] and about {{convert|20|mi}} east-northeast of [[Plymouth]]. It is the administrative centre of the [[South Hams District Council]].

Totnes has a long [[recorded history]], dating back to 907, when its first [[castle]] was built. By the twelfth century it was already an important [[market town]], and its former wealth and importance may be seen from the number of merchants' houses built in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Today, the town has a sizeable alternative and [[New Age]] community, known as a place where one can live a [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] lifestyle,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3359800/Property-in-Totnes-Wizards-of-the-wacky-West.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809171351/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3359800/Property-in-Totnes-Wizards-of-the-wacky-West.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 August 2009|title=Property in Totnes: Wizards of the wacky West|last=Edwards|first=Adam |date=10 November 2007|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=15 August 2009}}</ref> though has in recent times also gained a reputation as being a hotspot for [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorists]] within the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marsh |first=Sarah |date=2020-11-11 |title=Covid: Totnes concerns reflect UK-wide rise in conspiracy theories |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/11/totnes-covid-concerns-reflect-uk-wide-rise-in-conspiracy-theories |access-date=2023-06-17 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-11 |title=The Light: Inside the UK's conspiracy theory newspaper that shares violence and hate |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65821747 |access-date=2023-06-17}}</ref>

The [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]] recorded a population of 9,214,<ref>{{cite web |title=TOTNES in Devon (South West England) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/devon/E63006907__totnes/ |website=citypopulation.de.en.uk |publisher=Citypopulation |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> a 14% increase from the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] which gave a population of 8,076.<ref>{{cite web |title=Totnes Town ward 2011 |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/totnes-town-e05003585#sthash.dOgnPDLp.dpbs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305161657/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/totnes-town-e05003585#sthash.dOgnPDLp.dpbs |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=20 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Totnes Bridgetown ward 2011 |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/totnes-bridgetown-e05003584#sthash.GTqrkqcE.dpbs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306050808/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/totnes-bridgetown-e05003584#sthash.GTqrkqcE.dpbs |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=20 February 2015}}</ref>

==History==

===Totnes in myth and legend===
[[File:BrutusStoneTotnes.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|The Brutus Stone in Fore Street]]
According to the {{lang|la|[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]}} written by [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] in around 1136, "the coast of Totnes" was where [[Brutus of Troy]], the mythical founder of Britain, first came ashore on the island.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Theo |title=The Trojans in Devon |journal=Report & Transactions of the Devonshire Association |year=1955 |volume=87 |page=63 }}</ref> Set into the pavement of Fore Street is the '''Brutus Stone''', a small granite boulder<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-426496-brutus-stone-to-front-of-nos-51-53-totne |title=Brutus Stone to Front of Nos 51/53, Totnes |publisher=British Listed Buildings |access-date=20 October 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075004/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-426496-brutus-stone-to-front-of-nos-51-53-totne |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brutus Stone at the front of 51 Fore Street, Totnes |url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MDV9057&resourceID=104 |website=heritagegateway.org |publisher=Heritage Gateway |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> onto which, according to local legend, Brutus first stepped from his ship. As he did so, he was supposed to have declaimed:<ref name="TTID2">{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Theo |title=The Trojans in Devon |journal=Report & Transactions of the Devonshire Association |year=1955 |volume=87 |pages=68–69 }}</ref><blockquote>Here I stand and here I rest. And this town shall be called Totnes.</blockquote>

The stone is far above the highest tides and the tradition is not likely to be of great antiquity, being first mentioned in [[John Prince (Totnes)|John Prince]]'s ''Worthies of Devon'' in 1697.<ref name="TTID2"/> It is possible that the stone was originally the one from which the [[town crier]], or ''bruiter'' called out his news; or it may be ''le Brodestone'', a boundary stone mentioned in several 15th century disputes: its last-known position in 1471 was below the East Gate.<ref name="TTID2"/>

The [[Middle English]] prose ''[[Brut Chronicle|Brut]]'' ({{circa|1419}}) places the fight between Brutus' general [[Corineus]], and the British giant [[Gogmagog (giant)|Gogmagog]] "at Totttenes",<ref>{{citation|editor-last=Brie|editor-first=Friedrich W. D.|title=The Brut or the Chronicles of England, edited from Ms. Raw. B171, Bodleian Library, &c.|series=Early English Text Society |volume=131 |id=(part 1) |place=London |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner |date=1906–1908 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ULELAQAAIAAJ | chapter=Chapter 4 | pages=10–11 }}</ref> while [[Cornish people|Cornish]] [[antiquary]] [[Richard Carew (antiquary)|Richard Carew]] suggested that the fight may have begun near the town, but ended at [[Plymouth Hoe]].<ref name="Carew">{{cite book | first=Richard | last=Carew | author-link=Richard Carew (antiquary) | title=The Survey of Cornwall. And An Epistle concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue | url=https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/9878/pg9878.html | year=1769 | origyear=1602 | publisher=E. Law and J. Hewett }}</ref> The ''Historia'' has several other landings at the Totness coast: the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] general [[Vespasian]], [[Constantine III (Western Roman emperor)|Constantine]] of [[Brittany]] at the port of Totnes, [[Ambrosius Aurelianus|Aurelius Ambrosius]] and his brother [[Uther Pendragon]] attempting to win back the throne of Britain from the usurper [[Vortigern]], the [[Saxons]] at war with [[King Arthur]], and in one version [[Cadwallon ap Cadfan|Cadwallo]] fighting against the [[Mercia]]ns.<ref>{{cite journal | first=John | last=Clark | title=Trojans at Totnes and Giants on the Hoe: Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historical Fiction and Geographical Reality | journal=Reports and Transactions of the Devonshire Association | date=June 2016 | volume=148 | page=92 | url=https://devonassoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Trojans-at-Totnes-Clark-TDA-2016.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://devonassoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Trojans-at-Totnes-Clark-TDA-2016.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Historia'' also mentions the town in a prophecy of [[Merlin]]: "after [the dragon of Worcester] shall succeed the boar of Totness, and oppress the people with grievous tyranny. Gloucester shall send forth a lion, and shall disturb him in his cruelty, in several battles. He shall trample him under his feet, and terrify him with open jaws."<ref name="HRB 7">{{cite wikisource | author=[[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] | wslink=Six Old English Chronicles/Geoffrey's British History | chapter=Book 7 | plaintitle=[[Historia Regum Britanniae]] | at=Chapter 4 }}</ref>

===Ancient and medieval history===
The first authentic history of Totnes is in AD&nbsp;907, when it was fortified by King [[Edward the Elder]] as part of the defensive ring of [[burh]]s built around Devon, replacing one built a few years earlier at nearby Halwell.<ref name="HTDS"/> The site was chosen because it was on an ancient trackway which forded the river at low tide.<ref name="HTDS"/> Between the reigns of [[Edgar the Peaceful|Edgar]] and [[William II of England|William II]] (959–1100) Totnes intermittently [[mint (coin)|minted]] coins.<ref name=hosk>{{cite book |title=A New Survey of England: Devon |last=Hoskins |first=W. G. |author-link=W. G. Hoskins |year=1954 |pages=504–508 |publisher=Collins |location=London }}</ref> Some time between the [[Norman Conquest]] in 1066 and the compilation of the [[Domesday Book]] in 1086, [[William the Conqueror]] granted the burh to [[Juhel of Totnes]], who was probably responsible for the first construction of the castle. Juhel did not retain his lordship for long, however, as he was deprived of his lands in 1088 or 1089, for rebelling against William II.<ref name=hosk />

The name ''Totnes'' (first recorded in AD&nbsp;979) comes from the [[Old English]] personal name ''Totta'' and ''ness'' or headland.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names |last=Ekwall |first=Eilert |author-link=Eilert Ekwall |publisher=OUP |location=Oxford |edition=4th |year=1960 |page=478 |isbn=0-19-869103-3 }}</ref> Before reclamation and development, the low-lying areas around this hill were largely marsh or tidal wetland, giving the hill much more the appearance of a "ness" than today.

By the 12th century, Totnes was already an important market town, due to its position on one of the main roads of the South West, in conjunction with its easy access to its [[hinterland]] and the easy navigation of the River Dart.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kowaleski |first=Maryanne |title=The New Maritime History of Devon; Volume 1: From early times to the late eighteenth century |chapter=The port towns of fourteenth-century Devon |editor=Duffy, Michael |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |year=1992 |page=63 |isbn=0-85177-611-6 |display-editors=etal}}</ref>

===Modern history===
[[File:Totnes Guildhall - geograph.org.uk - 922391.jpg|thumb|[[Totnes Guildhall]]]]
By 1523, according to a tax assessment, Totnes was the second-richest town in Devon, and the sixteenth-richest in England, ahead of [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Gloucester]] and [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]].<ref name="HTDS">{{Cite book
| last = Stansbury
| first = Don
| title = The Heart of Totnes
| chapter = 907–1523: The king's town
| editor = Bridge, Maureen
| publisher = AQ & DJ Publications
| location = Tavistock
| year = 1998
| pages = 123–131
| isbn = 0-904066-36-3
}}</ref>
In 1553, King [[Edward VI]] granted Totnes a charter allowing a former [[Benedictine]] [[priory]] building that had been founded in 1088 to be used as [[Totnes Guildhall]] and a school. In 1624, the Guildhall was converted to be a [[magistrates' court (England and Wales)|magistrates' court]]. Soldiers were billeted here during the [[English Civil War]] and [[Oliver Cromwell]] visited for discussions with the general and parliamentary commander-in-chief [[Thomas Fairfax]], 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron in 1646.<ref>[http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=113206 Totnes Guildhall] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722034809/http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=113206 |date=22 July 2011 }}, [http://www.whatsonwhen.com/ Whatsonwhen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821102610/http://www.whatsonwhen.com/ |date=21 August 2008 }}.</ref> Until 1887, the Guildhall was also used as the town [[prison]] with the addition of [[prison cell]]s.<ref>[http://search.visitbritain.com/en-EN/Details.aspx?ContentID=134399 Totnes Guildhall] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120714144520/http://search.visitbritain.com/en-EN/Details.aspx?ContentID=134399 |date=14 July 2012 }}, [[Visit Britain]], UK.</ref> It remained a magistrates' court until 1974. In 1990, a serious fire broke out on the High Street, resulting in the historic Eastgate structure being destroyed and an estimated £10 million in damage.<ref>{{cite news |title=MIDAS CONSTRUCTION WILL BE REFURBISHING TOTNES AFTER THE FIRE |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/05oct90-uk-midas-construction-will-be-refurbishing-totnes-after-the-fire-1-of-2-04-10-1990/ |access-date=19 February 2023 |work=Construction News |date=4 October 1990 |language=en}}</ref>
<!-- more history needed, ~1500-1900 -->

[[File:Totnes High Street.jpg|thumb|Eastgate in 1983, before the 1990 fire.]]
In 2006 Totnes become the first [[transition town]] of the transition initiative.<ref name=TodayTotnes>{{cite news|title=The Transition movement: Today Totnes... tomorrow the world|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-transition-movement-today-totnes-tomorrow-the-world-2364355.html|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204062003/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-transition-movement-today-totnes-tomorrow-the-world-2364355.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Permaculture]] designer [[Rob Hopkins]] developed this idea with his students and later with Naresh Giangrande developed the transition model in his home town of Totnes, which has since featured in many articles and films showing this concept. Totnes has adopted an Energy Descent Plan, as a response in answer to the twin problems of [[greenhouse gas emissions]] and [[peak oil]]. As a result of a series of public gatherings with experts, and the organisation of a number of special interest groups, the community has come together with lecturers and trainers shared with [[Schumacher College]], through a process of participative strategic planning, to hone their skills in project development.{{promotion inline|date=April 2024}} As a result of the initiatives in Totnes, a large number of other communities have started "[[Transition Towns|Transition Town]]" projects, and there are now more than 400 around the world,<ref name="Transition Initiatives Directory">{{cite web|title=Transition Initiatives Directory|url=http://www.transitionnetwork.org/initiatives|access-date=30 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105164933/http://www.transitionnetwork.org/initiatives|archive-date=5 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ranging from small communities to whole cities (e.g. [[Berlin]]). Totnes hosts the Sea Change Festival<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite web|title=The Guardian: a swell of congregation in the new nowhere ★★★★★|website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/26/sea-change-festival-review-a-swell-of-congregation-in-the-new-nowhere|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> that has been running in the town and neighbouring Dartington since 2016.

==Governance==
Totnes' [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough charter]] was granted by [[John, King of England|King John]], probably around 1206; at any rate, the 800th anniversary of the charter was celebrated in 2006, although Totnes lost its borough status in local government reorganisation in 1974. Totnes was served by Totnes electoral borough from 1295 until the [[Reform Act 1867]], but was restored by the  [[Representation of the People Act 1884]]. The constituency of Totnes was abolished a second time in 1983, and formed part of the [[South Hams (UK Parliament constituency)|South Hams constituency]] until 1997, when it was restored as the [[Totnes (UK Parliament constituency)|Totnes county constituency]]: as such it returns one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|member of parliament]] (MP) to Parliament.

In August 2009, Totnes became the first constituency to select the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]'s [[prospective parliamentary candidate]] through an [[open primary]] that was [[Conservative Party (UK) parliamentary primaries|organised by the local Conservative Association]].  [[Sarah Wollaston|Dr Sarah Wollaston]] won the [[Totnes Conservative primary, 2009|Totnes primary]] in August 2009, and went on to be elected to Parliament at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]]. In 2019, she moved to [[Change UK]], and then to the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], for whom she contested Totnes in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], coming second when the seat reverted to the Conservatives. In 2024 after a tactical voting primary the Liberal Democrats won the seat and Caroline Voaden became the MP.

Totnes has been represented by the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Greens]] on Devon County Council since [[2009 Devon County Council election|2009]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indevon.org.uk/DCCElections2009/summary.php|title=Devon County Council elections 2009|date=5 June 2009|publisher=[[Devon County Council]]|access-date=18 June 2009|archive-date=11 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611194049/http://www.indevon.org.uk/DCCElections2009/summary.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

Totnes has a mayor who is elected by the sixteen town councillors each year.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Welcome to Totnes Town Council
| publisher = Totnes Town Council
| url = http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=68&SiteExtra=2970447&TopNavId=798&NavSideId=4089
| access-date = 2 July 2008
| archive-date = 18 May 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110518140102/http://www.visionwebsites.co.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=68&SiteExtra=2970447&TopNavId=798&NavSideId=4089
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Follaton House, on the outskirts of the town, is the headquarters of the [[South Hams]] District Council.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Follaton House, its History and Architecture
| publisher = South Hams District Council
| year = 2005
| url = http://www.southhams.gov.uk/index/council_index/sp-about-south-hams/sp-council-follaton_house.htm
| access-date = 2 July 2008
| archive-date = 5 October 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081005054315/http://www.southhams.gov.uk/index/council_index/sp-about-south-hams/sp-council-follaton_house.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> The town is twinned with the French town of [[Vire]],<ref name="Vire twinnings">{{cite web| url = http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-region.asp?action=getRegion&id=4#tabs3| title = National Commission for Decentralised cooperation| access-date = 26 December 2013| work = Délégation pour l’Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères)| language = fr| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20131127063207/http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-region.asp?action=getRegion&id=4#tabs3| archive-date = 27 November 2013}}</ref> after which Vire Island on the River Dart near the "Plains" is named. There is also a longstanding local joke that Totnes is twinned with the fantasy land of [[Narnia (world)|Narnia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Twin-town-s-return-Narnia/story-15522236-detail/story.html |title=Twin town's return to Narnia |publisher=This is Devon |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=29 May 2013 |archive-date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205034444/http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Twin-town-s-return-Narnia/story-15522236-detail/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:The River Dart at Totnes.jpg|thumb|right|The River Dart at Totnes]]
<!-- this section needs expansion -->
The town is built on a hill rising from the west bank of the [[River Dart]], which separates Totnes from the suburb of [[Bridgetown, Devon|Bridgetown]]. It is at the lowest bridging point of the river which here is tidal and forms a winding estuary down to the sea at [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]]. The river continues to be tidal for about {{convert|1|mi}} above the town, until it meets Totnes [[Weir]], built in the 17th century.

Today there are two road bridges, a railway bridge and a footbridge over the river in the town. Totnes Bridge is the nearest bridge to the sea and is a road bridge built in 1826–28 by Charles Fowler.<ref name="CP"/> At low tide the foundations of the previous stone bridge are visible just upstream—it was probably built in the early 13th century and widened in 1692. Before the first stone bridge was built there was almost certainly a wooden bridge here, and a tidal ford for heavy vehicles was just downstream.<ref>{{cite book|last=Russell|first=Percy|title=The Good Town of Totnes|publisher=The Devonshire Association|location=Exeter|year=1984|edition=Second impression with Introduction|page=26}}</ref> In 1982 a new concrete bridge was built about {{convert|1000|ft}} upstream as part of the Totnes inner relief road. Its name, Brutus Bridge, was chosen by the local residents.<ref>Russell 1984, p.xv.</ref><!-- I expect to add many refs to this book, so I hope to change them to proper [[WP:CITESHORT]] format--> A further {{convert|0.5|mi}} upstream, the railway bridge carries the [[National Rail]] [[Exeter to Plymouth line]] over the river. Immediately upstream of the railway bridge is a footbridge, built in 1993 to provide access to the {{stnlnk|Totnes (Riverside)}} terminus of the [[South Devon Railway Trust|South Devon Railway]].<ref name=sdravgc4>{{cite book | last = Taylor | first = Alan |author2=Treglown, Peter  | title = South Devon Railway – A Visitors Guide | publisher = South Devon Railway Trust | date = May 1999 | pages = 23–28 }}</ref>

==Economy==
<!-- this section needs expanding and tidying -->
Totnes has attracted a sizeable "alternative" community, and the town is known as a place where one can live a "[[New Age]]" lifestyle.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Siegle
  | first = Lucy
  | title = Shiny hippy people
  | newspaper = The Guardian
  | date = 8 May 2005
  | url = http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/experts/story/0,,1623868,00.html
  | access-date = 2 July 2008
  | archive-date = 17 May 2008
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517045820/http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/experts/story/0,,1623868,00.html
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref><ref>[http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article3764657.ece Totnes, Devon: the home of boho chic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517082215/http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article3764657.ece |date=17 May 2008 }} (retrieved 4 December 2008)</ref> There are a number of facilities for artists, painters and musicians, and there is a twice-weekly market offering antiques, musical instruments, second-hand books, handmade clothing from across the world, and local organically produced products. In 2007, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine declared Totnes the capital of new age chic. In 2005, ''Highlife'', the British Airways magazine, declared it one of the world's Top 10 Funky Towns.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Siegle|first1=Lucy|title=Shiny hippy people|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2005/may/08/britishidentity.ethicalliving|access-date=9 July 2016|work=The Guardian|date=8 May 2005|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826011938/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2005/may/08/britishidentity.ethicalliving|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2007 Totnes was the first town in Britain to introduce its own local alternative currency, the [[Totnes pound]], to support the local economy of the town.<ref name="RobS">{{cite news
| last = Sharp
| first = Rob
| title = They don't just shop local in Totnes – they have their very own currency
| newspaper = The Independent
| date = 1 May 2008
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/they-dont-just-shop-local-in-totnes--they-have-their-very-own-currency-818586.html
| access-date = 2 July 2008
| archive-date = 22 October 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022223837/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/they-dont-just-shop-local-in-totnes--they-have-their-very-own-currency-818586.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Fourteen months later, 70 businesses within the town were trading in the "Totnes Pound," accepting them as payment and offering them to shoppers as change from their purchases.<ref name="RobS"/> The initiative was part of the [[transition town]] concept, which was pioneered by [[Rob Hopkins]], who had recently moved to Totnes.<ref>"Take note – Totnes will be quids in!" in ''Totnes Times'' 7 March 2007, p.6</ref> The Totnes pound was discontinued in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Intriguing Tale of the Totnes Pound: An Exploration of a Unique Local Currency |url=https://www.tannerbates.co.uk/blogs/news/the-intriguing-tale-of-the-totnes-pound-an-exploration-of-a-unique-local-currency?srsltid=AfmBOooJCDROX45FRX1Ka94TIWxny6V39YOYafOfhEoo8SxoFzpsxxrR |access-date=Feb 19, 2025 |website=Tannerbates}}</ref>

Emphasising the town's continuing history of [[boatbuilding]], between 1998 and 2001 [[Pete Goss]] built his revolutionary but ill-fated 120-foot [[Team Philips]] [[catamaran]] there, which had to be abandoned mid-Atlantic when it started to break up.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/012002/23/team_philips.shtml|title=Team Philips wreckage found on island|date=23 January 2002|publisher=BBC Devon News|access-date=16 August 2009|archive-date=24 October 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024155608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/012002/23/team_philips.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Loss of revenue from [[Dartington College of Arts]], which moved to [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] in 2010, was partially offset by increased tourism due to interest in Totnes's status as a [[transition town]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120919182029/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Town-s-Transition-boosting-economy/article-2912655-detail/article.html Town's Transition boosting economy] (retrieved 30 November 2010)</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[File:St Marys Church Totnes.jpg|thumb|right|[[St Mary's Church, Totnes|St Mary's Church]]]] Totnes is said to have more [[listed building]]s per head than any other town.<ref>Else, D. [https://books.google.com/books?id=zhJGpvZwhSIC&dq=totnes+listed+buildings+per+head&pg=PA381 ''Britain.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623192306/http://books.google.com/books?id=zhJGpvZwhSIC&pg=PA381&lpg=PA381&dq=totnes+listed+buildings+per+head&source=bl&ots=CBs92mN16p&sig=MwIHjsvtsQrmgLIdA8efR0FlQXg&hl=en&ei=QtVOTZLaAsaWhQey0_C1Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CG0Q6AEwCQ |date=23 June 2014 }} [[Lonely Planet]], 2003. ({{ISBN|978-1740593380}}) p. 381</ref>
The [[Norman architecture|Norman]] [[motte-and-bailey]] [[Totnes Castle]], now owned by [[English Heritage]], was built during the reign of [[William I of England|William I]], probably by [[Juhel of Totnes]].<ref name="CP">{{cite book
|title=The Buildings of England – Devon
|author=Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner
|publisher=Penguin
|location=Harmondsworth
|pages=866–875
|year=1989
|isbn=0-14-071050-7}}</ref> The late medieval church of St Mary with its {{convert|120|ft}} high west tower, visible from afar, is built of rich red Devonian sandstone.<ref name="CP"/> A prominent feature of the town is the Eastgate—an arch spanning the middle of the main street. This [[Elizabethan]] entrance to the walled town was destroyed in a fire in September 1990, but was rebuilt.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130505081908/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Iconic-arch-rebuilt-devastating-1990/article-2604259-detail/article.html Iconic arch rebuilt after devastating 1990 fire]</ref>

[[File:Butterwalk.jpg|thumb|left|The Butterwalk]]
The ancient [[Leechwell]], so named because of the supposed medicinal properties of its water, and apparently where lepers once came to wash, still provides fresh water. The Butterwalk is a [[Tudor style architecture|Tudor]] covered walkway that was built to protect the dairy products once sold here from the sun and rain.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Totnes Town Trail
| publisher = South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
| url = http://www.southdevonaonb.org.uk/sitedetails.asp?PageId=32&SiteId=854
| access-date = 2 July 2008
| archive-date = 15 August 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070815185609/http://www.southdevonaonb.org.uk/sitedetails.asp?PageId=32&SiteId=854
| url-status = live
}}</ref> [[Totnes Elizabethan House Museum]] is in one of the many authentic [[Elizabethan architecture|Elizabethan]] merchant's houses in the town, built around 1575.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Totnes Elizabethan House Museum
  | publisher = Devon Museums Group
  | url = http://www.devonmuseums.net/component/option,com_mumancontent/task,view/sectionid,23/
  | access-date = 2 July 2008
  | archive-date = 8 June 2008
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608195022/http://www.devonmuseums.net/component/option,com_mumancontent/task,view/sectionid,23/
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

==Transport==
The [[A38 road|A38]] passes about {{convert|7|mi}} to the west of Totnes, connected to the town by the A384 from [[Buckfastleigh]] and the A385 which continues to [[Paignton]]. The town also lies on the [[A381 road|A381]] between [[Newton Abbot]] and [[Salcombe]].

[[Totnes railway station]] is situated on the [[Exeter to Plymouth line]], and has trains direct to [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]], [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] and [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]], and as far north as [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen]].

Nearby, [[Totnes (Riverside) railway station]] is at the southern end of the [[South Devon Railway Trust]] which runs tourist [[steam locomotive]]s along the line that follows the [[River Dart]] up to [[Buckfastleigh railway station|Buckfastleigh]].

Bus services are provided by Stagecoach South West, Tally Ho Coaches and County Bus. Totnes also has a town minibus service provided by Bob The Bus. Lomax Tours run coach trips from Totnes.

Since the River Dart is navigable to seagoing boats as far as Totnes, the estuary was used for the import and export of goods from the town until 1995.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Food and Relocalisation: a Totnes case study: a section from my forthcoming thesis...|url=http://transitionculture.org/2010/07/27/can-totnes-feed-itself-a-section-from-my-forthcoming-thesis/|publisher=Transition Culture|access-date=9 July 2016|archive-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827090116/https://www.transitionculture.org/2010/07/27/can-totnes-feed-itself-a-section-from-my-forthcoming-thesis/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==
[[King Edward VI Community College]], more popularly known as KEVICC, is the local [[secondary school]] which shares its name with the former grammar school set up by King Edward VI over 450 years ago. At the western edge of the town is the [[Dartington Hall]] Estate, which formerly included the [[Schumacher College]] and the [[Dartington College of Arts]] until their closures in September 2024 and July 2010 respectively. There are also a number of alternative private schools in the Totnes area, providing primary and secondary education.

==Media==
Local TV coverage is provided by [[BBC South West]] and [[ITV West Country]]. Television signals are received from the nearby [[Beacon Hill transmitting station|Beacon Hill]] TV transmitter and the local relay transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Totnes|title= Freeview Light on the Totnes (Devon, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=21 December 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Devon]] on 104.3 FM, [[Heart West]] on 100.5 FM, [[The Breeze (South Devon)|Greatest Hits Radio Devon]] on 105.5 FM and [[Soundart Radio]], a community based station which broadcast on 102.5 FM and online through [[Radioplayer]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.soundartradio.org.uk/|title=Soundart Radio|access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref>
{{Infobox newspaper
| name               = Totnes Times
| type               = Local newspaper
| headquarters       = Totnes, South Hams, Devon
| publishing_city    = Totnes
| publishing_country = England
|italic title=no
}}
The ''Totnes Times'' is a local newspaper serving the town and the surrounding [[South Hams]] area in [[Devon]]. It is owned by [[Tindle Newspapers]]. Published weekly, it appears on Thursdays. Its first issue dated 7 April 1860 was under the title of ''The Totnes Weekly Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Totnes Times |url=https://www.totnes-today.co.uk/service/www.totnes-today.co.uk/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Totnes Times}}</ref> There have been several title changes over the years. In the 1931 edition of Willing's Press Guide it is listed as the ''Totnes Times and Devon News''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HlQ6AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA216 |title=Willing's Press Guide |date=1931 |publisher=Willing's Press Service |page=216 |language=en}}</ref> A microfiche archive of the newspaper is held at Totnes Archive on the [[Totnes Museum]] site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-27 |title=Totnes Museum, Totnes |url=https://southhamsevents.com/museum/totnes-museum |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=South Hams Events |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:SeanOcaseyPlaque.JPG|thumb|A plaque commemorating Seán O'Casey's residence in Totnes.]]
Notable people from Totnes include:

*[[Pegaret Anthony]], [[World War II]] artist, was born in the town in 1915
* [[Charles Babbage]] had a strong family connection with the town and returned to attend the [[King Edward VI Community College#Grammar school|King Edward VI Grammar School]] for a period before going up to [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]].
* The novelist [[Desmond Bagley]] lived in Totnes from 1966 to 1976.
* [[William Brockedon]], Artist and inventor, 1787–1854.  Son of Philip Brockedon, Clockmaker.
* [[James Brooke]], the first [[Rajah of Sarawak]], spent his final years in nearby [[Burrator]], and Brooke's biographer claims "there is little doubt ... he was carnally involved with the [[Trade (gay slang)#Rough trade|rough trade]] of Totnes."<ref>Barley, N. (2003) ''White Rajah'', Abacas: London, p. 208.</ref>
* [[Richard Burthogge]], physician, magistrate and philosopher (1637/38–1705)
* Actor and dancer [[Emrhys Cooper]] grew up in Totnes.<ref>[https://archive.today/20150119032520/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Totnes-actor-sights-set-Bond/story-25754493-detail/story.html Totnes actor has his sights set on becoming the next Bond] (retrieved 18 January 2015)</ref>
* [[Sophie Dix]], actress, born in Totnes.
* [[Sir William Elford, 1st Baronet]], Recorder of the borough and artist
* Historian [[James Anthony Froude]], author of ''History of England From the fall of cardinal Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada'', was born in Totnes.
* His brother [[Richard Hurrell Froude]] was a theologian; he belonged to a group of Anglicans who initiated the [[Oxford Movement]] in 1833.
* Television screenwriter and author [[David Gilman (writer)|David Gilman]] lives in Totnes.
* Humorous poet [[Matt Harvey (poet)|Matt Harvey]] is a resident.
* [[Rob Hopkins]], founder of the Transition movement.
* Folk singer-songwriter [[Ben Howard]] was brought up and lives in Totnes.
* Singer-songwriter and filmmaker [[Cosmo Jarvis]] was raised in Totnes.
* Comic-book artists [[Jock (comics)|Jock]], [[Dom Reardon]] and [[Lee O'Connor (comics)|Lee O'Connor]] live and work in Totnes.
* [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] scholar, [[Benjamin Kennicott]] was also born in Totnes.
* Keith Law, Songwriter for [[Velvett Fogg]] lives in Totnes
* Linguist [[Edward Lye]], who wrote the first dictionary of [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]], was born in Totnes.
* [[Rik Mayall]] previously lived in Totnes and is buried on his family estate, Hutcherleigh.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://knowhere.co.uk/4281_heroes.html |title=Knowhere: Totnes, Devon, Local Heroes, Famous Residents<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=27 November 2007 |archive-date=12 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112050028/http://knowhere.co.uk/4281_heroes.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Admiral Sir [[Frederick Thomas Michell]] (1788–1873) mayor of Totnes 1855 to 1858.
* Captain [[Reynell Michell]] (1732–1802) Lord Mayor of Totnes from 1784 to 1802<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_crewman&id=10489 |title=Reynell Michell (1732-1802) |access-date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=20 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720181254/https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_crewman&id=10489 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Mike Edwards (musician)|Mike Edwards]], former cellist with the [[Electric Light Orchestra]] from 1972 to 1975, lived in Totnes in the later years of his life until his death in 2010.
* [[Joseph Mount]], musician and frontman of the band [[Metronomy]], was born in Totnes.
* Playwright [[Seán O'Casey]] lived in the town from 1938 to 1954.
* [[John Prince (Totnes)|John Prince]] was vicar of Totnes in the late 17th century, was author of ''The Worthies of Devon'', a major biographical work. He was also involved in a scandal, the court records of which were made into a book and stage play in the early 2000s.
*[[William Reeve (composer)|William Reeve]], composer, musician and actor, was organist of the church from 1781 to 1783 before moving to London to compose for [[Sadler's Wells Theatre|Sadler's Wells]] and the [[Lyceum Theatre, London|Lyceum Theatre]]
* [[Sam Richards (writer)|Sam Richards]], musician and music teacher lives in Totnes
* [[Matt Roper]], a character stand-up comic.
* [[Oliver St John]] represented the town in both the Short and the Long parliaments. One of the outstanding political leaders of the Parliamentary cause in the [[English Civil War]]. His reputation was made when he acted as lead counsel for [[John Hampden]] in the Ship Money case.
* [[William Stumbels]], a [[clockmaker]] lived and worked in Totnes in the 18th century. (His workshop was possibly at No. 4 Castle Street, within the town walls.) Two of his clocks, a [[Longcase clock|longcase]] (grandfather) and a [[turret clock]], are displayed in [[Totnes Museum]].<ref>Bellchambers, J. K. (1962) ''Devonshire Clockmakers''. Torquay: The Devonshire Press.</ref>
* [[Christopher Titmuss]], an [[Vipassanā|Insight Meditation]] meditation instructor and an author of books on [[Dharma (Buddhism)|Dharma]]
* Novelist [[Mary Wesley]], author of ''[[The Camomile Lawn]]'', spent her final years in Totnes.
* The explorer [[William John Wills]] of [[Burke and Wills expedition]] fame was born in Totnes. A memorial to Wills was erected using money from public subscriptions in 1864. It can still be seen on the Plains. There were originally two gas lamps attached to the monument, but both have since been removed.
* Film-score composer and mystery writer [[Edmund Crispin|Bruce Montgomery]] (penname Edmund Crispin) lived in Totnes in the 1950s–60s.
*The poet and writer [[John Lancaster (writer)|John Lancaster]] lives in Totnes.
*Writer and activist [[George Monbiot]] lives in Totnes.

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Totnes Escutcheon.png
|escutcheon = Sable upon Water in base Azure and between two Keys wards upward and outward a triple towered Castle the Portcullis raised and upon each outer tower a Banner all Argent.
|notes = Recorded in this form at the Visitation of 1572, for the Borough of Totnes. Transferred by Order in Council 16 April 1975.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/south_west.html |title=Civic Heraldry of England |publisher=Robert Young |access-date=12 March 2019 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024060532/http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/south_west.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

==See also==
* [[Totnes Museum]]
* [[Totnes Costume Museum]]
* [[Totnes Castle]]
* [[Totnes Community Hospital]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Totnes}}
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*[http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1979229,00.html Battle to save celebrated cradle of cutting edge art (The Guardian)]
*[https://www.totnes-today.co.uk/ The ''Totnes Times'']
{{Devon}}
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{{South Hams parishes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Totnes| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in South Hams]]
[[Category:New Age communities]]
[[Category:Deaneries of the Church of England]]