Tiverton in the English county of Devon is the main administrative centre of the Mid Devon district.
The town's name is thought to derive from "Twy-ford-ton" or "Twyverton", meaning "the town on two fords", and was historically referred to as "Twyford". The town stands at the confluence of the rivers Exe and Lowman. Occupation in the area dates back to the Stone Age, with many flint tools found in the area. Tiverton was also the seat of the court of the hundred of Tiverton. It was the strategic site chosen by Henry I for a Norman castle, Tiverton Castle first built in 1106. Tiverton has a medieval town leat, built for the town by Countess Isabella de Fortibus who was the eldest daughter of Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon and grew up at Tidcombe Hall, close to Tiverton. Isabella also controlled the Port of Topsham, Devon, through which much of Tiverton's woollen exports were shipped. Every seven years there is a Perambulation of the Town Leat ceremony to clear the path of the Leat and ensure it is kept running. The leat can be seen in Castle Street, where it runs down the centre of the road, and at Coggan's Well, in Fore Street.
Size: 4000px × 6000px
Location: Tiverton, Devon, UK
Photo credit: © Philip Chapman / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: almshouse, blundell, canal, confluence, council, devon, exe, grand, heathcote, lace, lacemaking, leat, lowman, medieval, office, portas, shops, tiverton, town, twy-ford-ton, twyverton, western
