Dartmouth - Dartmouth, UK
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Dartmouth, Devon - Wikipedia
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Dartmouth (/ˈdɑːrtməθ/) is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the western bank of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes. It lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and South Hams district, and had a population of 5,512 in 2001,[1] reducing to 5,064 at the 2011 census.[2] There are two electoral wards in the Dartmouth area (Townstal & Kingswear). Their combined population at the above census was 6,822.[3][4]
The Domesday Book, which was published in 1086, listed Dunestal as being the only settlement within the area that now forms the parish of Dartmouth. Walter of Douai held it. It was taxed on half of a hide and had two plough trucks, two slaves and five smallholders. Six cattle, 40 sheep, and fifteen goats were present. Townstal, as it was called, was a purely agricultural settlement that was centered around the church. Walter of Douai rebelled to William II and his lands were taken and given to Marshwood (Dorset), who sublet Townstal to the FitzStephens. [5] Dartmouth was a strategic port that was strategically important as a deep-water port to sailboats in the early years of their ownership. Some believe that the port was the sailing point for Crusades 1147 and 1190. Warfleet Creek is close to Dartmouth Castle and has been named after the large fleets that gathered there. [6] Dartmouth, a Royal Navy home since the reign of Edward III, was twice sacked and surprised during the Hundred Year's War. The mouth of the estuary was then closed each night with a huge chain. Two fortified castles protect the Dartmouth Castle (and Kingswear Castle) from the narrow mouth of this river. Bayard's Cove was originally Dartmouth's sole wharf. It is a small area that is protected by a fort at its southern end.