Devon is a county of England in the south-west corner of the British Isles.
The name Devon comes from a Celtic tribe called Dumnonii, meaning “deep valley dwellers”, that inhabited the area at about the time of the Roman invasion of Britain (AD 43).
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In around AD 1000, the Anglo-Saxons partly absorbed Devon into one of their Kingdoms, called Wessex. At this time, Devon became a “shire”. Although not in common use today, the term “Devonshire” is often used for the light meal known as “Devonshire Cream Tea”.
Oddly enough, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire is held in Derbyshire at Chatsworth House and has no connection to the county of Devon.
The arrival of the railways in the 19th century secured Devon’s position as one of Britain’s favourite seaside resort destinations. The “English Riviera” spans several towns on the southern coast of Devon, which benefit from a mild climate, sandy beaches, and plenty of leisure attractions.
Join us as we tour the towns of late-19th-century Devon.
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