A town rich in history Dartmouth’s history is a rich tapestry of world famous voyages, military crusades and a very important love story. A port of call for the Pilgrims on their way to America, it’s also home to the Britannia Royal Naval College where the Queen first set eyes on her future husband Prince Philip. The town’s former residents include a man accused of piracy (John Hawley, who was elected Mayor of Dartmouth 14 times) and the man who invented the steam engine which ushered in the Industrial Revolution (Thomas Newcomen). It all began more than a
thousand years ago when people came to make stone tools by the river bank. By the 12th century the wine and wool trade had brought great wealth. The castle, at the mouth of the river, guarded the town for over 600 years. The museum, situated in an old merchant’s house on the Butterwalk, entertained King Charles II in 1671, when storms forced him to seek shelter in Dartmouth. It’s one of many beautiful historic buildings that survived bombing during World War II and is a great visit for anyone looking to discover more about the town’s fascinating past.
