| Synopsis: |
The town's name derives 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. Human occupation in the area dates back to the Stone Age, with many flint tools found in the area. An Iron Age hill fort, Cranmore Castle, stands at the top of Exeter Hill above the town, and a Roman fort, or rather marching camp, was discovered on the hillside below Knightshayes Court. It was also the site chosen by Henry I for a Norman castle, Tiverton Castle first built in 1106 as a Motte and Bailey type and extensively remodelled in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. In the second half of the twentieth century, Tiverton slowly declined in prosperity, as the Heathcoat factory became ever more mechanised, and the Starkey Knight & Ford brewery was taken over by Whitbread as its regional brewery. However, in recent years the town has witnessed a revival, starting with the building of the A361. Now it has a population of almost 40,000 people and several regeneration projects have vastly improved the face of the town. |