Braunton is situated in the North West of Devon and reputed to be the largest village in the West of England. Overlooking Barnstaple Bay it is two miles from the sea with the Caen Stream, a tributary of the Taw, running through the centre of the village. Braunton
It is said that Braunton derived its name from a priest called Brannock who arrived from South Wales in 550AD and converted the native Britons to the Christian faith. The estuary of the Taw and Torridge as well as part of Braunton Burrows was wooded at that time and is where Brannock and a group of Britons settled. Eventually, a strong Christian community was established and a church, the first in North Devon, was built. The settlement that grew around the church was named Brannockstood, later to become Brauntona, until finally at the end of the 19th century called Braunton.
Milling and malting were already two of Braunton's established industries, however, in the early 1890's a new craft was introduced into the village, that of basket making. Originating in a barn in East Street the firm of Blackwell and Son and two craftsmen began to train apprentices. Later a factory was built and with 20 or more basket makers became one of the largest of its kind in the country with many thousands of Braunton baskets being sold all around the world. Sadly, this factory has since been closed.
Salmon fishing was an important trade in the 19th century with many fish being landed from Vellator and Broadsands and being sold on to fishmongers at Barnstable. The trout fishery at Buckland Mill owned by F.G. Richmond was where thousands of trout were farmed to stock the pools and fishing grounds of the local gentry.
Although though the history of the village can be traced back to the 6th century, the Braunton Museum didn't become established until the 1970's. The museum reflects on Braunton's long associations with the sea, the importance of local agriculture as well as what life was like during WWII when a contingent of American soldiers was stationed in the area.
The famous archaeological site of Great Field, is a hedgeless tract of arable land of some 360 acres. It lies to the east of Braunton and is one of the few remaining medieval open-field systems of its kind. A living example of an early Saxon strip-farming system it is still in operation today.
Another recognised area is that of Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system in the United Kingdom. Because of its uniqueness and biodiversity it has been designated both as a National Nature Reserve as well as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The area is well known for its diverse plant life with over 400 species of vascular plants having been recorded.
With the proximity of the North Devon coast and its surfer base, Braunton is now a favoured surfing centre catering for the surfer's every need, with its many shops stocking some of the world's renowned surfing brands.
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