La Guerre Civile : « Cavalier Town »
This is the high point of local history. In 1646, during the English Civil War, Great Torrington was the scene of the last great Battle of the South West. The "Riders" (royalists loyal to the King) faced the "Round Heads" (Cromwell's parliamentarians). The battle ended tragically when the village church, used as a powder magazine by the royalists, accidentally exploded, killing hundreds of prisoners and soldiers. The city kept a strong identity from this event, calling itself the "Cavalier Town".
The Tourist Side : Current Nature and Crafts
Today, Great Torrington is a popular destination for lovers of authenticity and nature :
The Tarka Trail : The old railway line converted into a cycle path and hiking trail follows in the footsteps of the otter "Tarka" (from the famous novel by Henry Willamson) and offers sublime bucolic landscapes.
RHS Garden Rosemoor : Just outside the town is one of the Royal Horticultural Society's most beautiful gardens. It is the English counterpart of the exotic garden of Roscoff, attracting visitors from all over Europe.
Dartington Crystal : The city is home to the UK's last major mouth-blown crystal factory. You can observe the artisans at work, a know-how that is the pride of Devon.
Traditions and Folklore :
Mayfair and the Young and the Restless
The city is famous for its attachment to traditions. Every year, the Mayfair celebrates spring with dances around the mast (Maypole) and the coronation of the Queen of May. Even more impressive, the group of "Torrington Cavaliers" builds huge wooden structures every few years (replicas of castles or ships like the Mayflower) to burn them during giant bonfires attracting ten of thousands of people to charitable works.
