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Ottery St Mary is on the River Otter, about ten miles east of Exeter. It is part of a large civil parish of the same name, which also covers the villages of West Hill, Metcombe, Fairmile, Alfington, Tipton St John and Wiggaton.

The town was the birthplace of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and where the noted diplomat Sir Ernest Satow spent his retirement (1906-29) at the house called 'Beaumont' which still stands. Satow was buried in the churchyard; there is a commemorative plaque to him is in the church.

Ottery's notable buildings include the Tumbling Weir and Ottery St Mary church. The town is the site of The King's School, now a comprehensive school, founded in 1545 by Henry VIII.

Major events are held in Ottery near the 5th November - Guy Fawkes Night, when flaming tar barrels are carried through the town. A 17th century tradition, barrels soaked in tar are set alight and carried aloft through parts of the town.

J K Rowling named the fictional home village of the Weasley family in the Harry Potter series 'Ottery St Catchpole' after Ottery St Mary.

Key Stats

• The population of the Ottery St Mary Devon Town area for 2009 is 15715
• In the last 10 years, the population has grown by 46.58%
• Claimant counts for November 2008 were approximately 30 people
• Job Seekers Allowance for the area reached 0.32% of the working age population in November 2008
• District claimant count figures for 2008 showed a claimant count of 1.22% of the working age population
• The Average income in 2008 for the Ottery St Mary Devon Town area is £35325.34 per household
• Average house price for the area in 2007 was recorded as £294,569.93
• There were 159 year 11 pupils in this area in 2007
• 76.1% of year 11 pupils attained 5 A*-C grades at GCSE in 2007
• There are 187 year 6 pupils throughout the Ottery St Mary Devon Town area in 2007
• 92.2% of pupils attained KS2 Level 4+ in 2007
• For statistical profiles of the Ottery St Mary please click here