Kingsbridge is a popular market and tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon. It is situated at the northern end of the so-called Kingsbridge Estuary, which is in reality a text-book example of a ria.

Kingsbridge is in fact a combination of two towns, Kingsbridge and Dodbrooke: while the latter was originally considered to be the dominant of the two, Kingsbridge later expanded to include Dodbrooke. The town consists of two parishes: St.Edmund's in the west and St. Thomas Becket in the east. The parish church of St. Thomas Becket displays a particularly well-preserved rood screen.

Kingsbridge has been the main market town in the area for centuries. Its proximity to the spectacular south Devon coast and sailing venues (such as Salcombe) has for more than 200 years also made it a popular destination for tourists and it now lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Prince Regent (the future King George IV) considered building his pavilion above nearby South Sands beach before finally settling on Brighton. Apart from its location, its attractions include several restaurants and pubs, a cinema housed in the town hall building and a museum about the chemist William Cookworthy, who was born in Kingsbridge in 1705.

The town is linked to Plymouth and Dartmouth, Devon by the A379. The town previously had a railway station but the branch line via South Brent, opened in 1893, was closed down in 1963 as part of the Beeching Axe.

Key Stats

• There has been significant population growth since 1991 in the parish of Kingsbridge. This increase is greater than the growth in the district and the county.
• The level of households occupied by individuals in the market town area as a whole is similar to the county and national averages. There is no noticeable difference between Kingsbridge parish and the surrounding hinterland.
• Economic activity rates as a whole within the market town area are lower than the county and national averages. Selfemployment levels in the surrounding hinterland are significantly higher than the county and national averages and conversely the level of full-time employment is lower.
• Claim rates for Income Support are significantly higher in Kingsbridge area compared to the surrounding hinterland. This level is also noticeably higher than the district and county averages.
• Claim rates for Job Seekers Allowance in the market town area are similar to the district and county averages.
• The number of households with an annual income of less than £20,000 in the parish of Kingsbridge is significantly higher than district and county averages.
• Achievement rates for GCSEs at grades A* to C were also better for children living outside of Kingsbridge parish but all results were good compared to all the comparators.
• Select here for more statistics about Kingsbridge and surrounding area. (941KB - pdf help)