Teignmouth is on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign in south Devon. The town grew from a fishingport to a fashionable resort of some note in Georgian times with further expansion after the opening of the South Devon Railway on 30 May 1846.

The western half of the town was destroyed (apart from the Jolly Sailor public house) by fire during a brief invasion by the French in 1690, the last invasion of England (though not of Britain as the French invaded Carreg Gwastad, near Abergwaun (Fishguard), Pembrokeshire in 1797). French Street with its museum is named in memory of the occasion.

Shaldon bridge was opened on the 8th june 1827 and had 34 wooden arches and was 1,671 feet long. Shaldon or Teignmouth Bridge over the Teign estuary to Shaldon and Torquay was the longest wooden bridge in England when built, nearly a third of a mile long. After two partial collapses in 1838 and 1893 the bridge was completely rebuilt in 1931. Devon County Council bought the bridge from the Shaldon Bridge Company on the 28th October 1948 for £90,000 and tolls were abolished.

The bridge is of Roman Origin and when the present bridge was constructed some of the Roman wood was used to make a table which was kept at Lindridge House. Tragically it was destroyed in the fire that destroyed the house just as its conversion into a hotel was nearing completion in the 1960's.

Key Stats

• The population of the market town area has risen by about 11% since 1991. This is a lower rate of growth than that experienced by the district and the county. The population is around 14, 900.
• The level of households occupied by individuals in the market town area is similar to the district and county averages with no significant difference between the urban centre and surrounding rural area.
• Unemployment levels in the market town area are similar to those in the district and county. Rates in Teignmouth are over twice those for the surrounding area.
• Claim rates in Teignmouth for Income Support are similar to those nationally, but above the district and county averages. Claim rates for Job Seekers Allowance are similar across the profile area.
• The proportion of households with an income of £20,000 or less is broadly similar to the district and county averages.
• The industry sectors that people work in are similar to the district and county averages. Most businesses are in the wholesale & retail and real estate, renting & business activities sectors.
• Children living in the rural parishes achieve better grades, at both Key Stage 2 and GCSE, than those living in Teignmouth parish. However, the proportion of children in Teignmouth achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to G is still above the national average.
• Select here for more statistics about Teignmouth and surrounding area. (864KB - pdf help)