Devon has many Norman motte or ringwork and bailey castles dating from the Conquest in the years after AD1066 and the \u2018Anarchy\u2019 of the mid 12th<\/sup> century. Good examples can be seen at Bampton, Barnstaple, Eggesford and Loddiswell. Only a few of these developed into medieval masonry castles as at Totnes and Okehampton. From the late 15th<\/sup> century, the end of the \u2018Wars of the Roses\u2019, Dartmouth has some of the earliest coastal artillery fortifications to have been built in England.<\/p>\n The predominant religion in Devon for 1500 years has been Christianity. The county\u2019s many parish churches are some of the most important and visible components of its historic heritage. Devon also had some 30 medieval monastic houses, the remains of which, such as Tavistock Abbey<\/a>, can be striking but fragmentary.<\/p>\n The tin industry of Dartmoor, quarrying of building stone, as at Beer and Dunscombe, and roofing slate from south Devon all flourished in the medieval period. The Royal silver-lead mines in the Tamar valley were some of the earliest deep-mine workings in England. However, the most important manufacturing industries were the wool and cloth industry and pottery making.<\/p>\n Devon\u2019s huge network of roads and lanes evolved in the medieval period. Important medieval bridges survive at Exeter, Clyst St. Mary, Barnstaple and Bideford and over the Tamar. The Exeter Canal<\/a>, although extended later, dates from the 16th<\/sup> century and is the oldest in the country.<\/p>\n Find out more about these sites by viewing the Devon Historic Environment Record<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Medieval archaeology is all around and beneath us in Devon\u2019s towns and villages, farms and fields. Devon\u2019s towns have their origins in the later Saxon period with most of the larger towns in existence by the Norman Conquest. However, some … Continue reading ![\"Totnes](\"http:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/historicenvironment\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2013\/10\/Medieval-Totnes-240x194.jpg\")
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