Chulmleigh

Many thanks to The Taw Valley Garage for facilitating this camera's location and to The Westcountry Rivers Trust and The River Taw Fisheries Association for capitally funding its installation. The River Taw originates from Taw Head, a spring located on the central northern slopes of Dartmoor. It meanders for 45 miles before reaching the Bristol Channel on the north coast of Devon, where it forms a shared estuary mouth with the River Torridge. Along its course, the River Taw is fed by several tributaries, including the Lapford Yeo, the Little Dart River, and the River Mole, which originates from Exmoor, another upland area in Devon. The river is renowned for its salmon and sea trout fishing, contributing to its esteemed reputation. Additionally, the upper reaches of the river system offer excellent brown trout fishing opportunities.The earliest recorded mention of Chulmleigh dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is documented as "Calmonlevge." The name is derived from the Old English personal name "Ceolmund" and the common place-name element "leah," which can denote woodland, a woodland clearing, or a meadow. During the 13th century, the Courtenay family, after acquiring the land from Baldwin the Sheriff, elevated Chulmleigh to the status of a borough. Positioned on the main thoroughfare connecting Exeter and Barnstaple, Chulmleigh flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries. It served as a hub for wool production, boasting a thriving market and hosting three cattle fairs. However, the wool trade diminished by the early 19th century. Although the town continued to prosper due to road traffic, its fortunes declined after a new turnpike road bypassed Chulmleigh around 1830. The opening of the North Devon Railway in 1854 further contributed to the town's economic downturn.To monitor river levels and potential flooding on the A377, the Upper Taw is observed through the Farson streaming webcam.