Cultural Devon > Devon's History and Heritage > Devon Comes Of Age

Devon Comes Of Age

For centuries Devon folk quietly carried on their business, fishing and farming, with a little trading and piracy thrown in, but with the ending of the Middle Ages, as England became more settled and prosperous, Devon people came to play a larger role on the national stage.

Think of the famous Devonians who took the lead in Elizabethan days when England's naval power grew from strength to strength - Drake, Raleigh, Grenville and Hawkins all sailed with enthusiasm into battle, piracy or trade. Ports expanded, particularly Plymouth's, from where many a bold expedition set out for unknown lands.

This was the great age for Devon's woollen trade - in the mid-16th century huge volumes of wool cloth and serge were produced and traded through the staple town of Exeter; by the 17th century Devon's wool fabrics, particularly broadcloth, were famed as far afield as America.

The Civil War brought strife to Devon, with a particularly fierce battle at Great Torrington. Plymouth and Exeter both initially took the parliamentarian side, fighting off Royalist attacks with determination, though Exeter eventually fell in 1643.