Happy Devon Day (Saint Petroc’s Day)! ❤ 🇬🇧 💷

Many historic counties of England have a holiday that celebrates their cultural heritage. Some of these county days are the feast days of patron saints of particular counties. For example, Devon Day coincides with the observance of the feast day of Saint Petroc, which occurs on June 4.

Devon (Devonshire) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England, bordered by  Cornwall, Dorset, and Somerset. The name “Devon” is derived from Dumnonia, the Roman name for a Celtic kingdom that was situated in the area of modern Devon and  Cornwall, and also included parts of Somerset and Dorset.

The Anglo-Saxons began to settle in the area around the 7th century. In the 9th and 10th centuries, Devon repeatedly defeated Viking raiders, but it couldn’t resist the Norman conquest for long. Devon’s capital of  Exeter fell to the troops of William the Conqueror after an 18-day siege, allowing the new king to enter upon honorable terms.