Topsham Walk: Town Centre【4K】

Located in the county of Devon, and around four miles southeast of Exeter, is the town of Topsham.

Geographically, Topsham is situated along the eastern bank of the estuary of the River Exe as it feeds into the English Channel. A Roman fort was established here in the 1st century AD, connected to Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter) by a straight road that is still in use to this day.

At the heart of the town is the Parish Church of St Margaret. This dates back to the 14th century on the site of a 10th century predecessor, although the main body of the church was rebuilt in the 1870s.

In 1300 a market charter was granted to Topsham by Edward I. This became the primary port for Exeter, exporting woollen cloth to continental Europe, and importing goods such as wine, salt and textiles on return. Shipbuilding was also a major industry here, helping to create a period of prosperity in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the most notable vessels to have been produced here was HMS Terror. First launching in 1813, this was abandoned in 1848 during Sir John Franklin's ill-fated attempt to force the Northwest Passage, i.e. the sea route through the Arctic Ocean, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans via the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

In 1861 the railway arrived in Topsham courtesy of the London and South Western Railway. The station of today forms part of the Avocet Line which runs between Exeter St David's and Exmouth. The line's name refers to the pied avocet - a wading bird typically found around the estuary of the River Exe.

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Filmed: 26th July 2025

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gEKwMct8iqqR6...

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

0:00 Strand
5:51 Ferry Road
6:04 Fore Street
9:59 St Margaret's Church
12:40 Fore Street
16:58 High Street