History

The Whitsun Fair used to take place on a yearly basis in Brixham. The Brixham Heritage Festival is a chance to recreate that event!

But what makes Brixham so special? Well, a lot actually. You see Brixham is one of these places in the World that is steeped in interesting history that's just waiting to be discovered and seen when you visit the area!

Brixham can be traced back nearly a thousand years with it being mentioned in the famous Domesday Book. It's said that it was originally titled Brioc's Village - Brioc being a Brythonic personal name. 'Ham' is an ancient term for village.

Probably the most famous person associated with the town is William III of Orange who landed on 5th November, 1688 (legend says that the fireworks display going on for Guy Fawkes Night was misinterpreted by William to be a sign of welcome). They say that William spent the night in a house on Middle Street (since demolished) and that the troops camped at what is now known as Overgang - Dutch for 'transition'.

Up on Berry Head are two Napoleonic Forts, said to be some of the most well-preserved in the country. They were constructed in the 1790s when England went to war with France and are free to visit. Berry Head as a whole is a Nature Reserve and houses a visitor's centre detailing the many historic finds from around the forts.

Napoleon was to visit Brixham, but not how he wished. Under the command of Captain Maitland of HMS Bellerophon he was imprisoned and exiled but not before the ship carrying him stopped in Brixham for a few days. They say that the local fisherman rowed their boats out to capture a glimpse of Napoleon who walked back and forth on the deck in full uniform.

One of the most popular and well-known hymns today is Abide With Me, and whilst most people know that it was written by Rev. Henry Francis Lyte, not many people know that he wrote it here in Brixham at his home which, today, is the Berry Head Hotel. Rev. Lyte was the vicar of All Saints Church and after giving his final service due to failing health he went home, watched the dusk sweep over the bay and the words formed in his mind.

Brixham has always been seen as a strategic hotspot when it came to guarding the country. The natural harbour was perfect for both mooring ships during storms and as such it was a target for warring vessels. The Napoleonic Forts mentioned above show this (guns were also mounted on Berry Head during the American Civil War of Independence) but something else that shows this importance is the World War II Battery which can be found at Battery Gardens, adjacent to Brixham's Outer Harbour. These were a series of lookout points and heavy artillery that were set looking out over the bay and beyond in case the enemy tried to attack. Only 166 of these 'Emergency Coastal Defence Batteries' were built along the English coastline and today only 7 remain intact - the one at Brixham being one of them. The Battery is owned by English Heritage, is a listed site and is considered to be one of the best preserved Batteries remaining.

There is so much more history in Brixham that's just waiting to be explored - way too much to write here, and the best way to find out about it is to come down and experience it for yourselves. The Brixham Heritage Festival is a celebration of the town's history and is part of the community spirit, so what could be better than coming down to visit whilst the Festival is taking place!