Axminster

Coordinates: 50°46′52″N 3°00′00″W / 50.781°N 3.000°W / 50.781; -3.000

Axminster is a market town and civil parish on the eastern border of the county of Devon in England, some 28 miles (45 km) from the county town of Exeter. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Axmouth, and is in the East Devon local government district. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 5,626, increasing to 5,761 at the 2011 census. The town contains two electoral wards (town and rural) the total sum of both wards being a population of 7,110. The market is still held every Thursday.

Axminster gave its name to a type of carpet. An Axminster-type power loom is capable of weaving high quality carpets with many varying colours and patterns. While Axminster carpets are made in the town by Axminster Carpets Ltd, this type of carpet is now manufactured all over the world.

History

The town dates back to the Celtic times of around 300 BC. It lies on two major Roman roads: the Fosse Way from Lincoln to Seaton, and the Dorchester–Exeter road. There was a Roman fort on the crossroads at Woodbury Farm, just south of the present town.

Axminster Hundred

The hundred of Axminster was the name of one of thirty two ancient administrative units of Devon, England.

The parishes in the hundred were: Axminster; Axmouth; Combe Raleigh; Combpyne; Dalwood; Honiton; Kilmington; Luppitt; Membury; Musbury; Rousdon; Stockland; Thorncombe; Uplyme; Upottery; Yarcombe

See also

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