Busy Devon town north of Exeter on the Exe and Lowman first settled by the Anglo-Saxons as they moved into the West Country. Devon's leading cloth centre, saved from decline in the 18th century when a Leicestershire Hosier John Heathcote moved to the town. Blundell's School founded in 1604, is preserved by the National Trust. R.D. Blackmore author of Lorna Doone was at school here. Part of the Grand Western Canal of 1811-14 has been restored. Museum with railwayania. Nearby is Knighthayes Court built in 1870 for the Heathcote family. Remains of a 12th century castle.