Name Index

To

Notes on the Early History of Tavistock

Trans. Devon. Assoc. Vol 21. (1889) pp. 305-311.

by

R.N. Worth F.G.S.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The paper was delivered by Mr Rowe at the Association’s July 1889 Tavistock meeting. Its author points out that materials for the early history of Tavistock are scanty. The first event definitely assigned is the foundation of the Abbey, said to have taken place in 961. The earliest contemporary reference is in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where, under date 997, we find that the Danes, ravaging these western shores, went "into the mouth of the Tamar, and then went up until they came to Hlidaford, and burned and destroyed everything which they met with; and they burned Ordulf's minster at Tavistock, and brought unspeakable booty with them to their ships."  This is the first firm step in recorded Tavistock history. The earliest form of the name as given in the Chronicle is Ǣtefingstoc. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.