Walking Tour of the Ancient Town of Barnstaple (4K) 

I so enjoyed the Audio version of W. Barbellion. The Journal of a Disapointed Man, over 3 nights before sleep. Thoroughly enjoyed his writing. Had never heard of him, so thanks again.

I Love the West Country.. Devon Cream Scones and Cider.. Great..

Lovely surprise coming across this. I really enjoyed it. Thank you ! I have now lived just over 41 years in the near by village of Combe Martin. On first arriving in Barnstaple in August of 1980 I found it to be a much lovelier town than it is these days, due to the lack of appreciation of its historic buliding and years of bad planning as can be seen today. No one seems to invest in building beautiful structures anymore. Sadly it all feels like people and the councils are nolonger caring what kind of town their children will inheret . Perhaps we ,the older generation have seen the last of what might be described as Towns of Charactor as businesses,whats left of them, and people's lives homogenise into everything looking rather bleak and sterile, with towns looking all much the same where ever you go; cut off and surrounded by gastly and inhospitable Warehouse style superstores and trading estates with their streems of cars toing and froing in an increasingly fractured community.

Thank you John. A wonderfully fascinating tour of my home town. Some of the areas you toured, like the Pannier Market, Butcher’s Row, the Guildhall and the High Street will be renovated, redecorated and even remodelled, over the next couple of years as a result of North Devon Council’s successful bid from the ‘Future High Streets Fund’. It will be an honour if you could revisit and document the changes in 2024! Best wishes. 👏 👍

Many thanks for the great memories, I lived on Newport terrace when I left for Canada 60 years ago, spent the war years in Bickington on the Bideford road, I also worked in Barnstaple for a while.Great place.

my dad loved this area cycling down from Croydon in about the 1930s I now have several relatives in the area because of this

Barnstaple the home of the traffic jam and some of the most historic potholes Home sweet home. Fantastic video with some great positives

Spent many happy hours in Barnstaple in my younger days.

My Son was born there 97 , lovley town!

Barnstaple looks an interesting place to visit. Great to see somewhere different.

Really enjoyable video, the white building at 2:06 was the Regal cinema and theatre i remember going to Christmas shows in the 1950s as a child, we could only go to Barnstaple on a friday from Brendon the only bus of the week, thankyou a great video.

I've heard of Barnstaple but only the name. Fascinating to walk around and learn so much. Those 18 mins flew by, will have to watch it again and again.

Thank you for inspiring me. I am from Barnstaple, and my excuse of not practicing my storytelling/ filmmaking because of where I live, is no longer valid👍

In 1990-1991, I worked at what then was the Whitechapel Manor Hotel just outside South Molton! Still many fond memories of scenic North Devon !

Mr Rogers,this is AMAZING. This is coincidence (or is it?),this is synchronicity,this is God's Providence,this is Meant To Be. I am going to Barnstaple tomorrow on the NE coach and staying overnight. Never been there before. Your lovely,excellent filmed video has given me a great preview of the pretty town and now I know what things to look out for and where best to have a walk. However I'm not there as a tourist,not this time. Next day true 8th I'm getting the bus to the little rural town of Holsworthy to deal with some family business. I definitely want to visit Barnstaple in the summer as a tourist and do a stretch of that Tarka walk. I discovered The Dark Lantern by Henry Williamson when I was 17 and it was compelling reading . I tried to work my way through his entire Chronicles of Ancient Sunlight but I have missed a few. He got cancelled of course before that term was even invented as he had some dodgy political ideas. I think a walk you would really enjoy,maybe with your wife and your sons too is from Pensford in Somerset about two miles to Stanton Drew where there is a stone circle in a field that is one thousand years OLDER than Stonehenge. You just put one pound in the honesty box at the gate (if you're honest). I wanted to do it last May but it rained practically every day last May. I can't walk both ways so if I do get to do it this year I will get a taxi there and walk back to Pensford where I can get the bus back to Bristol. Also the pub at the little village does a lovely lunch and it's defo your sort of place as it's called The Druids Arms.

Thank you so much for this presentation of Barnstaple. My ancestors ,descended from the Loosemores and Blackmores, came over to North Carolina in the early 1700's and owned a few trading ships that sailed from Wilmington North Carolina. Life was hard then for everyone. My Blackmore cousins still farm in Warsaw, Duplin County North Carolina.

I moved here from kent at 17 yr old and love it . Great place to bring my twins up.

I'm told I walk just like my dad, and seeing your dad walking ahead of you I can say with certainty, you walk just like your dad! Great video as always. AAA+++

We are very proudly based in Barnstaple and it’s great to see this excellent tour which highlights some of the many historical and beautiful places in the town and surrounding area!

loved video. My best friend now lives very near and we spent many family holidays in that area

My friend used to live in church lane, and castle mound has had all the foliage hacked away over the years; it used to look a lot nicer. We used to play there as children; you could go underneath until someone got stabbed and it was blocked off. Although, I think they blocked off most of it years before as it was an archaeological site.

I've driven through Barnstaple more times than I can remember but only actually walked about in the town just a handful of times. Thanks for this!

Nice video John. I know the town reasonably well (though I prefer Bideford, sorry). I was sure when I went past the parish church that the spire was crooked, like Chesterfield. Perhaps I was tipsy. By the way did you try the Tarka Curry? Its like a normal curry, just a bit otter.

I lived in Chivenor just down the road in-between Barnstaple and Braunton for 2 years, lovely place, loved it.

Thank you for this informative and lovely tour. Our American great-nephew is currently in Barnstaple on business. It's his very FIRST visit to Great Britain. Because of you, we feel like we are right there with him.

How about doing a video on the Canals of Birmingham John!

Very evocative. I visited Barnstable in, oh, 1993? For a wedding of a friend of my then fiancée. I do well remember that long bridge but not much else. I was a drinker then, and it was a wedding after all.

I live in Barnstaple, but i am a big fan on your London walks

lovely details. curvy streets,so different from grid plan i grew up with.

the nearby towns of Torrington and Bideford also very nice with lots of history.

I love Instow beach too, such a special place.

I walked the 14 mile tarka trail from Barnstaple to instow, through fremington, although a rather long walk there and back, it was well worth it to follow the old railway

Ashamed I don't know more of my home town so this video is great. Thankyou.

Thank you John for yet another gem

Durham, particularly in Autumn or Winter is beautiful. Lincoln is another beautiful and fascinating city (although I'm a yellerbelly so I'm probably biased!

The views from the upper floor of the FE College in Old Sticklepath Hill across the river are outstanding. I was there a few years ago for a meeting and spent more time than I should've looking at it! 😊

Nice little video about my home town. I lived there in the 90's and 00's and its really changed. It looked more well kept when I was younger! I have since moved away and have become a Model and Blogger. Thank you for sharing this video. I totally went down memory lane!

Well, if I can make one suggestion, I'd love to see a tour of Oxford. I'm Dutch but I've been there a few times because I'm a big Inspector Morse fan :) I visited most of the film locations a lot of which are pubs :)

Lovely video. My aunty ivy had a corner shop on Victoria street

Thank you John. Another relaxing meander through scenery ancient and modern.

yup. I've been there. lovely historic town. thank you

I grew up (and still live) near Barnstaple. Really fantastic insight into the town. A slightly grissly fact is that Rose West (wife and collaborator with serial killer Fred West) was from Barnstaple.

Great to see a walk out of London.

I love the old churches.

I love the bonus book recommendation. Thank you.

Great to lay in bed watching a John Rogers video. Thanks John 👍

What a fascinating place; full of character and interest. Thank you.

Great video. My favourite walk is the Teignmouth to Dawlish Coastal Path, by the railway and over the cliff. I highly recommend that to anyone.

Thanks John, great video as always, and a beautiful part of the world. I would love to see you visit and walk us through Glasgow and/or Edinburgh at some point.

Thankyou so much for another walk with you totally enjoyed it.

Wonderful walk! Thank you for the tour, I really enjoyed it. It's a very charming and historical town, even better to be by the water! Barnstaple has to go on my list for when we can travel again.

The architecture is absolutely beautiful in your city. Great close ups on the trim.

Another great video. There is a wonderful record shop in Barnstaple selling vinyl etc.

Wow what a fantastic tour of Barnstaple, love the south west reminds of how small towns used to be in Greater London. Thanks again John

Thank you John, I did enjoy that walk. The history behind the names of these streets and building is so refreshing to watch at a leisurely pace. I would love to see you do many more of these types of walks please. 💕🇦🇺

I hope these architectural features are not lost for forever, a little effort now can assure their future. New modernist is just featureless glass, as interesting as a white wall. Love your walks.

Great video! Have lived here my entire life and never knew how rich the history was! Thank you for sharing your knowledge

Wonderful. Thank you John.

Thank you so much for this fascinating tour. I lived near Barnstaple for a time and regularly went there to shop and of course to visit the wonderful pannier market. This tour brought back lots of memories, and what's more showed me aspects of Barnstaple I never knew about.

Roadtrip! Thanks that was fun.

Always love to watch your London walks John but as a resident of Braunton this was very special and informative. Living just 7 miles away I visit Barnstaple on a regular basis. I really enjoyed learning more about my nearest town.

Thank you for this excellent video John, what a wonderful place. i have been to Devon but unfortunately not Barnstaple so i really missed out there. Bob.

Love your walks!

Visited that nightclub back in the 90's with my brother whilst on hols. "Don't worry lads, it will get busy later". It didn't, but we got to make friends with the staff :-)

That was really lovely, thank you, makes me want to go there.

I have lots of relatives down that way . Really lovely . Was recently in Widdacombe where Mr Chris had a really excellent pint xxx

Beautiful, I can't afford to travel out of London so I look forward to more videos like this as wel as more London ones, thank you

I always though Barnstaple was in Hertfordshire for some reason. Anyway, what a lovely little town. Seems like a good place for a walk. Great video as always John.

What a cute little town. Love it. Thanks, John.

Great Video's as usual John, I also love Barnstaple North Devon, and glad to see your dad is still going strong, i live in Barnstaple, and went for a quick ride on the moor yesterday even if i did get soaked, but it was worth it .By the way I've been in Devon for 50 years from Croydon and never regretted it once..

An other joyous video John. Wonderful to be out of London with you. Thank you.

Charming town. I remember Devon from a trip to England long ago.

What an amazing town. Like many people I have passed by - many years ago - on my way to Ilfracombe. Fabulous history, a very interesting video.

Thanks for video John!

A lovely town, is Barnstable. we were there recently. Loved the Panniers Market.

Lovely. Thank you.

Just discovered your channel, thank you for these tours. I lived in London from 2006 to 2015, and one of my favorite activities was to get on a train and spend a weekend in a smaller town - I also saw many small UK towns while touring as a musician. Your video is exactly what I remember - the overcast sky, the variation in pavement, the little alleys, the shops that seem frozen in time selling things like DVDs, the sound of the gulls, even the people on the scooters. I haven't been able to come back because of covid - I can't wait to return sometime soon! One of my favorite weekend trips was Sandwich - I would love to see a tour if you ever have time for that!

Hi John. Thank you for making a film about Barnstaple, brought back some memories. I used to live nearby during the late 80s and very early 90s and spent a lot of time in Barnstaple in further ed. at the local college, shopping and visiting pubs and clubs with my mates. The historical stories of the town passed me by... so glad to see snippets here. I haven't been back for a long time, sad to see so many shop fronts empty, but did note all the independent businesses flourishing. I'd forgotten what a lovely place Barnstaple is.

Thanks John. Great walk

Lovely video, John. Next time you’re down that way, you might want to check out Exeter. I went there the other week and loved it. Next time I get down that way I’ll check out Barnstaple.

Thanks John for another wonderful video. Off your normal beaten track but very informative as usual and beautifully filmed. Look forward to your next video wherever that maybe. I suspect London and the South East 😁

Wonderful!

Excellent video. Barnstaple looks like a place well worth visiting.

Hi jhon missed You and your Explorings Good to be back Thanks for sharing ❣🙏 The mount is awesome. Love the place Sad to see all them shops Closed 🤔

It is with tremendous joy that I watched this video ! I relived my visits to Barnstable some years ago and I love to see the places I used to wonder through : The Pannier Market, Butchers Row, The Almshouse,The Parish House, and ,especially the historic Railway Station and the Taw bank. I remember Tom the Herald taking us around the streets of Barnstable and explaining every corner of it ! It is indeed, a very special place worth visiting and I thank you so much for taking me back there .Thank you,John.

Great video. Love Barnstaple.

This was a wonderful tour of Barnstaple, John. I used to live in Totnes in South Devon until a couple of years ago, but only visited North Devon a couple of times, and, even then, I did not explore Barny (as some locals call it) in depth. You added so much depth to this town. Thank you. As a suggestion, you could do worse than visit Totnes for a future video. It has wonderful castle, a steam railway, a beautiful river, and, of course, the Brutus Stone. Look forward to watching your next walk. Cheers 👍 Paul.

Very nice tour thanks!

Great walk john thanks

Way to go John: Keep up my friend.

This is my home town and I absolutely loved this video. Quite a few things I didn’t known!

My hometown for 2 and a half years now! Small town but very peaceful and lovely 😊

Loved this! Thank you! What a nice diversion from London. I have always heard the name Barnstaple, but never have seen anything about it. Charming place.Have you ever considered a walking tour of Cirencester, with its ancient history and quaint architecture?

Fantastic little video of my hometown. It does look a bit dilapidated these days compared to when I was a kid but it's a town full of interesting history. You even told me some bits I'd never heard of before. New subscriber here!

Hi John, we live in Exeter and had a couple of days in Barnstaple recently and poked about in the alleys that you found. I really appreciate the geniune delight you have in all your videos when you show us hidden gems. I have the same feeling too when walking the streets of London, when ever i visit for work I make sure to get a later train back to allow for wondering about.

Love that part of Devon, shame the weather wasn’t a bit brighter for you.

Thanks for the tip on the Cummings book. have ordered it !

On holiday in Bideford 1979 my parents took my sisters and I to see Moonraker at Barnstable's Boutport Street cinema. Watching your film brought back memories of the Market and along Butchers Row I haven't had for over forty years! Thankyou John this is a lovely video.

Really nice John and I hope you diversify into other areas -- would love to see you in Woodbridge and also Rochester.

Fascinating walk around Barnstable John,somewhere I would love to live in.More of these excursions outside London please!!