Paignton

History

A Roman burial was discovered in 1993 on the Hookhills estate by a householder digging a patio. At first thought to be Neolithic, it was later radiocarbon dated to be between 230 and 390 CE. The burial is of a young woman aged between 15 and 25 years. The burial included oysters and her teeth and bone reveal a diet rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Despite living near the sea marine food accounted for only 10% of her diet. The skeleton is the most complete yet found in Devon and is on display in the Torquay Museum. Paignton is mentioned in Domesday Book of 1086 as Peintone in the ancient hundred of Kerswell. Formerly written Peynton, Payngton and Paington, the name is derived from Pæga, an Anglo-Saxon personal name, -ing meaning "the people of" and tun an enclosure, estate or homestead, the original Anglo-Saxon settlement. Originally the beach was backed by low sand dunes with marshes behind on the flat land between the sea and the hills behind. The settlement grew up on the dry ground at the foot of the hills, as did a separate hamlet in the shelter of Roundham Head, which was a fishing settlement. The first church was probably built using wood in the eighth century. In late Saxon times the manor was owned by Leofric, the Bishop of Exeter. Later bishops built the Bishop's Palace adjoining the parish church, some remains of which, including the Coverdale Tower, are still standing. Winner Street owes its name to a corruption of the word Wynerde, referring to vineyards or at least to traders in wine in the medieval period. The bishops secured a charter from Edward I in 1294 giving the right to hold a weekly market and an annual fair, making Paignton a market town. The market declined following the English Reformation in the 16th century. Paignton then remained…