View source for Teignmouth

{{Short description|Seaside town in Devon, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|static_image_name= TeignmouthHarbour.JPG
|static_image_width= 240
|static_image_caption= Teignmouth
|country=  England
|official_name=  Teignmouth
|coordinates = {{coord|50.5515|-3.4886|display=inline,title}}
|local_name=              The Gem of South Devon
|population=            14,932
|population_ref= (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Teignmouth |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/teignbridge/E04003234__teignmouth/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111100856/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/teignbridge/E04003234__teignmouth/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|civil_parish=          Teignmouth
|shire_county= [[Devon]]
|shire_district=        [[Teignbridge]]
|region=  South West England
|constituency_westminster=[[Newton Abbot (UK Parliament constituency)|Newton Abbot]]
|post_town=  TEIGNMOUTH
|postcode_district=     TQ14
|postcode_area=  TQ
|dial_code=  01626
|os_grid_reference= SX945735
 }}

'''Teignmouth''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪ|n|m|ə|θ}} {{Respell|TIN|məth}}) is a seaside town, [[fishing port]] and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the English county of [[Devon]]. It lies on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the [[River Teign]], about {{convert|12|mi}} south of [[Exeter]]. The town had a population of 14,932 at the 2021 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teignmouth (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/admin/teignbridge/E04003234__teignmouth/ |access-date=15 January 2025 |website=Citypopulation.de}}</ref> 

From the 1800s onwards, the town grew rapidly in size from a [[fishing]] port associated with the [[Cod fishing in Newfoundland|Newfoundland cod industry]] to a fashionable resort of some note in [[Georgian era|Georgian]] times; there was further expansion after the opening of the [[South Devon Railway Company|South Devon Railway]] in 1846. Today, its port still operates and the town remains a popular seaside and day-trip holiday location.

==History==
===To 1700===
[[File:TeignmSWCP.JPG|thumb|left|Teignmouth from above the Ness]]

The first record of Teignmouth, {{lang|ang|Tengemuða}}, meaning ''mouth of the stream'', was in 1044.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names |last=Ekwall |first=Eilert |publisher=Oxford University Press |edition=4th |year=1981 |page=462 |isbn=0-19-869103-3}}</ref> Nonetheless, settlements very close by are attested earlier, with the banks of the Teign estuary having been in [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] hands since at least 682; a battle between the [[Ancient Britons]] and Saxons was recorded on [[Haldon Hills|Haldon]] in 927 and [[Vikings|Danish]] raids having occurred on the Teign estuary in 1001.

There were originally two villages, East and West Teignmouth, separated by a stream called the Tame, which emptied into the Teign through marshland by the current fish quay.<ref name="hosdev" /> Neither village is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], but East Teignmouth was granted a market by [[Charter#History|charter]] in 1253 and one for West Teignmouth followed a few years later.<ref>Griffiths 1989, p.24</ref> The Tame now runs under the town in [[culvert]]s and is visible only higher up the town as Brimley Brook, joined by smaller streams such as the Winterbourne (an intermittent stream, which flows only in winter or after heavy rain).

Documents indicate that Teignmouth was a significant port by the early 14th century, second in Devon only to [[Dartmouth, Devon|Dartmouth]].<ref>Trump 1986, p.1</ref> It was attacked by the French in 1340 and sent seven ships and 120 men to the expedition against Calais in 1347.<ref name="Worth">{{cite book |title=A History of Devonshire |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofdevonsh01wort |last=Worth |first=R. N. |year=1895 |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofdevonsh01wort/page/312 312] |publisher=Elliot Stock |location=London}}</ref> Its relative importance waned during the 15th century and it did not figure in an official record of 1577. This may have been due to silting up of the harbour caused by [[Dartmoor tin-mining|tin mining on Dartmoor]].<ref>Trump 1986, pp.2–3</ref>

During the 17th century, in common with other Channel ports, Teignmouth ships suffered from raids from [[Dunkirkers]], who were [[privateer]]s from [[Flanders|Flemish]] ports. It is possible that [[smuggling]] was the town's most significant trade at this time, though [[cod fishing in Newfoundland]] was also of great importance.<ref>Trump 1986, p.3</ref>

In July 1690, after the French Admiral [[Anne Hilarion de Tourville]] defeated an Anglo-Dutch fleet at the [[Battle of Beachy Head (1690)|Battle of Beachy Head]], the French fleet was anchored in [[Torbay]] and some of the galley fleet travelled the short distance up the coast and [[Raid on Teignmouth|attacked Teignmouth]]. A petition to the [[Lord Lieutenant]] from the inhabitants described the incident:

{{blockquote|...&nbsp;on the 26th day of this instant July 1690 by Foure of the clocke in the morning, your poor petitioners were invaded (by the French) to the number of 1,000 or thereabouts, who in the space of three hours tyme, burnt down to the ground the dwelling houses of 240 persons of our parish and upwards, plundered and carried away all our goods, defaced our churches, burnt ten of our ships in the harbour, besides fishing boats, netts and other fishing craft ...}}

After examining 'creditable persons', the [[Justices of the Peace]] concluded that:

{{blockquote|by the late horrid invasion there were within the space of 12 houres burnt downe and consumed 116 dwelling houses ... and also 172 dwelling houses were rifled and plundered and two parish churches much ruined, plundred and defaced, besides the burning of ten saile of shipps with the furniture thereof, and the goods and merchandise therein ...}}

As a result, [[the Crown]] issued a church brief that authorised the collection of £11,000 for the aid of the town. Churches from as far afield as [[Yorkshire]] contributed and the collections enabled the further development of the port.<ref name="T5">Trump 1986, pp.5–6</ref> This was the last invasion of England{{#tag:ref|Though not of Britain, as the [[Last invasion of Britain|French invaded {{lang|cy|Carreg Gwastad|italic=no|nocat=y}}]], near [[Fishguard]], [[Pembrokeshire]] in 1797.|group=notes}}<ref name="T5"/> and French Street, with its museum, is named in memory of the occasion.

In the 1600s and 1700s, there are records of a windmill on the Den – an area that was then a large sand dune and is now a grassy public open space near the seafront. By 1759, this windmill was demolished.

===1700 to present===
[[File:Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) - Teignmouth - T03882 - Tate.jpg|thumb|''[[Teignmouth (painting)|Teignmouth]]'' by [[J.M.W. Turner]], 1812]]

{{blockquote|A new advantageous Plan of Privateering<br />For a Six Months Cruize<br />All Gentlemen Seamen and Able Landmen who delight in the Music of Great Guns and distressing the Enemies of Great Britain have now a fine opportunity of making their Fortunes by entering on Board The ''Dragon'' Privateer ... now ready to be launch'd in the Harbour of Teignmouth... Any persons capable of beating a Drum or blowing a French horn shall have great encouragement.|Advertisement for the ''Dragon'', 1779.}}

In the late 18th century, [[privateer]]ing was common in Teignmouth, as it was in other west country ports. In 1779 the French ship ''L'Emulation'' with a cargo of sugar, coffee and cotton was offered for sale at "Rendle's Great Sale Room" in the town. Teignmouth people fitted out two privateers: ''Dragon'' with 16 guns and 70 men; and ''Bellona'', described as carrying "16 guns, 4 [[hand mortar|cohorn]]s and 8 swivels".<ref>Trump 1986, p.18</ref> ''Bellona'' set sail on her first voyage in September 1779 and was "oversett in a violent Gust of Wind" off [[Dawlish]], with the loss of 25 crew members.<ref>Trump 1986, p.19</ref>

The Newfoundland fisheries continued to provide the main employment into the early 19th century (e.g. [[Job Brothers & Co., Limited]]). With the men in Newfoundland for most of the year, the women did the local fishing and rowed the ferries across the estuary. Early tourists, such as [[Fanny Burney]], referred to the women as the "Amazonians" of Shaldon and Teignmouth, and wrote of their strength, health and tendency to wear trousers or hitch their skirts up to their knees to fish.<ref name="gray 2009">{{cite book |last1=Gray |first1=Todd |title=Remarkable Women of Devon |date=2009 |publisher=Mint Press |location=Exeter |isbn=978-1-903356-59-3 |pages=13–19}}</ref>

As the fisheries declined, tourism increased. A tea house was built on the Den in 1787 amongst the local fishermen's drying nets.<ref>Gray 2003, p.96</ref> By 1803, Teignmouth was called a "fashionable watering place" and the resort continued to develop during the 19th century. Its two churches were rebuilt soon after 1815 and the first bridge across the estuary to Shaldon was built in 1827; [[George Templer]]'s New Quay opened at the port; and the [[esplanade]], Den Crescent and the central Assembly Rooms (later the cinema) were laid out. The population in the 1841 census was 4,459 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite book |title=The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge |date=1848 |publisher=Charles Knight |location=London |page=381 |volume=V |edition=First}}</ref> The railway arrived in 1846 and the pier was built 1865–7.<ref name="Pev">{{cite book |title=The Buildings of England – Devon |last1=Cherry |first1=Bridget |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |author-link2=Nikolaus Pevsner |publisher=Penguin |location=Harmondsworth |pages=794–801 |year=1989 |isbn=0-14-071050-7}}</ref>

[[File:Teignmouth14.jpg|left|thumb|250px| A view of Teignmouth, the Den and the Ness at Shaldon in the 19th century]]

A version of the [[legend of the Parson and Clerk]], dating to 1900, tells the tale of the [[Bishop of Exeter]] visiting Teignmouth and whilst being guided by a local priest, the devil turns them both to stone, which is seen in the form of two [[stack (geology)|stacks]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Nummits and Crummits. Devonshire Customs, Characteristics and Folk-lore |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924029890724
|last=Hewett |first=Sarah |year=1900 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924029890724/page/n194 177]–179 |publisher=Thomas Burleigh}}</ref>

[[File:Frith Teignmouth.jpg|thumb|Teignmouth (1860s-1880s) by [[Francis Frith]]]]

[[World War I]] had a disruptive effect on Teignmouth; over 175 men from the town lost their lives and many businesses did not survive. In the 1920s, as the economy started to recover, a golf course opened on Little [[Haldon]]; the [[Morgan Giles Ltd.|Morgan Giles]] shipbuilding business was established, and [[charabanc]]s took employees and their families for annual outings to [[Dartmoor]] and elsewhere. By the 1930s, the town was again thriving and, with the [[Haldon Aerodrome]] and School of Flying nearby, Teignmouth was advertised as the only south coast resort offering complete aviation facilities.<ref name="topp" />

During the [[World War II]], Teignmouth suffered badly from "tip and run" air raids.<ref name="hosdev">{{Cite book |title=A New Survey of England: Devon |last=Hoskins
|first=W.G. |publisher=Collins |location=London |page=492 |year=1954}} (Text available online at the [http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110638/1.html Devon Libraries Local Studies Service.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302190300/http://www.devon.gov.uk/localstudies/110638/1.html |date=2 March 2008}})</ref> It was bombed 21 times between July 1940 and February 1944; 79 people were killed, 151 wounded, 228 houses were destroyed and over 2,000 damaged in the raids.<ref>Trump 1986, p.108</ref> Teignmouth's hospital was bombed during a raid on 8 May 1941, killing three nurses and seven patients. It was rebuilt and reopened in September 1954, making it the first complete general hospital in the country to be built after the formation of the [[History of the National Health Service (England)|National Health Service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/media/pdf/n/9/040528_TeignmouthRoyalVisit.pdf |title=Royal Visit to Teignmouth Hospital, Friday 25th June 2004 |publisher=Teignbridge NHS Primary Care Trust |access-date=6 June 2009
|archive-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613201726/http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/media/pdf/n/9/040528_TeignmouthRoyalVisit.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

A US Navy plan was created, which proposed to dam the harbour and set up a seaplane base, but it was abandoned as the war turned in favour of the allies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://devonairfields.tripod.com/ |title=Devon Airfields Index |publisher=devonairfields.tripod.com
|access-date=1 January 2011 |archive-date=16 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081527/http://devonairfields.tripod.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Port===
[[File:Teignmouthquay1.jpg|thumb|The New Quay at Teignmouth in 1827, with a large crane and blocks of cut granite ready for transshipment]]
[[File:TeignmouthNewQuay.jpg|thumb|New Quay in 2006]]

The port of Teignmouth, in existence since the 13th century, remains active; it handles mostly clay, timber and grain.

The Old Quay was built in the mid-18th century on land leased from Lord Clifford<!-- possibly [[Henry Clifford, 5th Earl of Cumberland]] -->. The opening of the [[Stover Canal]] by James Templer in 1792<ref name="Templflt">
{{cite web |url=http://www.devon.gov.uk/templerwayleaflet.pdf |title= Templer Way leaflet |publisher=Devon County Council |access-date=14 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705172418/http://www.devon.gov.uk/templerwayleaflet.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2008}}</ref> provided a boost to the port, due to the ease with which [[ball clay]] could be transported from the mines north of Newton Abbot. After travelling along the canal, the barges continued down the estuary to the port. By 1820, this trade was supplemented by granite from the quarries near [[Haytor]] on Dartmoor carried via the unique granite-tracked [[Haytor Granite Tramway]] which was linked to the Stover Canal. The granite to build the [[London Bridge#New London Bridge|new London Bridge]] came via this route and was sent from the New Quay, which had been built for this traffic in 1821–25 by George Templer, James's son.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Haytor Granite Tramway & Stover Canal |last=Ewans |first=M.C. |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |year=1964|page=43}}</ref>

The Old Quay was sold to [[George Hennet]] in 1850 and became the centre of his trading network. It was connected to the [[South Devon Railway Company|South Devon Railway]] the previous year.

Until 1852, Teignmouth was legally part of the Port of Exeter. In September of that year, after many years of campaigning (latterly under the leadership of George Hennet), the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury agreed that Teignmouth should be independent which was the cause of much celebration.<ref>Trump 1986, pp.46–48</ref>

Teignmouth has a tradition of shipbuilding from the 17th century. By the turn of the 19th century, there were three shipyards in Teignmouth, with three in Shaldon and Ringmore on the opposite side of the estuary.<ref>Trump 1986, p.27</ref> The industry declined in the early 20th century but, in 1921, [[Francis Charles Morgan-Giles|Morgan Giles]] bought the last derelict shipbuilding yard and gave the industry a new stimulus. His shipyard became a major employer, building pleasure craft in peacetime and small craft such as torpedo boats during World War II. The business failed in 1968, not long after [[Donald Crowhurst]]'s attempt to sail around the world.<ref>Griffiths 1989, p.129</ref>

The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society sent a [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboat]] to Teignmouth in 1851 and kept it in a [[boathouse]] on the beach near the Custom House. In 1854, the society transferred its lifeboats to the [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] (RNLI). A new boathouse was provided on The Den with doors facing the harbour which was used until 1940. After a gap of fifty years, on 3 November 1990, the RNLI reopened [[Teignmouth Lifeboat Station]] with an {{Lbb|Atlantic 21}} inshore lifeboat.<ref>{{cite book |last=Leach |first=Nicholas |title=Devon's Lifeboat Heritage |year=2009 |publisher=Twelveheads Press |location=Chacewater |isbn=978-0-906294-72-7 |pages=10–12}}</ref>

[[Teignmouth Lighthouse]] was erected in 1845 to guide ships into the harbour.<ref name="RC1861">{{cite web |title =Lighthouse management: the report of the Royal Commissioners on Lights, Buoys, and Beacons, 1861, examined and refuted Vol. 2 |year=1861 |page=366 |url=https://archive.org/stream/lighthousemanage02blak#page/366/mode/1up}}</ref>

===Shaldon Bridge===
[[File:BroadGaugeTeign.jpg|left|thumb|A broad gauge train leaving Teignmouth, with Shaldon Bridge and the Ness in the background, circa 1854]]
[[File:Shaldon Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|Shaldon Bridge in 2004]]

The original bridge was owned by the Teignmouth and Shaldon Bridge Company. The first stone was laid on 20 September 1824<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Bath, Wednesday Sept 29 |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000187/18240930/028/0003 |newspaper=Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette |location=England |date=30 September 1824 |access-date=11 October 2025 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and it opened on 8 June 1827.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0007927 |title=Shaldon Bridge (1827) |publisher=Structurae |access-date=11 January 2008
|archive-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604114909/http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0007927
|url-status=live}}</ref> It had 34 wooden arches and was {{convert|1,671|ft}} long, which made it the longest wooden bridge in England when built. It had abutment walls of a considerable length at either end, and a swing bridge at the Teignmouth end to allow sailing ships to pass up the estuary.<ref name="dhsb">{{cite web |url=http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Shaldon/ShaldonBridge.htm |title=Shaldon Bridge |publisher=Devon Heritage
|access-date=11 January 2008 |last=Brine |first=Richard J. |archive-date=20 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020132410/http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Shaldon/ShaldonBridge.htm
|url-status=live}}</ref> It cost around £19,000 to build, but the overall expenditure was about £26,000 ({{Inflation|UK|26000|1827|r=-2|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} due to the costs of the necessary Act of Parliament and the purchase of the old ferry-rights.<ref>Carrington 1830, pp.36–37</ref> Toll houses were built at each end of the bridge and the one on the Teignmouth side survives.<ref name="G91">Griffiths 1989, p.91</ref>

After eleven years, on 27 June 1838, the centre arches of the bridge collapsed; the timbers had been eaten through by shipworms.<ref>Gray 2003, p.126</ref> It was rebuilt in wood and reopened on 13 April 1840,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Teignmouth and Shaldon Bridge |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000348/18400422/021/0003 |newspaper=Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser |location=England |date=22 April 1840 |access-date=11 October 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}</ref> but it partially collapsed again in 1893.<ref name="G91"/> 

The bridge was completely rebuilt between 1928 and 1931, using steel for the piers and main girders, and concrete for most of the deck, except for the opening span which used timber.<ref name="H78">Hawkins 1988, p.78</ref> The work was undertaken by the Teignmouth and Shaldon Bridge Company, with the consulting engineers [[Mott, Hay and Anderson]] and the contractor Mitchell Bros., Sons and Co.<ref name=WMN1931>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The New Shaldon Bridge |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19310702/010/0004 |newspaper=Western Morning News |location=England |date=2 July 1931 |access-date=11 October 2025 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The overall length of the new bridge was {{convert|1130|ft|m}} carried on 22 spans, with an overall width of {{convert|28|ft|6|in|m}} providing a carriageway of {{convert|20|ft|m}} and two footpaths {{convert|4|ft|3|in|m}} wide. Each span of four longitudinal girders rests at either end on a large capsill girder, which in turn is supported at its ends by circular piers built up of precast concrete blocks. Each pier rests on four reinforced concrete piles driven into the river bed. The new bridge allowed the lifting of the previous weight limit of {{convert|3|LT|kg}}.<ref name=WMN1931/> A bascule span was provided in place of the previous opening span.

On 28 October 1948, [[Devon County Council]] bought the bridge from the Shaldon Bridge Company for £92,020 ({{Inflation|UK|92020|1948|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} and tolls were abolished.<ref name="H78"/> The original paintwork was inadequate to deal with the environment, so repairs were required in 1960 and in 1980.<ref>Hawkins 1988, p.95</ref> In 1998, it was discovered that the bridge had severe structural defects and work to correct this continued until 2002; the bridge remaining open throughout.<ref name="dhsb"/> After this work was completed, residents nearby noticed that in certain wind conditions the bridge "whistles". {{As of|2007}} the problem had not been solved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137199&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136986&contentPK=19281605&folderPk=79934&pNodeId=137002
|title=Singing Bridge on Wrong Note |publisher=Thisisexeter.co.uk |access-date=11 January 2008}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In February 2016, Devon County Council announced that the moveable, lifting section of the bridge would be raised later in the year, for the first time since 2002. This is in order to satisfy a condition in the Act that permitted construction, that the opening section be maintained.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Shaldon-Bridge-open-year-decade-year/story-28678226-detail/story.html |title=Shaldon Bridge WILL open for first time in a decade this year |access-date=9 April 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Transport==
===Railway===
[[Teignmouth railway station]], which opened in 1846, is located close to the town centre. It lies between the stations of {{stnlnk|Dawlish}} and {{stnlnk|Newton Abbot}} on the [[Exeter–Plymouth line|South Devon Main Line]] and the [[Riviera Line]].

The station is served by two [[train operating companies]]:
* [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] operates regular stopping trains on a local route between {{rws|Exmouth}}, {{rws|Exeter St Davids}} and {{rws|Paignton}}. Some [[inter-city rail|inter-city]] services between {{rws|Plymouth}} and {{rws|London Paddington}} stop here, as well as some services between {{rws|Cardiff Central}}, {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}, Plymouth and {{rws|Penzance}}.<ref>{{Cite web |work=Great Western Railway |title=Train Times |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |url=https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times}}</ref>
* [[CrossCountry]] services between {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}, {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} and Paignton stop here twice a day in each direction.<ref>{{Cite web |work=CrossCountry |title=Timetables |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025 |url=https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/train-timetables}}</ref>

====History====
[[File:Dscn3557-brunels-atmospheric-caper 600x800.jpg|thumb|upright|Broad-gauge rails and Brunel's atmospheric railway pipe at [[Didcot Railway Centre]]. A small child indicates the scale.]]

The line built by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] runs along the [[South Devon Railway sea wall]], which is a stone embankment between the sea and cliffs that runs for several miles between Teignmouth and [[Dawlish Warren]]. This line was originally both [[broad gauge]] and worked by the [[Atmospheric railway#Brunel's ''atmospheric caper''|atmospheric system]], with steam pump houses at regular intervals to create the vacuum. It was not successful for a host of reasons and was converted to normal steam locomotive working. Redundant sections of the atmospheric railway pipes were used as drains all over Teignmouth; one was set in the roadside in Woodway Lane, near [[Woodway House]].

{{blockquote|Such was the terrific force of the impelled water that along the sea-wall and railway huge coping-stones, probably averaging one ton each, were tossed about like corks...|Illustrated London News, 1859.}}

In December 1852, a large landslip from the cliffs east of the town caused the railway to close for four days;<ref>Mitchell Smith 2000, caption 77</ref> and, in 1855 and 1859, the sea broke through the line at Teignmouth.<ref>Gray 2003, p.128</ref> There have been many more closures since, caused both by landslips from the cliffs and breaches by the sea, especially in winter. In 2010, the sea walls and adjoining estuaries were costing [[Network Rail]] around £500,000 per year to maintain.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101110/halltext/101110h0002.htm#10111045000454
|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 10 Nov 2010 (pt 0002) Column 138WH |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=27 November 2010 |archive-date=21 November 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121225605/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101110/halltext/101110h0002.htm#10111045000454 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1936, the [[Great Western Railway]] surveyed an inland deviation between [[Exminster]] and [[Bishopsteignton]], with a shorter route starting near Dawlish Warren; however, the advent of [[World War II]] brought these projects to an end.<ref>Mitchell and Smith 2000, "Diversions" p.4 (unnumbered)</ref>

===Buses===
Local bus services are operated predominantly by [[Stagecoach South West]] and Country Bus (Newton Abbot); key routes that serve the town include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Teignmouth Bus Services |work=Bus Times |access-date=30 July 2023 |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/teignmouth}}</ref>
* 2: [[Exeter]] to [[Newton Abbot]]
* 22: [[Dawlish Warren]] to [[Paignton]]
* 81: Town centre to Teignmouth [[Morrisons]].

===Roads===
The town lies at the junction of the [[A379 road|A379]] coast road, the [[A381 road]] to [[Newton Abbot]], and the [[B3192]] which climbs up to the [[A380 road|A380]] on [[Haldon]] and hence on to the [[M5 motorway|M5]] {{convert|19|km}} away. A road bridge links the town to [[Shaldon]].

===Ferry===
Teignmouth is also linked to Shaldon by a passenger [[ferry]] at the river mouth.

==Geography==
[[File:Teignmouth sign.jpg|thumb|The Teignmouth sign on Sprey Point]]

The town is located on the north bank of the mouth of the estuary of the [[River Teign]]. The red sandstone headland on the Shaldon side, called ''The Ness'', is the most recognisable symbol of the town from the seaward side.

In the harbour area was the Salty; a small flat island created through dredging operations but levelled, supposedly to improve natural scouring of the main channel for shipping, in recent years to leave a large tidal sand bank frequented by seabirds and cockle-collectors. Salmon nets are still employed by locals, especially near Shaldon Bridge.

The estuary seems disproportionately large for the size of the river flowing through it; this is especially apparent at low tide, because it is a [[ria|drowned valley]] caused by a relative rise in sea level following the last [[Last glacial period|Ice Age]].

===Climate===
Teignmouth is situated on the coast of Devon, a [[peninsula]] of [[South West England]]. It has a mild [[Oceanic climate|maritime climate]]. Prevailing winds across the south-west of England are from the west. Teignmouth lies to the east of [[Dartmoor]], in a [[Lee waves|lee]] / rainshadow, with mean temperatures 3&nbsp;°C (5&nbsp;°F) higher and less than 43% of the rainfall of [[Princetown]], which is located on Dartmoor.<ref name="weather">{{cite web |url=http://www.greatweather.co.uk/teignmouth/climate.html |title=The Climate of Teignmouth |date=25 February 2009
|publisher=Teignmouth Weather Station |access-date=21 March 2009 |archive-date=6 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106113740/http://www.greatweather.co.uk/teignmouth/climate.html
|url-status=live}}</ref> It receives {{convert|133|mm}} less precipitate per year than nearby Plymouth, which is located on the south-west coast of Devon.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/uk/plymouth_e.htm |title=Climatological Normals of Plymouth – 1961–1990
|publisher=The [[Hong Kong Observatory]]
|work=Climatological Information for United Kingdom and Ireland |access-date=9 June 2008 |archive-date=24 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524173641/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/uk/plymouth_e.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Owing to its proximity to the sea, Teignmouth has warmer winters with less frost and snow, as well as slightly cooler summers compared with inland areas of southern England. January is usually the coldest month in Britain; however, sea temperatures usually reach their minimum temperature in late February, which affects Teignmouth's climate, making February its coldest month. The first [[frost (temperature)|frost]] in Teignmouth usually occurs in late November or early December.<ref name="weather" />

Snow is rare during the start of the winter season in December. Late autumn and early winter is the wettest time of the year, because sea temperatures are still relatively high and deep Atlantic [[low-pressure area|depressions]] bring moist air across the South West. On average, July is the driest month, but summer thunderstorms can occasionally deposit more than the month's mean rainfall in one day. Teignmouth has average daily sunshine totals of over seven hours in summer and around two hours in winter. Sunshine totals reflect the hours of daylight and the fluctuations of the [[Azores High]], which is most powerful in summer.<ref name="weather" /> The climate patterns also implicate a less pronounced cooler [[Mediterranean climate]] (''csa/ csb'') influence which is due to the decrease in [[precipitation]] centred over the summer period and surplus rainfall during the winter.

The Teignmouth weather station is located in an area of the town exposed to sea breezes, resulting in lower temperature extremes compared to more sheltered parts of the town and surrounding area. Temperatures at the station have increased in every month between the 1981–2010 and 1991–2020 climate periods, with notable warming in spring and autumn, along with a small overall increase in rainfall during this time. 

{{Weather box|location = Teignmouth 7m asl, 1991–2020
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 16.2
|Feb record high C = 16.5
|Mar record high C = 18.8
|Apr record high C = 22.4
|May record high C = 26.1
|Jun record high C = 29.4
|Jul record high C = 29.4
|Aug record high C = 29.4
|Sep record high C = 27.8
|Oct record high C = 24.9
|Nov record high C = 18.9
|Dec record high C = 17.2
|year record high C = 29.4
|Jan high C = 9.7
|Feb high C = 9.7
|Mar high C = 11.2
|Apr high C = 13.4
|May high C = 16.2
|Jun high C = 19.0
|Jul high C = 21.1
|Aug high C = 21.0
|Sep high C = 19.0
|Oct high C = 15.7
|Nov high C = 12.5
|Dec high C = 10.4
|year high C = 14.9
|Jan mean C = 6.9
|Feb mean C = 6.8
|Mar mean C = 8.1
|Apr mean C = 9.9
|May mean C = 12.7
|Jun mean C = 15.4
|Jul mean C = 17.4
|Aug mean C = 17.4
|Sep mean C = 15.5
|Oct mean C = 12.6
|Nov mean C = 9.6
|Dec mean C = 7.5
|year mean C = 11.7
|Jan low C = 4.2
|Feb low C = 3.8
|Mar low C = 5.0
|Apr low C = 6.5
|May low C = 9.1
|Jun low C = 11.8
|Jul low C = 13.7
|Aug low C = 13.8
|Sep low C = 11.9
|Oct low C = 9.6
|Nov low C = 6.6
|Dec low C = 4.6
|year low C = 8.4
|Jan record low C = -10.5
|Feb record low C = -7.8
|Mar record low C = -6.7
|Apr record low C = -2.1
|May record low C = 0.2
|Jun record low C = 2.1
|Jul record low C = 7.2
|Aug record low C = 5.6
|Sep record low C = 1.2
|Oct record low C = -1.1
|Nov record low C = -3.9
|Dec record low C = -6.5
|year record low C = -10.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 96.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 73.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 67.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 60.6
|May precipitation mm = 53.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 55.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 46.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 62.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 57.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 101.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 98.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 101.3
|year precipitation mm = 873.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 13.1
|Feb precipitation days = 11.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.9
|May precipitation days = 8.6
|Jun precipitation days = 8.0
|Jul precipitation days = 7.3
|Aug precipitation days = 9.2
|Sep precipitation days = 7.8
|Oct precipitation days = 12.5
|Nov precipitation days = 13.1
|Dec precipitation days = 13.4
|year precipitation days = 124.1
|Jan sun = 64.1
|Feb sun = 86.8
|Mar sun = 127.8
|Apr sun = 186.0
|May sun = 216.0
|Jun sun = 220.4
|Jul sun = 219.5
|Aug sun = 200.2
|Sep sun = 162.0
|Oct sun = 114.3
|Nov sun = 80.8
|Dec sun = 59.2
|year sun = 1737.2
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web |title=UK climate averages – Teignmouth, Devon
|url =https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gbvx83wwx |publisher=Met Office}}</ref>
|source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.roostweather.com/ukobs/temp_station_extreme_map.php |title=Monthly Temperature Extremes}}</ref>
|date=October 2025}}

==Buildings==
[[File:Teignmouth12.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The esplanade with Den Crescent and the Assembly Rooms behind, circa 1860]]

Den Crescent and its central Assembly Rooms, laid out in 1826 by [[Andrew Patey]] of Exeter, still survive relatively unchanged today.<ref name="Pev" /> The Assembly Rooms were the hub of the town's social life in the 19th century and lavish balls took place in the {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on}} long ballroom. In 1871, the building was taken over by the East Devon and Teignmouth Club which had an exclusive membership taken from the gentry and professional middle class.<ref name="topp">
{{cite book |title=Teignmouth in old picture postcards
|last=Pearson |first=Ann |year=1986 |publisher=European Library |location=Zaltbommel, Netherlands |isbn=90-288-3367-6}}</ref>

Over the years, the building was used as a theatre, a dance hall, a conference centre and a billiards hall.<ref name=Mars>{{cite news |title=Bid to bring iconic Riviera Cinema in Teignmouth back to its former glory |date=31 August 2016 |newspaper=Herald Express|location=Torquay|url=http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/bid-to-bring-iconic-cinema-back-to-former-glory/story-29668483-detail/story.html |access-date=17 October 2016 |archive-date=1 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901143138/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/bid-to-bring-iconic-cinema-back-to-former-glory/story-29668483-detail/story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1934 it was converted into the Riviera Cinema, in which guise it continued until 2000; part of the building has now been converted into flats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theater/22755/
|title=Cinema Treasures—Riviera Cinema |publisher=cinematreasures.org |access-date=20 January 2008 |archive-date=5 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505045116/http://cinematreasures.org/theater/22755/
|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, the lease for the historic auditorium was taken over by the Mars Hill Church, with the intention of restoring it as both a cinema and a music and arts facility.<ref name=Mars/>

The town's parish church, dedicated to St. James, is unusual, being octagonal in shape.{{#tag:ref|Another example of this rare church design is now called Dreghorn and Springside Parish Church (formerly Dreghorn and [[Perceton]]) in [[North Ayrshire]], Scotland.|group=notes}} A story from [[Cornwall]] suggests why these churches are rounded, for the villagers of [[Veryan]] built several circular houses so that the Devil had no corners in which to lie in wait for unsuspecting occupants and these buildings were therefore 'Devil-proof.'<ref>''The AA Book of British Villages.'' Drive Publications. 1980. p.394.</ref> The [[St Michael the Archangel's Church, Teignmouth|church of St Michael the Archangel]] is in the east of the town. St. Scholastica's Abbey (now converted to flats), on the road to Dawlish, built in 1864 by [[Henry Woodyer]] is a notable [[Gothic Revival]] building, and the Roman Catholic Church, on the same road, is a late work by [[Joseph Hansom]], the inventor of the [[hansom cab]].<ref name="hosdev"/>

In 1894, there were 26 public houses in Teignmouth.<ref>Gray 2003, p.41</ref> Pubs today include the Blue Anchor Inn on Teign Street and the Devon Arms on Northumberland Place. The River Beach is home to a varied selection of seasonal and permanent beach huts, one of which (now removed to the town's museum) was a Georgian bathing machine, minus wheels. These huts have enjoyed the boom in popularity of such properties in recent years and now change hands for figures approaching £100,000.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}

Teignmouth and Shaldon museum was completed in 2011. It comprises an architecturally iconic extension of the existing 18th century museum building, with new roof terrace looking over the town, glass tower and community facility. Some of the exhibits include a restored bathing machine; artefacts from the Church Rock wreck, such as cannons; exhibits from the nearby Haldon aerodrome, plus film footage including [[The Beatles]]' visit to the town and the 2009 homecoming concerts by Muse. The new build cost almost £1.1m; it was enabled by a major community fund-raising effort, in combination with Lottery and UK government funding and other sources, such as local grant funders and Devon County Council.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.teignheritage.org.uk/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Teign Heritage Centre |access-date=8 September 2011 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402082613/http://www.teignheritage.org.uk/about-us |url-status=live}}</ref> The Church Rock wreck was found when a [[Giovanni Alberghetti|Zuanne Alberghetti]] cannon was located on the site of a 16th-century wreck, followed by further discoveries.<ref>[http://victory1744.org/margaretruletribute.html A Tribute to Dr. Margaret Rule, CBE, FSA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410101911/http://victory1744.org/margaretruletribute.html |date=10 April 2017 }}; HMS Victory--1744</ref>

The town's newest public building is the Pavilions Teignmouth, a community arts and enterprise centre on the Den,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12407 |title=Pavilions Teignmouth |publisher=Teignbridge District Council |access-date=24 July 2015 |archive-date=24 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724163707/http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12407 |url-status=live}}</ref> opened in April 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=£5 million Pavilions Teignmouth officially opened |url=http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/5million-Pavilions-Teignmouth-officially-opened/story-29048739-detail/story.html |date=4 April 2016 |author=Daniel Clark |access-date=10 June 2016 |newspaper=Torquay Herald Express}}{{Dead link |date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

==21st century==
On 27 July 2005, Teignmouth received status as Devon's first [[Fairtrade Town]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fairtradedevon.org.uk |title=Fairtrade Devon|work=fairtradedevon.org.uk |access-date=10 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926185440/http://fairtradedevon.org.uk/ |archive-date=26 September 2015}}</ref> Also in 2005, the volunteer ''Teignmouth Regeneration Project'', in association with the town, district and county councils, published a strategic plan that identified issues to be dealt with by 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcti.org.uk/uploads/Teignmouth%20CSP.pdf
|title=Tomorrow's Teignmouth |publisher=MCTA – Market and Coastal Towns Association |year=2005 |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-date=6 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106235539/http://www.mcti.org.uk/uploads/Teignmouth%20CSP.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Among the issues listed are to develop quality tourism, alleviate the danger of flooding to the town and provide affordable housing.

[[File:TeignmouthFromNess.JPG|thumb|Teignmouth, from The Ness]]

In May 2010, Teignbridge District Council put forward for consultation, ''A Vision for Teignmouth'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=25049&p=0 |title=Teignmouth Vision Document |publisher=teignbridge.gov.uk |access-date=3 June 2010 |archive-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613202030/http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=25049&p=0 |url-status=live}}</ref> which was a plan consisting of 21 regeneration projects for the town. A skatepark was opened on the seafront in July 2010 and flood defences at the Fish Quay were completed in October 2012.

==Tourism==
Although reduced from its heyday, Teignmouth still receives considerable numbers of holidaymakers, especially day-trippers. It is [[town twinning|twinned]] with the French town [[Perros-Guirec]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://teigntwin.co.uk/index.html |title=Welcome to Teignmouth Twinning Online |publisher=Teigntwin.co.uk  |access-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501230414/http://www.teigntwin.co.uk/index.html |archive-date=1 May 2008}}</ref>

The resort has a sea beach and [[Grand Pier, Teignmouth|Teignmouth Pier]], with [[amusement arcade]] and rides. The beach wraps around the spit at the head of the river Teign, providing a river beach commonly known as the ''Back Beach'' on the estuary side; this overlooks the harbour with its moorings for many pleasure craft and has views up the estuary to [[Dartmoor]]. An {{Convert|18|mi|adj=on}} long waymarked route, known as the ''Templer Way'', has been created between [[Haytor]] on Dartmoor and Shaldon. It closely follows the route of George Templer's [[Haytor Granite Tramway|granite tramway]], his father James's [[Stover Canal]] and finally the estuary to Teignmouth.<ref name="Templflt" />

Teignmouth Carnival is held during the last week of July, with the procession on the last Thursday. Since 1999, the town has hosted a summer folk festival.<ref name="folk">{{cite news |title=10th Teignmouth Midsummer Folk Festival |newspaper=Teignmouth News |page=12 |date=11 June 2008}}</ref> In 2005, [[Fergus O'Byrne]] and [[Jim Payne (folk singer)|Jim Payne]] from [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]], were the 'headline' artists at that year's festival which celebrated the town's links with that region.<ref name="folk"/>

In 2014, Teignmouth and Dawlish Community Interest Group commissioned a website to promote the town to tourists visiting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.loveteignmouth.co.uk |title=Official home of love Teignmouth |work=Love Teignmouth |access-date=10 October 2015 |archive-date=13 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813040646/http://www.loveteignmouth.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2018, Teignmouth has hosted the annual ''Teign Shanty Festival''; it is a folk music festival with a focus on [[Sea shanty|sea shanties]], with over 40 groups performing in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 July 2019 |title=Teign Maritime & Shanty Festival |url=https://www.teignshantyfestival.co.uk/|access-date=22 September 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923180228/https://www.teignshantyfestival.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Schools==
{{Main|Ivy Education Trust|Teignmouth Community School}}

The main schooling presence in the town is that of the [[Ivy Education Trust]], which has a primary, secondary and [[key stage 5|sixth form]] there. The primary school is known simply as ''Teignmouth Primary School''; this was previously known as ''Teignmouth Community School, Mill Lane'' and before this was known as ''Inverteign''. 

Incorporating a sixth form college, the main secondary school is [[Teignmouth Community School]], stylised sometimes as ''Teignmouth Secondary''. Formerly Teignmouth High School, then Teignmouth Community College, it was created as a merger in 1979 of Teignmouth Grammar School, which occupied the Westlawn and Winterbourne buildings of the school, and Teignmouth Secondary Modern School. More recently, it has merged further with Inverteign Community Nursery and Primary School.<ref>{{cite web |title=Journey of our Trust |url=https://ivyeducationtrust.co.uk/journey-of-our-trust |website=Ivy Education Trust |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref>

Also present in the town is [[Trinity School, Teignmouth|Trinity School]], which is independent with a preparatory department and boarding facilities, for children from ages 2 to 18. It was formerly known as The Convent of Notre Dame.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Other primary schools include Our Lady & St Patrick (OLSP), being a Roman Catholic School, and Hazeldown.

==Media==
Local TV coverage is provided by [[BBC South West]] and [[ITV West Country]]. Television signals are received from the [[Beacon Hill transmitting station|Beacon Hill]] and [[Stockland Hill transmitting station|Stockland Hill]] TV transmitters and from one of the two local relay transmitters, depending on which part of the town (Teignmouth <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Teignmouth|title= Freeview Light on the Teignmouth (Devon, England) transmitter |date=1 May 2004 |website=UK Free TV |access-date=6 January 2024}}</ref> and Coombe<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Coombe |title= Freeview Light on the Coombe (Devon, England) transmitter |date=1 May 2004 |website=UK Free TV |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref>). 

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Devon]] on 104.3 FM, [[Heart West]] on 96.4 and 103 FM [[The Breeze (South Devon)|Greatest Hits Radio Devon]] on 105.5 FM, [[Radio Exe]] on 107.3 FM and East Devon Radio, a community based station which broadcast on 106.4 FM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eastdevon.radio/about-us/ |title=About Us - East Devon Radio|access-date=6 January 2024|archive-date=11 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111040054/https://www.eastdevon.radio/about-us/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> 

The town is served by the local newspaper, ''Teignmouth Post'', a sub-edition of the ''[[Mid Devon Advertiser]]'', which publishes on Fridays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-sw/mid-devon-advertiser/ |title=Mid Devon Advertiser |date=4 May 2014 |website=British Papers |access-date=6 January 2024 |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204093540/https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-sw/mid-devon-advertiser/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sport==
The town is the home of [[Teignmouth A.F.C.]], whose first team currently play in the [[South West Peninsula League]] and reserves play in the [[South Devon League]] Division Two. 

It is also the home of [[Teignmouth R.F.C.]] with the 1st XV playing in the South West 1 league. 

The Den Bowling Club situated on the sea front is the home of the Teignmouth Open Bowls Tournament. 

Teignmouth Shotokan Karate Club was established in 1984 and trains twice weekly at the Teign Heritage Centre and Pavilions Teignmouth.

The seafront benefits from [[Teignmouth Lido]], a public open-air heated swimming pool. This is one of four outdoor pools operated by [[Teignbridge District Council]]. The others are at Buckfastleigh, Ashburton and Buckland.

Teignmouth is home to the River Teign Rowing club, the largest rowing club in the UK with almost 400 members; it competes internationally in Cornish Pilot Gig rowing, locally racing Seine boats and nationally in Sea Skiffs and Sculls. Members have competed recently as far afield as Russia.

Teign Corinthian Yacht Club was founded in 1886; it organises racing and training for sailing dinghies, yachts and powerboats. It has two centres: a clubhouse on Teignmouth seafront built in 1995 and a dinghy park on the River Teign estuary at Coombe Cellars, with a new clubhouse being built there in 2020.

==Notable people==
[[Fanny Burney]], the diarist and novelist, visited Teignmouth several times in the late 18th century. She took her first dip in the sea here in 1773, as she recorded in her journal.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.teignmuseum.org.uk/pages/museum/inTeignmouth/bathing.html |title=Teignmouth&Shaldon Museum
|publisher=Teignmuseum.org.uk |access-date=15 January 2008 |archive-date=8 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908113439/http://www.teignmuseum.org.uk/pages/museum/inTeignmouth/bathing.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Elias Parish Alvars]], the harpist, was born in East Teignmouth in 1808. Three years later, [[Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt]], vice-admiral, hydrographer and geologist, was born at [[Woodway House]].

In spring 1818, the poet [[John Keats]] spent several weeks in Teignmouth and completed his epic poem [[Endymion (poem)|''Endymion'']] here.<ref name="keats"/> His arrival coincided with a period of wet weather and he wrote to a friend of "the abominable Devonshire Weather ... the truth is, it is a splashy, rainy, misty, snowy, foggy, haily, floody, muddy, slipshod county."<ref name="keats">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ideas+of+landscape+in+John+Keats%27+Teignmouth+poems.-a0167977588
|title=Ideas of landscape in John Keats' Teignmouth poems |access-date=24 November 2007 |publisher=The Free Library
|year=2006 |author=Mackenzie, Clayton G
|archive-date=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518004304/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ideas+of+landscape+in+John+Keats%27+Teignmouth+poems.-a0167977588 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[George O. May]] (born 1875), who made significant contributions to the field of accounting and rose to senior partner of Price Waterhouse's American firm in the early 20th century, was born and raised in Teignmouth.
<ref>{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=David Grayson |last2=McDermott |first2=Kathleen |title=Accounting For Success: A History of Price Waterhouse in America |publisher=Harvard Business School Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/accountingforsuc00alle/page/47 47] |chapter=Chapter 2: The Americanization of the Practice |year=1993 |isbn=0-87584-319-0 |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/accountingforsuc00alle/page/47}}</ref>

From 1812 until his death in 1833, [[Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth]] had his home at Bitton House, which was then called West Cliff House. Meanwhile, [[Thomas Luny]], the painter of seascapes, lived in the town for thirty years until his death in 1837 and executed over 2,200 paintings while living here. Shortly afterwards [[George Hennet]], the railway engineer and contractor who was closely involved with Brunel's railway, moved to the town and took a close interest in local affairs. He died here in 1857.

[[Charles Babbage]] (1791–1871), the mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, who originated the idea of a programmable computer, also lived here for some years and was married in St Michael's church in the town.

[[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Sir John Smyth]] (1893–1983) was a recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] and was made 1st Baronet of Teignmouth in 1956.

The [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] footballer [[Charles Vanden Wouwer]] was born in Teignmouth in 1916, while his parents were staying there as World War I refugees.

The Canadian Second World War pilot [[Roy Sydney Baker-Falkner]] settled in the Teignmouth area in 1930, his brother and sister studying in Teignmough whilst he was a cadet at the [[Royal Naval College, Dartmouth]]. He went on to be one of the few naval pilots of the [[Battle of Britain Monument, London|Battle of Britain]], was a test pilot and given the freedom of Teignmouth and Exeter after leading the audacious attack on the German battleship {{warship|German battleship|Tirpitz||2}}. He was lost in July 1944 and remembered on the [[Shaldon War Memorial]] and at the Teign Heritage – Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baker-Falkner RS |url=https://www.teignmouthshaldonww2.co.uk/index.php/baker-faulkner-rs |access-date=28 June 2022 |website=Reignmouthshaldonww2.co.uk}}</ref>

During the Second World War, [[Clive Sinclair]] was evacuated to Teignmouth as a child and lived there for some years.

The businessman and musician [[Danny Thompson]] was born in the town in 1939, and the writer and environmentalist [[John Bainbridge (author)|John Bainbridge]] (born 1953) spent his teens and early adulthood here and was educated at West Lawn School.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} The [[Norman Wisdom]] film, ''[[Press for Time]]'', in which Norman becomes a reporter at the seaside town of ''Tinmouth'', was shot largely on location in Teignmouth in 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060857/
|title=''Press for Time'' |access-date=30 December 2007
|website=IMDb |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506043523/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060857/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A bus and bicycle chase shows many scenes of the town centre and sea front, as it was at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfboS7KPO-8
|title=Press for Time |access-date=30 December 2007 |publisher=YouTube |archive-date=25 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225105159/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfboS7KPO-8
|url-status=live}}</ref>

The next year, on 31 October 1968, [[Donald Crowhurst]], competing in the [[Sunday Times Golden Globe Race]], started his ill-fated attempt to sail round the world single-handed from the town. His boat was a trimaran named the ''[[Teignmouth Electron]]'' after the town and his electronics company.  The town featured in the film of this event, ''[[The Mercy]]'', released in 2018, starring [[Colin Firth]] and [[Rachel Weisz]].

The three members of rock band [[Muse (band)|Muse]] ([[Matt Bellamy]], [[Chris Wolstenholme]] and [[Dominic Howard]]) attended [[Teignmouth Community College]] in the early 1990s. They started the band in the town and based their song "Falling Down" on their teenage years living there. The band performed two homecoming concerts entitled [[A Seaside Rendezvous]] there in September 2009.

Singer-songwriter [[Patrick Wolf]] wrote a song called "Teignmouth" for his 2005 album [[Wind in the Wires]], which focuses primarily on the view of the town and the [[River Teign]] when taking a train along the coastline.

England [[rugby union]] and [[Exeter Chiefs]] player [[Sam Simmonds (rugby union)|Sam Simmonds]] lives in Teignmouth, as does his brother and fellow first team player Joe Simmonds. Sam helped the Chiefs win the [[Aviva Premiership]] in 2017. He has currently scored two tries for England and has one ''Man of the Match'' award.<ref name=RW180104>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/england-countries/sam-simmonds-87416 |title=The fairytale continues for Sam Simmonds |magazine=Rugby World|date=5 February 2018 |author=Alan Pearey |access-date=21 March 2018 |archive-date=18 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318055029/http://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/england-countries/sam-simmonds-87416 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[triple jump]] world record holder, [[Jonathan Edwards (triple jumper)|Jonathan Edwards]], lived in Teignmouth in his early years. He went to school at the Inverteign Juniors site (now Mill Lane). His world record has stood since 1995.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-the-broadcaster-and-britains-most-successful-medal-winning-1680056.html |title=Passed/Failed: An education in the life of the broadcaster and Britain's most successful medal-winning athlete Jonathan Edwards |newspaper=Independent |date=6 May 2009 |author=Sale, Jonathan |access-date=23 March 2018 |archive-date=27 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227045409/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-the-broadcaster-and-britains-most-successful-medal-winning-1680056.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Composer [[Laura Rossi]] grew up in Teignmouth and attended school in the town.

==In art and literature==
{{wikisource|Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1834/A Legend of Teignmouth|'A Legend of Teignmouth',<br />a poetical illustration<br>by L.E.L.}}

[[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]]'s poetical illustration ''A Legend of Teignmouth'', in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book of 1834, accompanies an engraving of a view of Teignmouth from the Ness by [[Thomas Allom]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Landon |first=Letitia Elizabeth |title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1834 |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=19BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PT20 |section=picture |year=1833 |publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}{{cite book |last=Landon |first=Letitia Elizabeth |title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1834 |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=19BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PT18 |section=poetical illustration |pages=38–40 |year=1833 |publisher=Fisher, Son & Co. |archive-date=22 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122213945/https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=19BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PT20 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{refbegin}}
<references group=notes/>
{{refend}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Teignmouth, Dawlish and Torquay Guide: with an account of the surrounding neighbourhood |last=Carrington |first=N.T. |publisher=E. Croydon |location=Teignmouth |year=1830|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite book |title=Lost Devon: Creation, Change and Destruction over 500 Years |last=Gray |first=Todd |year=2003 |publisher=The Mint Press |location=Exeter, Devon |isbn=1-903356-32-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=History of Teignmouth |last=Griffiths |first=Grace |year=1989 |edition=3rd |publisher=Ex Libris Press |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=0-948578-17-3}}
* {{Cite book |title=Devon Roads: An illustrated survey of the development and management of Devon's highway network |last=Hawkins |first=Michael |year=1988 |publisher=Devon Books |location=Exeter |isbn=0-86114-817-7}}
* {{Cite book |title=Western Main Lines: Exeter to Newton Abbot via Dawlish |last1=Mitchell |first1=Vic |last2=Smith |first2=Keith |year=2000 |publisher=Middleton Press |location=Midhurst |isbn=1-901706-49-4}}
* {{Cite book |title=Teignmouth: A Maritime History
|last=Trump |first=H.J. |year=1986 |edition=2nd |publisher=Phillimore |location=Chichester, Sussex |isbn=0-85033-559-0}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* Adshead, S. D. (1945) ''Report to the Urban District Council on Improvement and Development after the War''. Teignmouth Urban District Council.
* Andrews, G. J. & Kearns, R. A. (2005) "Everyday Health Histories and the Making of Place: the case of an English coastal town". ''Social Science and Medicine''; 60, pp.&nbsp;2697–2713
* Andrews G. J., Kearns, R. A., Kontos, P., Wilson, V. (2006) "'Their finest hour': older people, oral histories and the historical geography of social life". ''Social and Cultural Geography''; 7, 2, pp.&nbsp;153–177
* Andrews, G. J. (2017). "The relational making of people and place: the case of the Teignmouth World War II homefront". ''Ageing & Society''; 37(4), pp.&nbsp;725–752.
* Andrews, G. J. & Wilson, V (2019) "Sensing health and wellbeing through oral histories: the 'tip and run' air attacks on a British coastal town 1939–44". In: Atkinson, Sarah & Hunt, Rachel, eds. ''Geohumanities and Health''. Cham: Springer 
* [[Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt|Spratt, Thomas]] (1856). ''An Investigation of the Movements of Teignmouth Bar''.  London: John Weale [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433112154087&view=1up&seq=9 on-line copy by Hathi Trust]
* ''Through the Window. Number 1 – Paddington to Penzance'' (1924). London: Great Western Railway. Paddington station. Price 1s.
* Wilson, V (2000) ''Teignmouth at War: 1939–1945'',  Teignmouth: Wilson.
* Wilson, V (2002) ''Teignmouth: Frith's photographic town memories''. Teffont: Frith Book Company.

== External links ==
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|s=y}}
* [http://www.teignmouth-devon.gov.uk/ Teignmouth Town Council] 

{{Devon}}
{{Associated British Ports}}
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[[Category:Teignmouth| ]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the English Channel]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Devon]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in England]]
[[Category:Towns in Devon]]
[[Category:Beaches of Devon]]
[[Category:Invasions of England]]