Pictures of Axminster

About Axminster

Famous for its carpets often likened to Turkish, Axminster was one of the first West Saxon settlements formed along the River Axe in Devon.

The settlement flourished through the centuries and today it is one of Devon's prettiest small market towns with a lively, attractive town centre. It has a handsome church, with a Norman door and Jacobean pulpit, and excellent old inns, such as the George, a beautiful stone building topped with thick thatch which dates back over 700 years. The inn is full of interesting nooks and crannies, and as one would expect, has a resident ghost!

Axminster's carpet trade was founded by Thomas Whitty in 1755, he set up after making a careful study of Turkish methods. In 1835 the business was sold to a carpet weaver from Wilton, and it was not until 1937 that further carpets were made in the town. Caster Hill House, where the carpets were originally produced, can still be visited.

Market day here is Thursday, this takes the form of an open street market with plenty of stalls selling a diverse range of goods. It is a lively weekly event drawing crowds of locals as well as tourists to the area.

Make sure you visit Axminster Museum, this recalls the town's history and traditions, with excellent displays of farming implements and plenty to do with carpets.

Attractions close to Axminster include the NT properties Shute Bacton and Loughwood Meeting House. Axminster is ideally situated within easy reach of both The West Dorset and East Devon Heritage Coastlines, thus making the town an ideal base for anyone wishing to explore some of England's finest coastal scenery.