Tavistock, an ancient stannary (tin-assaying and tin-marketing) town, lies on the south-west edge of   Dartmoor National Park , about 24 km (15 miles) north of the maritime city of Plymouth. The name "Tavistock" derives from "Tavy", the River on which the town lies, and "stock" indicating that the town became a prominent agricultural market for the area, after its progressive development around a Benedictine Abbey, founded in AD974.

    The importance of Tavistock's market was recognised by the granting of a Market Charter by King Henry I to the town in 1105. The 900th Anniversary of that Charter and also the 700th Anniversary of Tavistock as an official Stannary Town was celebrated in the town in 2005 by a programme of history, musical and artistic events running from the start of the year to the 30th August, the latter being the day of St Rumon, the patron saint of Tavistock.

    A further part of Tavistock's history is that Britain's great seafarer hero, Sir Francis Drake , was born at Crowndale Farm, just south of Tavistock, in 1542. A fine statue of him can be seen not far from the town centre, on the road to Plymouth, the port from which he set sail to confront and beat the Spanish Armada.

    This fine and flourishing town , the largest in West Devon (population approximately 11,000), with its architecture of local stone, wide range of interesting and practical shops, market, riverside park, leisure centre and theatre, is excellent for visitors, both to see the town itself and as a base for exploring the surrounding beautiful countryside, the wild Dartmoor scenery, the many nearby pretty villages of Devon and Eastern Cornwall, and a variety of National Trust properties.

    About 11 km (7 miles) north of Tavistock there is the historic village of Lydford and at the further distance of about 12 km (8 miles) lies the important market town of Okehampton, close to the A30 east-west trunk road and called the "Gateway to Cornwall".