Many famous people have been associated with Dartmouth over the years. I’ll try to pick up some of the major ones.
- Thomas Newcomen (1663 – 1729). Born in Dartmouth, he invented the Atmospheric Engine, the first succesful steam powered engine. His house was in Lower Street and a working example of a newcomen Engine exists in the Tourist Information Center in town.
- George Parker Bidder (1806 – 1878). Civil Engineer notable for working on railways around the world and working on the London Docks. He lived at Paradise Point near Warfleet Creek.
- Flora Thompson (1876 – 1947). Lived in Dartmouth in Above Town between 1928 and 1940. During that time she wrote Lark Rise and Over to Candleford. She is buried in Longcross cemetery.
- Christopher Milne (1920 – 1996), son of AA Milne, after whom Christopher Robin was named in Winnie-the-Pooh used to own the Harbour Bookshop.
- Theodore Veale (1892 – 1980). Recipient of the Victoria Cross when 23 years old on 20th July 1916 at High Wood in France.
- Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1554 – 1618). Whilst the family ownes the Raleigh Estates on the banks of the River Dart, Sir Walter actually lived at Greenway on the Dart.
- Sir Henry Seale (1780 – 1844). Lived in Mount Boon and was member of parliament for Dartmouth in 1838. He built several bridges in Dartmouth including the Dart Crossing.
- Sir Francis Drake (1540 – 1596) was a regular visitor to Dartmouth staying in the Royal Castle Hotel. During the battle with the Spanish Armada, Drake captured the Armada’s payship, the Nuestra Señora del Rosario which was anchored in the Dart for over a year and the crew used as labourers on the Greenway Estate owned by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
- Dame Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976) had a holiday home in Dartmouth at Greenway which was given to the National Trust some years ago by her children. Whilst at Greenway she always used her married name.. Mrs Mallowan. Her short Story the Regatta Mystery is set in Dartmouth during the Annual Regatta events.
- Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c 1539 – 1583), Half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh, was an explorer, navigator and soldier and died at sea when his ship, The Squirrel , was swamped in a storm whilst accompanying the Golden Hind and lost with all hands.
- John Hawley (c1340 – 1408), a wealthy ship owner, 14 times Mayor of Dartmouth, 4 times Member of Parliament for Dartmouth, and although a licensed privateer is probably more accurately described as a pirate so more infamous than famous. It is likely that this is the “Shipman” referred to by Chaucer. He did, however, put a great deal of money into St Saviour’s Church in Dartmouth and built the Chancel, where his tomb is.
I am sure there are many more, but hopefully this list will give some understanding of the depth of History in this area.
Graham