The town of Ivybridge enjoys both a magnificent natural setting and centuries of history as a mill town and a staging post on the London Road.

Tumbling from the moors, the River Erme has formed the lifeblood of the town and originally provided power for three mills, one of which still exists today

Crossing the river at the northern end of the town centre is the medieval packhorse bridge, the “Ivy Bridge”, a feature immortalised by a number of important artists including J M W Turner. Spanning the valley a little further upstream, the railway viaduct provides a striking backdrop to the town and is a favourite with photographers; nearby are the publicly owned Longtimber Woods where the pillars remaining from the original 1848 Brunel structure can be seen.

To read more about the town's history and heritage please click here.

Town Centre Heritage Trail
To discover the route for a fascinating heritage trail around the town please click here.

Young Explorer’s Guide to Historic Ivybridge
A colourful and imaginatively illustrated heritage booklet has been designed by local schoolchildren with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the support of a professional back-up team. Designed with fellow young explorers in mind, the booklet will appeal to all youngsters who want to delve into the town’s past. Copies of the booklet can be purchased for £0.50 from the information centre within The Watermark, Erme Court, Leonards Road.

To view a summary of the booklet please click here.

Important Note to All Explorers – Young & Not So Young!
Please respect the privacy of private residences at all times; thank you.
 

International Links

The town also enjoys cultural and friendship links with several overseas communities - please click here both for more information on these links and on how to join relevant societies.  

For a recent copy of the Ivybridge French Twinning newsletter please click here.