History of Kingswear and the Neighbouring Area
We welcome members, guests and visitors to our monthly meetings and we periodically make excursions to places of historical interest. If you have any questions about the history of Kingswear, or the immediate area, please ask through this site and one of our members will contact you. We also welcome suggestions to improve this site and the topics we cover.
The document provides a comprehensive historical overview of Kingswear, detailing its development from pre-Historic times through to the 20th century while addressing misconceptions about its name origin and historical significance, including its ferry connections to Dartmouth. Key aspects covered include its evolution during various historical periods, notable individuals, and buildings, as well as its role during the World Wars, thereby highlighting Kingswear’s rich cultural heritage and historical landscape.
Key points
- Kingswear has had continuous ferry connections to Dartmouth since at least 1365, indicating its longstanding significance as a transport location.
- The origin of the name ‘Kingswear’ has been misinterpreted historically, with studies suggesting it derives from the term for ‘king’s way’ rather than royal ownership.
- No historical documents prior to the Domesday Book (1086) mention Kingswear, underscoring the lack of early written records.
- The settlement’s development included the establishment of ‘inns’ and buildings near the landing place, indicating community growth in medieval times.
- Place names from the 12th and 13th centuries reflect a maintained route for royal messages and travel across the Dart estuary.
- This website references notable local figures and buildings, emphasizing Kingswear’s notable historical contribution.
- Kingswear played an important role during both World Wars, highlighting its strategic importance during turbulent times.
Website
This website is intended to perform the following functions:
- To act as a means of disseminating information concerning our meetings and visits and of other organisations offering relevant meetings, visits and events.
- To act as a repository of information concerning the history of Kingswear and its neighbourhood for the benefit of our members and for others, world-wide, who may be interested in our history.
- To encourage others, among our members and world-wide, to contribute to the story of Kingswear and its neighbourhood.
This site is under development. Comments and contributions would be most welcome.
Kingswear Historians 
I was rather instrumental in 1984 in getting Kingswear Station listed and thus saved from demolition and replaced by luxury apartments. I have kept much of the documentation.
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Dear Chris, We would be most interested in any material or information you have about the railway. We could use this to improve our history of the railway by improving the information or illustrations. Any anecdotes could also be used to add flavour of our history as has been done by Reg Little and Ian Giles. How can we best contact you? My details are on the home page and I live in Kingswear.
Thanks for contacting us.
Brian
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I am normally at the station 3 days’ a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, arriving befofre the 1st train arrives and leaving just after the last-but-one has departed.
mmmmmmmmy mobile number is 07970950267
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We were members of the Historians until it disbanded. Obviously started again, Although we live in North Devon we made most meetings.
My husband was born in May 1933 at Jubilee Terrace. The home of his grandmother Ruth Short. Left finally when he joined the RAF in 1951.
We havnt family in Kingswaer now. Totnes and Brixham the closest.
.
Mike remembers D Day well and the Americans. The damaged Boats coming into Dartmouth after the incident in Lyme Bay. We visit often. Meet up with cousin from Totnes. Her father always said he spent his 21st birthday on the beach. It was called Dunkirk.
Michael John Short . Have uou an email address for Tessa Gibson? Written by Viv Short
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Thanks for your comment. We welcome all contributions to our ancient and modern history. Tessa is at gibsontessa61@gmail.com. Brian
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Any relation to the short family. Windrush House kingswear. My aunntie betty lived there.
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Hello. I am from Minnesota, United States and am traveling with family to England in about a month. (14 of us) I am an avid Family Historian, with my ancestral line leading me back to Alexander Shapleigh and James Treworgy, the Founders of Kittery, Maine, USA today. (1789 was supposedly the birth of James Treworgy, married Alexander Shapleigh’s daughter (Catherine) in Kingswear in March of 1616- and left family in Kingswear and Brixham… , Alexander Shapleigh (about 1575 birth) was married we think in Kingswear in about 1598 (because Catherine born 2 April 1599 in ‘Devon’) We don’t have Alexander’s wife’s name in any record. James, Catherine and Alexander supposedly died in Maine or Greenland. (Mariners)
Would James and Alexander have family who stayed in your area?
We will only be there a short visit, if I can talk my family in also attending.
I fear that I need to give them something more of interest to them. I am passionate about family history research, however otherwise limited interest with others.
Would you be aware of other families with those names still living in your area, such as Kingswear or Brixham or along the area of Devon?
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Hi Lenore,
I am also a descendant of James and Alexander.
Can you share your e-mail, or, alternatively, anything you learned? I have some information on both but I can’t trace the Treworgys back too far.
Thank you,
A Treworgy
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We called Kittery Collinsons Quay Kimgswear
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