Bringing the Town Leat back to life

For nearly 800 years the Town Leat has carried water into the heart of Tiverton. It starts as streams rising on Norwood Common, about six miles north of the town. Around 1240, the last two or three miles from Chettiscombe were dug to bring the water into town, down the middle of Castle Street to Coggan’s Well in Fore Street.

Every seven years, townsfolk turn out for the Perambulation of the Town Leat, a tradition so old that church bells rang for it in the 1620s. Pioneers with pickaxes clear the way, the Bailiff of the Hundred carries his staff, and the Withy-boys from Blundell’s and Tiverton High whip the water with willow wands. At Coggan’s Well the Bailiff claims the stream for the people of Tiverton, and the walk heads six miles north to the source, through back gardens and beyond.

Around 500 people set off on the last one, in September 2024, even though parts of the Leat were dry. Some families come home from the other side of the world for it. The next is in 2031.

In recent years the Leat has been in trouble. The weir at Chettiscombe that feeds it needed rescuing, then leaks further down sent water into people’s gardens, and parts of the Leat had to be turned off. For long spells it has run dry, and water no longer rises at Coggan’s Well.

The Friends of Tiverton Town Leat, a local charity set up in 2024 (registered charity 1208585), are determined to change that. They’ve raised over £20,000, mapped the pipes under the town with cameras, and dug out four tonnes of silt, roots and rubbish near Water Lane. Their plan is to reline the old pipes where they lie, rather than dig up the town. They hope that by the beginning of the next perambulation we will have water running down the middle of Castle Street again.

They expect to need £100,000 to £150,000, and they’re preparing a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which would also pay for a wildlife survey with Devon Wildlife Trust, a BioBlitz and visits from local schools. They hope to have firmer figures by Christmas.

We want the Leat to flow for another 800 years, so we’re backing the Friends with:

• £10,000 to help them get the restoration started;
• £1,250 every year towards the seven-yearly Perambulation, which we organise, so it’s a great day out for the whole town every time.

We’d love to do more, with you. Tell us what the Leat means to you and if you would like us to go further with our support in the survey on this page.