Welcome to Axmouth and 2000 years of history

The village and parish of Axmouth lies within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has within its boundary part of the Dorset &. East Devon Coast World Heritage Site The South West Coastal Path also passes through the parish on its way from Seaton to Lyme Regis.

The village stands on the River Axe about 1 mile north of where the river now flows through Axmouth Harbour out into the waters of Lyme Bay. Above Axmouth is the Iron Age hill fort on Hawkesdown Hill, probably built by the ancient British tribe, the Durotriges.

It is likely the Romans established the site of Axmouth, then known as Alaeni Ostia. They had built the Fosse Way and traces of a road have been found which linked this important highway to the harbour through which many goods passed.

Eventually the area around Axmouth became part of a Royal Manor of the Saxon kings. It is known that Alfred the Great left it to his son King Athelweld. In the Domesday Book, the village is known as Alsemunda and was held by Edward the Confessor It remained as a Royal Manor until 1552 when Henry VIII's son Edward sold it to Walter Earle.

During the English Civil War a troop of Royalists laid siege to Stedcombe House, just north of the village and razed it to the ground. The house was rebuilt in the latest William & Mary style in 1697 and can be seen from several points along the Axe valley. It is also reported that Axmouth sent 39 men to fight in the Monmouth Rebellion.

Another part of the manor was Bindon which joined the estate of Stedcombe in 1552 when one of the heiresses married Walter Earle The manor house at Bindon is opened to the public once a year during August.

Today Axmouth is a pretty village to visit at any time of the year, with its mixture of old houses the inns and its church.

We hope that you enjoy your visit.