Views of a growing village

Views of Ivybridge and its main road with the sign of the village and sixties traffic are shown in this film. The urbanisation of Ivybridge occurred in part due to the industrial revolution and the arrival of the South Devon Railway. In 1973 the A38 bypass road provides a stronger transport network leading to a growth in its population and the village becomes a fully fledged town in 1977.

Ivybridge gains its name from a 13th Century hump back bridge, at the time, the only means of crossing the fast flowing River Erme. Watermills on the river give Ivybridge its milling and cloth making heritage. The village started as a crossing and coach station on the Exeter to Plymouth road and the bridge was widened for traffic and a larger bridge built in 1819. The original Ivy Bridge can still be visited today. Ivybridge brands itself as the gateway to the moors and is the starting point for the 102 mile walk to Lynmouth, the Two Moors Way taking in first Dartmoor and then Exmoor.