A Tavistock street just outside of the town’s centre is steeped in layers of historic interest – and local historians will be uncovering its past soon with a guided walk.

It’s easy to wander along Bannawell Street without a notion of its fascinating past, but “appearances can be deceptive”.

Described as "the street that made Tavistock", this place is teeming with hidden stories – and 11 people can join the free, informative walk on Wednesday, 16 September, to find out more.

As its name suggests, Bannawell was one of Tavistock's early water sources, back when Tavistock Abbey stood proudly nearby (circa 970). The abbey was supressed in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The street was home to the town’s work house in the mid-1700s, up until about 1834. It’s earlier history included a Viking invasion in the 900s - and some destruction took place when they visited Bannawell Street centuries ago.

The walk is part of this year’s Heritage Open Days. It’s “led by residents and local historians”, revealing the street as a “place where almost every chapter of Tavistock's history has left its mark”.

Presented by the Tavistock Heritage Trust and led by Simon Thompson, the walk has limited places, so booking is essential – you can find out more here.

This walk will delve into the historical arrivals of traders, working families, miners and abbots over a millennium.

It covers the major changes during the Victorian period when the railway (and viaduct) transformed the look of Tavistock – and the lives of the people living there.

The Tavistock Heritage Trust website explains more: “The residents experienced prosperity, hardship, illness and celebration in equal measure. Their stories reflect this year's Heritage Open Days theme, Everyday Histories, reminding us that the history of Tavistock is not only the story of abbots, dukes and industrialists, but also of ordinary people whose lives shaped the community we know today.”