Colyton is a community in Devon, England. It is located within the East Devon regional authority area. It is 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) from Seaton and also 6 miles (9.7 km) from Axminster. Its population in 1991 was 2,783, reducing to 2,105 at the 2011 Census. Colyton is a huge part of the Coly Valley selecting ward. The ward population at the above demographics was 4,493. Colyton first appeared as an ancient town around 700 AD and features in the Domesday Book as 'Culitone'. The 3rd code of legislation of King Edmund I was provided at Colyton in about 945. This helped to maintain feudal culture, by stating plainly its four columns: royalty, lordship, family, as well as neighbourhood. It grew into a crucial farming centre and market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron factory as well as an oak bark tannery that is still working. Positioned 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the north of the community was Colcombe Castle, currently knocked down, a previous seat of the Courtenay household, Earls of Devon. Following the attainder of the Marquis of Exeter the Courtenay lands escheated to the Crown, and also those within Colyton were sold back for £1,000 to numerous citizens of Colyton parish, as noted in an action recorded in the Letters as well as Documents of Henry VIII dated 6 January 1547, summed up as "John Clarke and also others. Grant in complimentary socage, subject to rental fees etc. (specified), for l,000 l, of the adhering to lands (extents provided) in the church of Colyton, which are parcels of Colyton chateau, Devon, as well as belonged to Henry Marquis of Exeter, attainted". This was the beginning of the Feoffees of Colyton, who remained to hold in common various buildings in the parish. The community has actually been described as "the most defiant town in Devon" as a result of the variety of its residents that signed up with the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.