Dartmouth is a town and also civil parish in the English area of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the western financial institution of the tidewater of the River Dart, which is a long slim tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes. It exists within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also South Hams district, and had a population of 5,512 in 2001, [1] lowering to 5,064 at the 2011 census There are two electoral wards in the Dartmouth area (Townstal & Kingswear). Their mixed populace at the above census was 6,822. In 1086, the Domesday Book provides Dunestal as the only negotiation in the area which now composes the parish of Dartmouth. It was held by Walter of Douai. It paid tax obligation on half a conceal, and also had two plough groups, 2 servants, 5 villagers as well as four smallholders. There were six cattle, 40 sheep and also 15 goats. Currently Townstal (as the name came to be) was obviously a purely agricultural settlement, centred around the church. Walter of Douai rebelled against William II, and his lands were taken and also contributed to the honour of Marshwood (Dorset), which sublet Townstal as well as Dartmouth to the FitzStephens. It was probably during the very early part of their proprietorship that Dartmouth started to expand as a port, as it was of calculated significance as a deep-water port for sailing vessels. The port was made use of as the sailing factor for the Crusades of 1147 and also 1190, as well as Warfleet Creek, near to Dartmouth Castle is meant by some to be called for the substantial fleets which set up there. Dartmouth was a home of the Royal Navy from the power of Edward III and also was two times stunned and sacked during the Hundred Years War, after which the mouth of the tidewater was closed every night with a great chain. The narrow mouth of the Dart is protected by 2 fortified castles, Dartmouth Castle and Kingswear Castle. Initially Dartmouth's only wharf was Bayard's Cove, a reasonably tiny area secured by a ft at the southerly end of the community.