Colyton is a community in Devon, England. It lies within the East Devon regional authority location. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Seaton as well as 6 miles (9.7 kilometres) from Axminster. Its population in 1991 was 2,783, lowering to 2,105 at the 2011 Census. Colyton is a huge part of the Coly Valley electoral ward. The ward population at the above demographics was 4,493. Colyton initially looked like an old village around 700 AD as well as attributes in the Domesday Book as 'Culitone'. The third code of legislation of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This aided to maintain feudal society, by mentioning clearly its 4 pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and also neighbourhood. It became an important farming centre and also market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron factory and also an oak bark tannery that is still operating. Situated 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometres) to the north of the community was Colcombe Castle, now demolished, a previous seat of the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon. Following the attainder of the Marquis of Exeter the Courtenay lands escheated to the Crown, and those within Colyton were sold back for £1,000 to different residents of Colyton church, as provided in an act transcribed 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 (degrees offered) in the church of Colyton, which are parcels of Colyton chateau, Devon, and also belonged to Henry Marquis of Exeter, attainted". This was the origin of the Feoffees of Colyton, that continued to keep in typical numerous homes in the parish. The town has been referred to as "one of the most defiant town in Devon" as a result of the variety of its occupants that joined the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.