Colyton is a town in Devon, England. It is located within the East Devon neighborhood authority area. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Seaton and also 6 miles (9.7 km) 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 populace at the above demographics was 4,493. Colyton first appeared as an ancient village around 700 AD and also attributes in the Domesday Book as 'Culitone'. The third code of law of King Edmund I was issued at Colyton in about 945. This helped to maintain feudal society, by stating plainly its 4 pillars: kingship, lordship, family members, as well as neighbourhood. It grew into an essential farming centre and market community with a corn mill, saw mill, iron shop and also an oak bark tannery that is still working. Positioned 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the north of the town was Colcombe Castle, currently demolished, a former seat of the Courtenay household, Earls of Devon. Complying with the attainder of the Marquis of Exeter the Courtenay lands escheated to the Crown, and those within Colyton were marketed back for £1,000 to various residents of Colyton parish, as listed in an act recorded in the Letters as well as Papers of Henry VIII dated 6 January 1547, summarised as "John Clarke as well as others. Grant in totally free socage, based on leas etc. (defined), for l,000 l, of the following lands (levels given) in the church of Colyton, which are parcels of Colyton manor, Devon, as well as belonged to Henry Marquis of Exeter, attainted". This was the beginning of the Feoffees of Colyton, that continued to keep in typical different homes in the parish. The town has been described as "one of the most defiant community in Devon" as a result of the number of its citizens who signed up with the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.