Dartmouth is a town as well as civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a visitor location set on the western financial institution of the tidewater of the River Dart, which is a lengthy narrow tidal ria that runs inland as for Totnes. It exists within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and South Hams district, and also had a population of 5,512 in 2001, [1] decreasing 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 details Dunestal as the only settlement in the location which currently makes up the church of Dartmouth. It was held by Walter of Douai. It paid tax obligation on half a hide, and had two plough teams, two servants, 5 citizens and also four smallholders. There were six cattle, 40 lamb and also 15 goats. Right now Townstal (as the name became) was evidently a simply agricultural settlement, centred around the church. Walter of Douai rebelled against William II, and also his lands were confiscated and also contributed to the honour of Marshwood (Dorset), which sublet Townstal as well as Dartmouth to the FitzStephens. It was probably throughout the early part of their proprietorship that Dartmouth started to grow as a port, as it was of critical significance as a deep-water port for cruising vessels. The port was made use of as the cruising point for the Crusades of 1147 and 1190, and also Warfleet Creek, near Dartmouth Castle is intended by some to be named for the huge fleets which put together there. Dartmouth was a house of the Royal Navy from the regime of Edward III and was two times surprised and sacked during the Hundred Years War, after which the mouth of the estuary was shut every evening with a terrific chain. The narrow mouth of the Dart is protected by two fortified castles, Dartmouth Castle as well as Kingswear Castle. Originally Dartmouth's only wharf was Bayard's Cove, a fairly small area shielded by a ft at the southern end of the town.