This is the name given to the area from The Exe estuary to Sidmouth including the towns of Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton and the many villages in this part of East Devon.

The heart of Raleigh Country could be said to be East Budleigh, because in 1552 the renowned Elizabethan Sir Walter Raleigh was born here in the farm that is now known as Hayes Barton. The Raleigh family had settled here in 1537 and soon became involved in the village community. Walter's father was a church warden of the Church of All Saints at East Budleigh and the oldest memorial in the church is one to the memory of Joan the first wife of Walter's father. The Raleigh pew on the left side of the knave is dated 1537.

Walter must have spent many of his boyhood days in Budleigh Salterton, and possibly acquired his love of the sea from the time he had in the company of fishermen on the beach there. Budleigh Salterton was made famous by a painting by Sir John Everett Millais. His picture 'The Boyhood of Raleigh' was painted from the Octagon, situated in Fore Street. The ancient wall featured in the background of the painting still stands today!

The seaside settlement that is now Budleigh Salterton for generations derived its livelihood from agriculture, fishing and a bit of smuggling on the side. Doomsday records that salt panning was of great importance here, hence the origin of the name ‘Salterton’ and the remnants of a fine Roman villa near Otterhead suggests that this activity went on as far back as Roman or even Iron Age times.

Up to the early 16th century, the River Otter was navigable as far as Otterton, but by Tudor times the build up of sand and the pebble bank at Otter mouth caused the gradual silting up of the river. A subsequent industrial activity at Otter mouth was the production of lime for use in agricultural and building. Up to 1875 three kilns were in operation by the side of the river.

The 18th century fashion for enjoying genial climates and taking salt water cures benefited several nearby towns, such as Sidmouth. Exmouth, Dawlish and Teignmouth. By the mid 19th century these were flourishing ‘health resorts’ but Budleigh Salterton was still very much a seaside village. However the coming of the railway at the start of the 20th century gave a considerable boost to its popularity as a resort and by 1920, the number of houses in the town outnumbered the totals of neighbouring Newton Poppleford, Colaton Raleigh, Otterton and East Budleigh.

The town has continued to grow and now in the early 21st century it is a vibrant community, popular as both holiday venue and home, where one can enjoy life in Devon.

The Salem Chapel in East Budleigh, an old Dissenters Chapel, is well worth a visit, after an extensive programme of renovation it is hoped to reopen it in spring 2006.

It was built in 1719 on the edge of the village, at a time when there were about 30 dissenters in East Budleigh alone. It has had a colourful history in which smuggling played no small part. The minister from 1768 to 1807 was Samuel Leat who is reputed to have been a wealthy smuggler, and following his death in 1817 a scandal developed involving embezzled funds and the suspected suppression of his will. This culminated in the desecration of his grave in May 1818 when the grave was opened , the coffin wrecked and his body mangled.

The roof of the chapel is of great archaeological interest, being of a unique construction which allowed the storage of smuggled goods in its massive attic and also gave the facility of a hidden vantage point where a lookout could be posted to forewarn of the coming of any Revenue Men. You can find out more on the Historic Chapels Trust's website at www.hct.org.uk/chapel10ebudleigh.html.

Every Sunday until the end of October 2007, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, the Chapel will be open for visitors to view historic Chapel documents and early photos of East Budleigh and the surrounding villages. Between 6th and 19th August, the Chapel will be hosting a two week exhibition of World War 2 memorabilla.

Salem Chapel is a Registered Charity, no. 1017321.

The staff of the Budleigh Salterton Tourist Information Centre are here to help you find out more - click here for details.