A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MALTSTERS ARMS

It appears that the Maltsters Arms public house originates from the late eighteenth century when the quays of Tuckenhay were bustling with activity. Various commodities such as lime, corn, paper, cider, road stone and malt were transported by water to and from the hamlet. The Maltsters Arms itself is still prohibited from trading in manure, corn or coal. By the mid 1800's cider and malt were being produced on the quayside. William Manning and John Earle owned a cider works there and Thomas Edmonds malt house gave authenticity to the Maltsters Arms Inn situated above. Trade continued to flourish until the beginning of the Second World War. The last ship of any size to arrive at the quayside was the 240 ton coaster Reedness in 1939. After the War the principal activity at Bow Creek was cider making, still using water transport, but this time by barge. In the Sixties a 100 ton boat coming back down from Totnes was still able to take on a huge load of straw here to take to Exeter. Tuckenhay had the first gas lighting in the world - before Manchester and London! The original gas engine-house can be seen next to the river just 200 yards up the road. Bow Creek has always been associated with smuggling as the upper reaches of the Dart are so dark and secluded. Drug running and bootlegging still occur. more...