Barnstaple in the 16th and 17th centuries greatly benefited the town. The wealthy merchants that this trade created built impressive town houses, some of which survive behind more recent frontages—they include No. 62 Boutport Street, said to have one of the best plaster ceilings in Devon. The merchants also built several almshouses including Penrose's, and ensured their legacy by dedicating elaborate monuments to their families inside the church. By the 18th century, Barnstaple had ceased to be a woollen manufacturing town, which was replaced by Irish wool and yarn, for which it was the main landing place; the raw materials were
Barnstaple Bideford and to Bude and then further down towards Cornwall. The Barnstaple bus network is privatised and run by many bus operators including Stagecoach South West. The main bus station is located on the junction with Queen Street and Belle Meadow Drive. Following frequent bus services operate from Barnstaple: National Express services to London, Heathrow Airport, Taunton, Bristol and Birmingham also run services from Barnstaple. The nearest airport is Exeter Airport. Barnstaple railway station is the terminus of a branch line from Exeter, known as the Tarka Line after the local connection with Tarka the Otter. The station is near