Barnstaple RFC period they also became one of the top club sides in Devon winning five county cups in this period, including four in a row between 1998 to 2002. This period of success came to an end when Barnstaple suffered consecutive relegation's to fall to the lowest level in the clubs history so far, dropping to Western Counties West (tier 7) by 2005. Thankfully, the club quickly righted itself and three seasons (and two promotions) later found themselves back in South West 1. This climb back up the leagues also conceded with repeated Devon Cup success, with four titles wn in
Barnstaple August) by a jury of twelve. However Barnstaple was a mesne borough and was not held by the Mayor and Corporation in chief from the king but from the feudal baron of Barnstaple, later known as the lord of the "Castle Manor" or "Castle Court". The Corporation tried on several occasions to claim the status of a "free borough" which answered directly to the monarch and to divest itself of this overlordship, but without success. The mayor was not recognised as such by the monarch, but merely as the bailiff of the feudal baron. The powers of the borough were