| During the third week of August 2005 the | | | | Nelson and his fleet defeated the combined |
| Trafalgar Way was officially inaugurated in Devon | | | | armies of France and Spain off the Spanish coast |
| to commemorate the bi-centenary of the Battle | | | | near Cape Trafalgar. Amongst the men in the |
| of Trafalgar. | | | | English fleet were 1,115 men from Devon, more |
| The Lorna Doone, an original North Devon | | | | than from any other county. |
| stagecoach visited inns and hostels along the full | | | | Lapenotiere was the first messenger to reach |
| length of what is now know as the Trafalgar | | | | Falmouth with the news. He passed quickly |
| Way in Devon. | | | | through Cornwall and entered Devon at Lifton. |
| During this time an actor playing the part of | | | | Pausing only to change horses at Okehampton, |
| Lieutenant John Richard Lapenotiere delivered a | | | | Crockernwell, Exeter, Honiton and Axminster he |
| New Trafalgar Dispatch. Each town in Devon that | | | | travelled on to London. |
| he passed through has unveiled a commemorative | | | | Each messenger who followed had more details |
| plaque to mark the occasion. | | | | of the Battle of Trafalgar in the dispatches they |
| Lapenotiere, captain of HMS Pickle, travelled by | | | | carried. Following in the steps of Lieutenant |
| post chaise, the equivalent of a taxi 200 years | | | | Lapenotiere hundreds of horses were used to |
| ago and the fastest means of public transport | | | | carry the news. |
| available at the time. | | | | Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, the local |
| It took about six weeks from 21st October 1805 | | | | newspaper, contains full details of the contents of |
| for the full news of the victory and the death of | | | | the dispatches as they became available. Microfilm |
| Admiral Horatio Nelson to filter through to London | | | | copies are available at the Devon Record Office |
| and the people of England. | | | | or online at their website. |