Colyton is a town in Devon, England. It is located within the East Devon neighborhood authority location. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Seaton and 6 miles (9.7 kilometres) from Axminster. Its population in 1991 was 2,783, lowering to 2,105 at the 2011 Census. Colyton is a major part of the Coly Valley electoral ward. The ward populace at the above census was 4,493. Colyton initially looked like an old village around 700 AD and attributes in the Domesday Book as 'Culitone'. The third code of legislation of King Edmund I was released at Colyton in about 945. This aided to maintain feudal culture, by mentioning plainly its four columns: kingship, lordship, household, and neighbourhood. It turned into a vital agricultural centre and also market town with a corn mill, saw mill, iron foundry and an oak bark tannery that is still working. Positioned 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the north of the town was Colcombe Castle, now demolished, a former seat of the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon. Adhering to the attainder of the Marquis of Exeter the Courtenay lands escheated to the Crown, as well as those within Colyton were sold back for £1,000 to different citizens of Colyton church, as provided in an action transcribed in the Letters and Documents of Henry VIII dated 6 January 1547, summarised as "John Clarke and also others. Grant in totally free socage, based on rental fees and so on (specified), for l,000 l, of the adhering to lands (degrees offered) in the parish of Colyton, which are parcels of Colyton estate, Devon, as well as belonged to Henry Marquis of Exeter, attainted". This was the origin of the Feoffees of Colyton, who remained to hold in typical numerous homes in the church. The town has been described as "the most defiant town in Devon" as a result of the variety of its citizens who signed up with the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685.