CREAM teas, country lanes and rural tranquility may be abiding images of Devon for many, but the turbulent past of the county is explored in a new book.

'Battles, Bullets and Mayhem' may sound like the name of the latest Guy Ritchie film, but it is an appropriate title for a book delving into the darker side of Devon's history.

This is a rather violent history with which people may not be familiar, from the Norman invasion in Devon to industrial riots of the 19th century.

The troubled past of the county is thoroughly explored by Devon historian Grahame Holloway, who covers topics such as the dissolution of Tavistock Abbey, the colourful role of Tavistock and Lydford during the Civil War and the Dartmoor Prison riot in 1932.

Holloway has some experience of Tavistock, having been stationed in the town as a traffic policeman in the 1960s.

Tavistock's fortunes fluctuated wildly during the Civil War as it swung between parliamentary and royal control. The town is believed to have changed hands no fewer than six times.

In late 1642, the royalist army under Sir Ralph Hopton forced the parliamentary troops, commanded by Col Robert Savery, to beat an orderly retreat from Tavistock.

Holloway's book is littered with nice bits of colour, such as details of a royalist reprisal in Tavistock, when the home of Sir John Maynard, an eminent lawyer and Parliamentarian was attacked, and, after destroying all his papers, troops 'cut his bed to pieces, casting abroad the feathers and pulled down part of the roof of his house'.

In January 1643, Tavistock was back in the hands of the Parliamentary forces. However, before the month was out Hopton and his army returned to recapture the town. With the exception of a short period between July and September 1644, Tavistock was to remain occupied by royalist troops from May 1643 to March 1646.

With the parliamentarians now close to final victory, Tavistock changed sides for the final time in March 1646.

Holloway cites one contemporary writer who described Tavistock's position during the Civil War, as 'that of a doormat, put there for the convenience of those passing through'.

Holloway also tells the story of Dartmoor Prison, focusing on the rebellion which broke out there in January 1932.

Unrest at the prison had been growing for a number of weeks, with the main grievance said to be the state of prison food!

When the angry prisoners rebelled they were well-prepared, having secretly made weapons in the prison workshop and pinched pick-handles, crowbars and spades used at the prison quarry.

The prisoners occupied the governor's office, and their acts of arson and looting left a trail of destruction throughout the prison.

The revolt was eventually quashed when police baton-charged through the prison gates, and restored order with unsparing use of their truncheons.

This is the author's fourth book, but the first to be self-published. Holloway took all the fine pictures in the book and designed its layout on a computer. It is to his credit that the book has such a professional appearance.

Condensing the history of disturbances and unrest in Devon over the last 1,000 years into 130 pages is obviously a difficult task, with some events and details having to be overlooked in favour of the broad picture. Yet, overall this book manages to present a good overview while still throwing in some fascinating tales.

'Battles, Bullets and Mayhem' is very readable, and Holloway's infectious enthusiasm for the history of the county grips the reader too.

The book is compiled chronologically, running from the Iron Age to the early 20th century, but it can be equally rewarding, if dipped into, at points of particular interest along the way.

l 'Battles, Bullets and Mayhem' by Grahame Holloway, is available from local bookshops, priced £4.95.