It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Peter Emery.
The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Robert Mathew had died on 8 December 1966.
He had held the seat since the 1955 general election and had served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Derek Walker-Smith.
The result was a clear victory for Emery, who returned to the Commons after losing his seat at Reading in 1966.
Emery held the seat, and its successor East Devon until the 2001 general election.