[3] Colyton first appeared as an ancient village around 700 AD and features in the Domesday Book as Culitone.

This helped to stabilize feudal society, by stating clearly its four pillars: kingship, lordship, family, and neighbourhood.

Situated 0.5 miles (800 m) to the north of the town was Colcombe Castle, now demolished, a former seat of the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon.

[5] Following the attainder of Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter the Courtenay lands escheated to the Crown, and those within Colyton were sold back for £1,000 to various residents of Colyton parish, as listed in a deed transcribed in the Letters and Papers of Henry VIII dated 6 January 1547, summarised as "John Clarke and others.

[14] Colyton Grammar School dates from 1546 and once occupied the part-medieval building now known as the Old Church House.

The original station building has been restored and extended, and now houses the Tramway's ticket office, gift shop and Tram Stop Restaurant.

The Tramway is open daily from Easter until the end of October, with a more limited service running at other times.

[17] In 2018 the town made international news following an anonymous letter of complaint about a resident airing her laundry outside.