Bideford, a busy harbour town for many centuries and the setting for Charles Kingsley's "Westward Ho!". The schooner Kathleen & May is currently being restored there, and the MS Oldenberg sails regularly to Lundy Island. Many of the roads are narrow and steep but offer a wealth of fascinating small shops.
Bideford
Nestling alongside the River
Torridge, Bideford is more
than a resort. It is a market town and a port, too, with an active fishing industry. Cargo ships call in to load and unload and the MS Oldenburg,
which plies between Bideford and Lundy Island, is often to be seen tied
up by the quayside. Bideford being its port.
First mention in the history books of the Quay was in 1619 when there
were beaches at the river's edge. As the ship-building trade boomed,
the Quay was developed and there are still marker stones in the pavement
as a testament to that reconstruction. Sir Walter Raleigh is believed
to have brought his first cargo of tobacco to Bideford and the town
soon became one of the largest tobacco trading centres of that period.
Local merchants also imported vast quantities of wool during the reign
of Charles 1 and had so great a share of the trade with Newfoundland
that, in 1699, they sent out more ships than any other in England apart
from London and Topsham.
Bideford ("Bydas Ford") is situated on the west bank of the River Torridge, once described by the novelist Charles Kingsley "as the little white town... which slopes upwards from its broad tide river".
Bideford was granted a Market Charter in 1272. Commercial prosperity was derived by trading with the Americas in the eighteenth century, with imports of tobacco and timber for shipbuilding. The town has much to commend it to the visitor, including the Burton Art Gallery, the Museum in Victoria Park, buildings of historical interest, and some fine residential houses, which were once the homes of rich merchants. The Quay runs north from the bridge and provides an excellent viewpoint over the busy river. This is also the departure point for the "MS Oldenburg" which is Lundy Island's main passenger and supply ship.
The Long Bridge
Bideford, situated on the banks of the River Torridge, just below where the river estuaries of the Taw and Torridge meet to flow out to the Bristol Channel, has always stood astride a main trading route that stretched along the Atlantic Coast of South West England. The "for"' in the town's name probably derives from "Byda's Ford" a crossing of the river dating from pre-Norman times, and part of an ancient route serving North Devon.
Bideford Quay and Long Bridge
A bridge made of wood was built across the river in the early 13th Century, some 200 years later, the Grenville family paid to have the original bridge strengthened by encasing the wooden structure in stone. As the years went by the bridge was altered and widened, but much of the original structure remains to form this 24 span, 206m bridge. A curious feature of the bridge is that many of the spans are of different widths, this is attributed to the size of timbers available at the time, and the best location in the river bed for firm foundations.
The bridge is now a listed Grade One Monument.
Quay House Bideford
Bideford was granted a Market Charter in 1272, but real prosperity developed when Bideford became a thriving port trading with the Americas. For approximately 200 years, from 1550, Bideford, under the patronage of the Grenville family thrived on shipbuilding, importing timber from Newfoundland for the shipbuilding industry, the production and export of cloth and, for a time, a large proportion of the imported tobacco coming into England arrived at this port.
It is said that the first commercial cargo carried by Sir Walter Raleigh was unloaded at Bideford Quay. Sir Richard Grenvilles mighty little ship, the "Revenge", sailed from here with a crew of hardy Bideford men who took on a fierce sea battle with fifteen Spanish ships off the Azores in 1591. The Grenvilles were given the Manor of Bideford by Rufus, a successor of William the Conqueror, the town remained in Grenville ownership until acquired by the Corporation in 1711.
A darker claim to fame is the fact that Bideford was home to the last three witches to be executed in Devon in the year 1682.
Bideford from the Fort - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Bideford from the Railway Station - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Bideford Ship Tavern - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Bideford, The Bridge - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Bideford, The Park - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Bideford, The Quay from the Bridge - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
The main artery is the Quay, a wide road running along the north bank of the River Torridge. On the river side, there is a line of mature trees, also notice the iron fence posts which are now listed, many have their date of manufacture inscribed on them (around 1840). Look out for the Lundy Island passenger and supplies ship "MS Oldenburg" which has its moorings here alongside the Quay. On the town side of the road there is still much evidence of the once handsome architecture that was to be found in Bideford. Nearly all other town streets run up the hill at right angles to the Quay; again, there are buildings to be found that serve as a reminder of Bideford's seafaring and trading past.
At the north end of the Quay is the pleasant and traditional Victoria Park, with river frontage, and containing the Visitor Information Centre and the Burton Art Gallery and Museum.
Past Victoria Park, strung out along the Northam Road there are several examples of fine houses, a legacy of the rich merchants who once lived there.
Across the bridge is the area known as "East the Water". Go past the Royal Hotel, and a little way up the hill, will be found the old railway station, which has a railway carriage café with information on cycling or walking the Tarka Trail.
In "East the Water" there is a building that forms part of the the Royal Hotel where Charles Kingsley, author of "Westward Ho!" and "The Water Babies", lived for several years. A statue of Charles Kingsley stands at the entrance to the new car park at the north end of the Quay by Victoria Park.
The Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley described Bideford as "The Little White Town which slopes upward from its broad river tide " . Indeed, little has changed from when Kingsley lived in the area nearly 150 years ago much of its architecture and historic associations are still with us. Kingsley's statue, located adjacent to the Tourist Information Centre, serves as a permanent reminder of this famous resident and the time he spent here writing part of his well-known novel Westward Ho!
Today, Bideford is both a thriving market town and working port with much to offer visitors to the region. Amongst the many buildings and places of interest you will find the historic covered Pannier Market, dating from 1883, which holds a market every Tuesday and Saturday. Alongside the history you will find modern shopping amenities, a wide choice of clubs, bars and restaurants, entertainment and a tremendous range of visitor attractions for the young and not so young!
Compact, accessible and with good parking facilities, Bideford hopes to combine tradition and heritage with sensible and planned development, so as to ensure that the town remains a unique experience for every visitor!
Bideford was Britain's third largest port in the 16th Century. Today, the narrow town centre streets lead down to the tree lined quay which bustles with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats. The impressive 24 arch stone bridge built in 1535 leads to the coastal path cycleway and to the disused railway line which is part of the Tarka Trail.. The town itself has a thriving shopping centre, friendly cafes and pubs.
Victoria Park provides plenty of interest for the both the horticulturist as well as the kids - with playground equipment and paddling pool. Within the park is the Burton Art Gallery which hosts art and craft collections as well as being the town's museum.
For more information - www.bidefordtown.co.uk
Tourist Information Centre: 01237 477676
markets: Pannier Market is open Tuesdays and Saturdays all year round and Butchers Row is open 6 days a week all year round.
Places to visit: North Devon Maritime Museum, Lundy Island, Big Sheep, Milky Way, Tapeley Park
The historic port and market town of Bideford has changed very little from the time when Charles Kingsley lived in the area nearly 150 years ago.
The Victorian novelist described Bideford as "The little white town which slopes upward from its broad river tide".
Kingsley's statue, located adjacent to the Tourist Information Centre, serves as a permanent reminder of this famous resident and the time he spent here writing part of his well-known novel "Westward Ho!"
Today Bideford is both a thriving market town and working port with much to offer visitors to the region.
Amongst the many buildings and places of interest you will find the historic covered Pannier Market (01237 478777), dating from 1883, which holds a market every Tuesday and Saturday. The local market term "pannier" refers to past times when all market produce was carried in baskets known as panniers.
Alongside the history you will find modern shopping amenities, a wide choice of bars and restaurants, entertainment and a tremendous range of visitor attractions.
The port of Bideford came to prominence in the Middle Ages. Evidence of the importance of Bideford is found in the 1200s when there is a record of the building of St Mary's Church (1232) and shipping activity alongside the Quay.
Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to have landed his first cargo of tobacco in Bideford after which the port went on to become an important tobacco importer and wool exporter.
Bideford's medieval long bridge crosses the River Torridge and is famous for the varying sizes of its 24 arches. There are many theories in existence explaining this peculiarity. A model of the bridge and details of its history are on display at the Burton Art Gallery and Museum in the town. The new river bridge was completed and opened in 1987.
Historical architecture abounds throughout the town from public buildings such as the Town Hall and Library, former merchants' houses, churches, hostelries and inns to museums and, at East-the-Water, Chudleigh Fort housing memorabilia from the Civil War.
A Town Architectural Trail takes you on a guided walking tour of some of the buildings and monuments of particular interest.
The maritime connection with Bideford is represented by the recently restored Kathleen and May (01237 476375), a historic three-masted schooner at Brunswick Wharf at East-the-Water. Guided tours are available.
Bideford is still a working port and home to the MS Oldenburg, a supply vessel regularly carrying provisions and passengers to Lundy Island (01237470074). This fascinating island, situated 12 miles off the coastline, has rugged and ever changing scenery with a fantastic array of flora and
fauna and attracts many visitors throughout the spring and summer months.
Bideford's Victoria Park is a constant blaze of colour throughout the summer ai appeals to people of all ages, including families, with its open-air pool and play facilities which include a fort complete wii cannons reputedly captured from the Spar ish Armada by Bideford men.
Situated within Victoria Park is the renowned Burton Art Gallery (01237 471455) which provides a permanent home to a collection of paintings, porcelain, pewter, historic artefacts and displays as well as hosting regular touring exhibitions and workshops throughout the year.
The town centre offers a good range of modern and traditional shops, eating places and hostelries along with the new out of town discount shopping outlet, Atlantic Village (01237 422544).
As well as offering an undercover shopping area with 34 outlets, there is also a food court, piazza and visitor attractions catering for all the family.
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Bideford is an excellent base for many outdoor pursuits such as golf, watersports, walking (along the South West Coast Path), and cycling (along the Tarka Trail).
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The Big Sheep - fun for all the family with a huge indoor play area, animal shows, mountain boarding centre, brewery and internet cafe. Tel: 01237 472366.
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The Milky Way Adventure Park - a whole day of family fun and adventures at North Devon's largest all weather adventure park. Tel: 01237 431255.
www.bidefordtown.co.uk
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