The planning application by Brend Hotels for the building on the old Bideford station to be converted into three cottages – presumably for rental by the hotel – seems to have excited some controversy. In a prominent position on the Tarka Trail, the site has been greatly improved over the last few years, thanks to the efforts of volunteers from Railway Heritage Centre, East the Water in Bloom, Bideford Men’s Shed and others, and it now provides an important and attractive visitor experience. But will Brend’s proposal enhance these assets – it includes some improvements such as a canopy over the station entrance and provide a toilet and other facilities for Railway Heritage staff – or will it obstruct plans to develop the heritage assets further? 

Aside from such tricky questions, there is one aspect of the planning proposal that has had little exposure. This is the plan to move the disused telephone box currently on Torrington Street to the station platform to serve as a ‘pocket museum’ of East-the-Water history. 

The phone box was adopted by East the Water in Bloom and by the charity Way of the Wharves in August 2021, when BT removed the phone equipment. In its current position it is covered in dirt from passing vehicles and not attractive to visitors. The idea is to install information about local history and horticulture, together with an audio archive of local stories, to create a mini museum which will vie for the title of the smallest museum in the world.

Situated in a key position, close to the station entrance and opposite the Royal Hotel, this phone box must have many stories from before the time when people had landlines in their homes – let alone mobiles. What happy news was communicated over that line? Who used it in a crisis or emergency, or just to keep in touch? Who has memories of precious communication with distant friends and family? Way of the Wharves are appealing for anyone who has such a story to contact them by email at wotw.wharves@gmail.com There is more information at www.phoneeastthewater.co.uk. 

As regards the planning application, clearly, it is important that any development does not radically alter the look and dimensions of the station building so that it impacts negatively upon the rest of the assets maintained by Bideford Railway Heritage Centre – the signal box, signalling, track, platform, and rolling stock along with displays, which together evoke a fantastic ambiance of past times.