The River Torridge Heritage Group is a partnership of heritage organisations seeking to maximise the potential of our maritime heritage. Many readers will remember the lift the Kathleen and May gave Bideford when she was being restored here (1999-2012). The sight of her setting sail again must have been truly exciting. The vision now is to attract other heritage vessels to Bideford, either as visiting ships or permanent attractions. 

Some wonderful local heritage vessels are already registered at National Historic Ships UK. The SS Freshspringberthed on Bideford Quay (open to visitors on Sundays April-October) is a historic steamship, built in 1946 to deliver fresh water to warships. She represents the many small coasting steamers that worked the port of Bideford. The aim is to restore the ship to working order as a nationally recognised attraction to North Devon as well as an educational facility.

In Appledore, another historic ship is undergoing restoration. The Jane Hannah Macdonald III is a 115-year-old lifeboat, built in 1909, and brought to Bideford in 1910. She saved 23 lives at Appledore between 1910 and 1923 and then worked at two other lifeboat stations before taking part in the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940. She is currently being restored by the Appledore Maritime Heritage Trust to be displayed and rowed at regattas and festivals.

Other historic vessels could be added to the collection, for example the Swiftsure, an original Instow Ferry built by Hinks of Appledore, or a 1920s Taw and Torridge One-Design yacht, built for North Devon Yacht Club by Appledore firm, Hinks, Waters and Blackmore.

Bideford is still a working port and the passenger ferry to Lundy Island – the MS Oldenburg – probably counts as a historic ship in its own right, having been built in 1958. It is owned by the Landmark Trust and operates out of both Bideford and Ilfracombe. The MSC Severn Scimitar – (formerly the Goliath) was built in Appledore 1956, and operates as a tug around the Bristol Channel. Torridge District Council owns the Two Rivers II Pilot Boat which guides visiting vessels, particularly the larger ones, through the tidal streams and shifting banks in the estuary. It’s been a long time though since we have seen one of the huge cargo vessels loading ball clay for export to Castellón on the east coast of Spain. Let’s hope Brexit hasn’t put a stop to all that.