In August 1925 the Bideford and North Devon Gazette reported that the Red House, ‘noted for Its catering’ had removed from Bridgeland Street to the Quay. What, and where, was the Red House? Researchers at Bideford and District Community Archive have found some answers.

Today, numbers 25 and 26 Bridgeland Street, Grade II listed buildings, make up what was the original Red House. They are well named, being covered in reddish coloured tiles covering up the brickwork. This enabled the owner to avoid paying a brick tax in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. John Courtis is attributed as building the property, which was converted into two dwellings in the mid-1800s.  

The 1891 Census shows the Brueton family living at no. 25, with the head of the household, Frederick, an ‘artist, portrait and figure sculptor’. Living at no. 26 was a ‘horse dealer’, William Turner, and his family. In April 1898, the properties (and a Life Policy) were purchased by the architect Mr G Malam Wilson for £256 and, in 1899, the Bridge Trust granted a new lease of 99 years for a ‘dwelling house, formerly known as Nos. 25 and 26 Bridgeland Street’. The property and ‘Architectural and Surveying Practice’ of Mr G Malam Wilson was taken over by Mr John J Smith in October 1900. 

In 1901 John Smith announced that he had moved to 63 High Street, reflected in the 1901 Census which shows the Bridgeland Street properties as unoccupied. Smith is credited as the architect of the Appledore Congregational Church Manse, the conversion of 82 High Street to Farleigh’s Stores, and new premises for the Wilts and Dorset Bank in Bideford. By 1911, John Smith and his family had returned to 25 Bridgeland Street. Living with Smith were his daughters, Amy and Nelli, and a son, Gordon. 

After John’s death in 1915, the Smith siblings continued to live at no. 25 Bridgeland Street. The 1921 Census states the occupations of Amy and Nellie as ‘Tea Room (part proprietress)’ and that they were employers. Gordon was an architect’s assistant with Orphoot & Whiting Architects. Number 26 was occupied by the Dymond family.

Four years later, in August 1925, Gazette reported: ‘The Misses Smith are to be congratulated on their enterprise in transferring their business of tea rooms and café to the Quay.’ The décor was finished with a specially designed swing sign picturing the little red house and continuing the name of ‘The Red House Café’.