North Devon Journal
The River Torridge Heritage Group has been contributing this column in the North Devon Journal since December 2023. The column was previously written by the late Peter Christie, who did so much to research and promote the history and heritage of Bideford and North Devon.
The column follows a similar style with historical themed stories mixed with local politics and community interest.
The River Torridge Heritage Group is a partnership of local heritage organisations led by Way of the Wharves
Columns are copied here after publication
-
The bottle kiln NDJ 22/10/2026
In February 2025 we wrote about how wonderful it would be to get the bottle kiln outside the Burton fired up again. The kiln was a millennium project, designed to celebrate Bideford’s ceramic heritage, and firings took place regularly till about 2013. Since then, it has lain empty and rather abandoned but now the tradition…
-
Twinning NDJ 15/10/2026
This year in August Bideford celebrated 50 years of twinning with Landivisiau in Brittany, Northern France. A reception was held in the Pannier Market to mark the occasion. It was a delight to see friends greeting each other. The speeches were valiantly given in both languages by the mayors and twinning officials of the towns.…
-
Revenge NDJ 08/10/2026
Congratulations to Bideford Town Council maintenance team who won first prize in the Bideford Carnival float competition for their impressive replica of Revenge, the ship Sir Richard Grenville famously defended to his death off the island of Flores in the Azores. Grenville’s reputation as one of Elizabeth I’s fiercest and bravest commanders is derived from…
-
Heritage Open days 2026 NDJ 01/10/2026
All around the country, Heritage Open Days 2026 attracted visitors to enjoy and explore local heritage in castles, cottages, factories and workshops around the theme of ‘everyday lives of working people’. Locally we recorded over 250 visits to events that highlighted working life at: railways with Bideford Heritage Railway Centre and Tarka Valley Rail, steamship…
-
Flooding NDJ 24/09/2026
With warnings of the El Niño weather system bringing heavy rain and storms this winter, the Environment Agency held a public information event explaining the work they will be undertaking to help keep Bideford safe from flooding. Major construction works are about to start as part of the Kenwith Valley Flood Scheme to update the…
-
Water Shortages NDJ 17/09/2026
Dissatisfaction with water authorities is nothing new. In September 1976 the Bideford Gazette reported calls for the resignation of the holders of top jobs in the South West Water Authority. A letter said ‘Let them have their supplies cut off, have no outside help and learn the misery of what they have brought on others’.…
Subscribe
Enter your email below to receive updates.
