Heritage Harbour Blog

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

  • Bouldering – new use for an old building NDJ 14/11/24

    Plans for the repair and remodelling of the Town Hall and old Library building are moving forward with work due to start in February next year. The two largest rooms of what was the library are to become a gym, set to open its doors in January 2026. The building’s continuing use as a public…

  • River pollution – a heritage story NDJ 07/11/24

    Members of the River Torridge Heritage Group took part in the March for Torridge last Saturday, drawing attention to pollution from various sources in the river Torridge and what we can do about it. The river is, of course, fundamental to our maritime heritage and a vital part of what we want to protect and…

  • Will the Spanish buy Appledore Shipyard? NDJ 31/10/2024

    Shipbuilding Harland and Wolff Whilst we all want shipbuilding at Appledore to continue, the news that Spanish shipbuilder Navantia is in line to buy Harland and Wolff has had a mixed reception. Some say it should be the UK Government that should step in to safeguard a national industry. In Belfast, there is a particularly…

  • Activity on the River Torridge NDJ 10/10/24

    Upstream of Bideford Long Bridge, the river has seen a lot of activity in the last few weeks. Each year Skern Lodge takes around six thousand young people to canoe and raft from the steps at Little America and travel downstream through the Long Bridge and Bideford Harbour – they are the largest annual number…

  • The potential of heritage tourism NDJ 19/09/24

    Apparently the 2024 tourist season has not been a good one locally. National press reports have quoted a Bideford business as ‘hanging on by a thread’. The Director of Visit Devon says there have been ‘serious declines’ in tourist numbers throughout the county. Inflation has put pressure on family budgets while poor UK weather and…

  • A trip up the River Torridge 2 NDJ 12/09/24

     Continuing our trip up the River Torridge, we start at Bideford Quay this time. The quay has developed over many years and used to be much closer to the buildings which line the road. Within recent memory, it was not unusual to see shops and pubs flooded on high tides. However, there is now a…

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