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

  • Local Government Reorganisation NDJ 26/12/24

    While everyone has been getting ready for Christmas, the government has published its plans for reorganising local government, something which has the potential to become a truly hot topic in 2025.  The proposals would see Torridge and North Devon District Councils being abolished and their responsibilities absorbed into a larger unitary authority, most likely controlled from…

  • Christmas traditions in Bideford NDJ 19/12/24

    Bideford celebrated its Frost Fair last Saturday. No frost was to be seen, except the spray-on variety, but the event certainly brought plenty of people into town. It was great to see the Pannier Market full of stalls, the town band playing, and a stilt walker mingling with the crowd. Down in Mill Street there…

  • Heritage and regeneration NDJ 21/11/24

    Sometimes it feels like we are fighting a losing battle to improve our area. Just this last week we have seen Bideford’s brand-new play park defaced by vandals and our Post Office slated for closure. Tourist attractions are struggling; we are nowhere near our net zero target, and smoking is actually going up in Torridge,…

  • 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…

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