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

  • Collar factories NDJ 13/11/2025

    Last year we reported on the planned demolition of Bideford’s first collar factory on the site of the old Littlejohns Coal Yard. Sadly, that historic building has been demolished, but a recent donation of 14 different styles of collars to Bideford and Community Archive provides another opportunity to reflect on an industry that contributed so…

  • The Borough family in the arctic NDJ 06/11/2025

    Last week brought the news that melting Arctic ice has opened up a new shipping route from China to the UK via a northeast passage along the north coast of Russia.  Oddly enough, this development has a direct connection to our local history. Members of the famous Borough family of Northam were among the first…

  • Port of Bideford in numbers NDJ 30/10/2025

    The number of ships using Bideford as a port has much reduced over the years. Ships queuing up to cross the bar and double moored on the quays to discharge cargoes are just memories.  Of course, it didn’t just stop overnight there were a series of changes which impacted port operations. Improvements to roads and…

  • Boats large and small NDJ 23/10/2025

    We hear that Navantia, Appledore will shortly start cutting steel for the bow sections of the first new Fleet Solid Support Ships. A massive 100 x 30-metre barge will transport them to Belfast. It should be something to watch as it comes in and going out of the estuary fully laden.  When we hear about…

  • The Torridge upstream NDJ 16/10/2025

    Few people look upstream of Bideford Long Bridge and imagine industry and shipping. However, vessels transited up as far as Weare Gifford. The arches of Bideford Long Bridge dictated all activity upstream, even the size of the sea lock at Rolle Canal: the widest arch on the bridge is 20 feet and so is the…

  • Bideford Community Hospital NDJ 09/10/2025

    One hundred years ago, on 23 September 1925, a new hospital was opened on Abbotsham Road. Bideford & District Community Archive has researched the background to the Bideford Community Hospital, which is still a key element of our community.  Although there was a public dispensary in Bideford, the need for hospital beds became evident and…

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