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

  • Arts culture heritage at Bideford Fair NDJ 13/06/24

    Saturday 8 June marked a highlight in the Bideford events calendar. Bideford Fair, put on by Bideford Town Council, is a premier local event and brings our community out and together for an excellent fun packed day. The weather was glorious and there was something for everyone. Local community events are so important in maintaining…

  • From Morocco to Alverdiscott – big clean energy story NDJ 06/06/24

    There have been public consultations this week about the plan by Xlinks to bring massive amounts of solar and wind-generated power to the UK from Morocco. The scheme promises to provide 8% of Britain’s electricity needs and to make a substantial contribution to the transition away from fossil fuels, supplying 7 million homes with clean…

  • In memoriam: Peter Christie NDJ 29/02/24

    It was typical of the late great Peter Christie to write his own obituary. It is typically modest, factual, and understated, especially in relation to the mass of tributes which poured on to Facebook sites from Holsworthy to Ilfracombe. As this was Peter’s column, it is only fitting for us to fill the gaps with…

  • Activity on the Quay NDJ 15/02/24

    Some of us woke the other morning to find that an exceptionally high spring tide – 6.7 metres – had flooded the development site at Brunswick Wharf. The huge area of water made a pretty sight in the winter sunshine, but it also raises questions about the robustness of our flood defences as the earth…

  • Preserving History in the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre NDJ 01/02/24

    A light powdering of snow on 18 January brought chaos to Bideford and the cancellation of an important Planning Committee meeting. Apparently two cars ran into each other, and into the scaffolding at the bottom of Bridge Street. Both Bridge Street and High Street were closed for a time and the former turned into a…

  • Bideford and Barnstaple Ports in History NDJ 19/01/24

    Which was the more important port historically, Bideford or Barnstaple? A cartoon in Barnstaple library suggests the question has been a matter of longstanding rivalry. But historical records show that we were closely connected and very much part of the same economic system. Two types of records from 1582 – only nine years after Bideford…

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