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Researchers at Bideford Archive have been investigating the story of Northam’s Bone Hill monument as reported in the local press in 1897. The initiative came from William Blakeney, who had retired to Westward Ho! after a career as a Navy hydrographer drawing up maps of the coast, mainly in the Far East. He belonged to…
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In August 1925 the Bideford and North Devon Gazette reported that the Red House, ‘noted for Its catering’ had removed from Bridgeland Street to the Quay. What, and where, was the Red House? Researchers at Bideford and District Community Archive have found some answers. Today, numbers 25 and 26 Bridgeland Street, Grade II listed buildings,…
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Number 5, The Square, is the imposing building in the centre of Northam, next to St Margaret’s Church, and has a long and distinguished history dedicated to the care and welfare of the ordinary people of Northam. As far back as 1741 it was the workhouse and, thirty years later, it could accommodate 80 inmates.…
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Bideford Archive tells us of a curious custom dating back more than four hundred years which celebrated in Bideford every year on New Year’s Day: the distribution of John Andrew’s Dole. John Andrews was a 16th century Bideford merchant and Mayor. In 1942, it was reported that he had made a ‘goodly pile by importing salt…
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It is a shame that last year’s highly successful Frost Fair in Bideford is not going to be repeated this year. However, the good folks at Bideford Archive had a search through their collection of the Bideford Gazette newspapers and found some interesting snippets from Christmas past. It is interesting to note that some successful…
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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…
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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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Northam in 1871 was very different to the village of today and into it a child was born to Joshua and Susannah (née Heard) Taylor. They lived at what is now known as 22 Castle Street which in the 1871 census was known as Back Lane, Northam. The house still exists and a plaque erected…
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The horrific detonation of nuclear bombs over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945 killed between 150 and 246 thousand people, mainly civilians. Soon after, Japan announced its surrender and 15 August was made the official V-J Day in the UK, commemorating the end of the Second World War. Bideford…
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With the Wimbledon season upon us, the good folk at Bideford and District Community Archive have been looking into the origins of the Atlantic Racquet Centre. From 1946, friends and enthusiasts played as a Tennis Club on the Council owned courts in Golf Links Road in Westward Ho! but as time went on it was…
Bideford and River Torridge Heritage Harbour 