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A photograph that turned up in the Bideford and District Community Archive shows a man and a fish. The man has a late 1960s hairstyle, with a fringe and his hair growing over his ears. It’s reminiscent of the early Beatles and he’s wearing an arran pattern sweater – very fashionable at the time. The…
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Climate change brings many challenges and Rosemoor Gardens, Torrington have found a way to reduce their use of mains water for irrigation by working with heritage. The Rolle Canal may not be the oldest heritage site locally, but at seven miles length it can lay claim to being the longest. The canal was built by…
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From the coast path between Bideford and Appledore, you can see the remains of four wooden vessels. Some are just a few pieces of wood sticking out of the mud, and what is visible varies as the tide and currents move the sediment about. Others, with the hull and superstructure still present, were clearly once…
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When British Summer Time began at 1am on Sunday 30 March, news stories mentioned not only that evenings would be longer but that the time of daybreak would vary across the United Kingdom. It is some twenty-five minutes earlier in London to the east than Londonderry in the west. The Bideford dawn occurs eight minutes…
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As the summer season approaches, it is good to recall that the quays, wharves and banks of the river Torridge have always been the focus for regattas, galas, markets and celebrations. Generations of children learned to swim by Bideford Bridge and there was even horse racing on the sand exposed at low tide along the…
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What a collection of ceremonial regalia was in evidence when Bideford’s Manor Court met in the Town Hall last Saturday 15 March! Bideford Town Band played in the balcony and welcomed the Mayor in full regalia, a bewigged Town Clerk, Beadle, Town Crier, councillors and guests, including Chair of Torridge District Council and Mayors from…
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When the Bideford Manor Court met in the Town Hall in March 2024 there were a number of ‘presentments’ considered by the jury. These included cleaning the Kingsley statue by Victoria Park (completed within a couple of months) and celebrating the recognition, by the Maritime Heritage Trust in January of that year, of Bideford and…
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Stuart has been blind since he was a young man. He and his black retriever guide dog are regular walkers along the Tarka Trail. Guide dogs stop working at about eight years old and, as his dog is nearing that age, Stuart has recently heard that he should be prepared for his dog to go…
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Lundy Island commands an important strategic position in the sea lanes between south Wales, the north coasts of Devon and Cornwall and the Western Approaches. Its history includes occupation by pirates, contested ownership and poor governance and it was only formally recognised as part of Devon in 1974. In 1986 the seas around Lundy were…
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By the time you read this New Year celebrations will be fading into distant memory. So, the question is, assuming you made any, how are you getting on with your resolutions for 2025? According to various surveys you can find on line (and there are many) up to 14 million people (20% of the UK…
Bideford and River Torridge Heritage Harbour 