| Bideford
AUTHOR
Charles Kingsley would be hard pressed to recognise the place he described as
‘the Little White Town’ in the 19th century. And this year, even regular
visitors to Bideford will be surprised at the recent changes which have taken
place.Nearing completion at the time of publication is the complete refurbishment
of The Quay to incorporate a much-needed flood defence scheme.
The opportunity
has been taken to upgrade the whole area, even to the extent of planting new trees
more in keeping with the environment beside the river.
One of the features
of the project is due to be revealed this year. It is a unique water fountain
display built into the quay wall to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee.
The
fountain will shoot huge jets of water out into the river in spectacular fashion.
The ‘show’ should look particularly impressive when viewed from the
old bridge. It should be ready for visitors later in the season.
 | | THE
Quay looking North |
The Quay is the place to go to see
a variety of boats both large and small moored alongside the wall. They range
from fishing boats to larger cargo ships, which arrive from many parts of the
world to fill their holds with local clay.
In the 16th century, Bideford
was the third largest port in the country. Merchants got rich on the proceeds
of trade and built large houses which are still a feature of Bridgeland Street,
opposite the Quay.
Bideford is the base for the good ship MS Oldenburg,
the Lundy supply vessel, which takes tourists to the fascinating island off the
North Devon coast.
From the riverside, you can see Bideford’s two
bridges – the graceful, high-level Torridge Bridge, across which the North
Devon Link Road passes – and the medieval Long Bridge.
When Charles Kingsley
stayed on the other side of the river at the Royal Hotel where he wrote much of
his novel, Westward Ho!, he no doubt strolled across the venerable bridge into
town.
Tarka the Otter must have passed under its arches on his travels in Henry
Williamson’s famous book of the same name, which was later made into a film.
The
24 stone arches vary in width from 12 to 25 feet. That’s thought to be because
it follows the design of the original wooden bridge built before AD 1300, the
arches of which were determined by the lengths of oak beams available. |