History & Culture

The Bideford Long Bridge.

You can’t miss Bideford’s long bridge, as it’s the first structure you’ll see as you head into the town from the Torrington direction. It really is an impressive sight. In its earliest form, the bridge is believed to date back to medieval times as an ancient causeway that allowed access from each side of the river.

Bidefords Tower Street.

Tower Street leads down from the top of the town near Bideford's Pannier Market towards St. Mary's Church; the street itself is well worth a visit as it is one of the earliest examples of a pedestrian only street. It also has some varied and interesting architectural styles with a selection of well-maintained miniature gardens on display. Tourist Tip: - Make sure you visit the top of Tower Street, as you will see a curiously shaped triangular house that's a good example of how houses were built on every available piece of land during the last century.

Sir Charles Kingsley.

Charles Kingsley was born in Holne, Devon, and the second son of the Rev. Charles Kingsley and his wife Mary. He spent much of his childhood in Clovelly, very near to the town of Bideford. He studied at King's College London, and then at the University of Cambridge from where he graduated in 1842 and then chose to pursue a ministry in the church.

Bidefords Pannier Market.

The Pannier Market is a beautifully architected building that was fully restored to its former splendour in 1993 by Bideford’s town council. Its high ceilings are fitted with banks of skylights that allow beams of light to shower down onto the impressive indoor market on a sunny midsummer’s day, making this a tranquil and relaxing location that allows you to easily while away an hour or two without realising it.

Bridgeland Street.

Bridgeland Street is one of the grandest and least changed streets in Bideford. The street itself was originally developed in the 1690s following the extension of the quay area, and soon became the home to all the richest merchants in Bideford.

Cooper Street.

Cooper Street is one of the narrowest streets in the town, and as the name confirms, it was originally the barrel-making centre of Bideford. ‘Hogsheads’, which are the large wooden barrels used to transport and store tobacco, were made in this street en-masse, primarily these barrels were used for transporting goods to the American colonies.

Bideford Pottery.

Bideford has produced earthenware goods since medieval times and at its peak the industry, around Willet Street, producing clay ware such as pots, bread ovens, pitchers, plant pots and clay pipes for both export and the home market.

Allhalland Street.

When buildings and private gardens lined the riverbank from the Long Bridge to the Old Quay, Allhalland Street was the main thoroughfare to the old market place. In effect it was also the main entrance into the town. Allhalland Street has always been a narrow street and the original width can be seen part way down where two houses jut out in to the road, these are two reminders of an early attempt to widen the street that didn't quite come off!

Bridge Street.

Bridge Street is Bideford's steepest thoroughfare, rising up from the Long Bridge towards the Pannier Market above, it is also one of the few streets in Bideford to have gained notoriety in Charles Dickens novel ‘Message from the Sea’.

Although one side of the street has lost almost all of its original buildings, the other side still retains much of it historic architecture, including Bridge Buildings and the Tavern on the Port, this is an historic pub that now houses Lacey’s real alehouse; which owns its own micro-brewery that locally produces many of the bitters and ales on sale.

Rumour has it that in the 17 th century, after a night carousing for too long in the market taverns, one unfortunate reveller stumbled at the top, fell and rolled down the entire length of the street, only to be found dead at the bottom in the morning.

Sir Richard Grenville.

Sir Richard Grenville, who was a cousin of Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, was a key driving force for change and growth within Bideford. In particular he obtained a charter for the town in 1574 that played a major role in the transformation of Bideford, from a small fishing port into a significant trading centre; that had connections with the entire western world.

St Marys Church.

The St Mary's Church tower dates back to 1259 when this was the only church and graveyard in the town. The rest of the church looks old, but in fact it is quite modern having been rebuilt and enlarged between 1862 and 1865 during a period of prosperity in Bideford. In fact it was noted that there was no shortage of wealthy church-going families willing to contribute to the then mammoth rebuilding, at the time the total cost for this rebuilding work was £5250.

St Marys Graveyard.

Up until the mid-eighteenth century this was the only burial ground in the town and it served all denominations and creeds. The graveyard was extended in 1803 but the extra space was soon used up and in 1849 the graveyard was closed, and a new graveyard was then opened in Old Town.

The Bideford Witches.

In 1682, three women from Bideford were hanged for witchcraft. They were the last women in England to be executed for this crime. Unfortunately, it wasn't all that unusual in the 17th century for elderly widows or single women who didn't 'fit in', to be accused of witchcraft. These allegations were usually then compounded if the women happened to be around when something dire happened, as they usually became the prime suspect.

The Old Bideford Quay.

Bideford quay was a very lively place in the 16th century. In fact, the port was the 3rd largest in the country. It was primarily used for fishing (especially cod), Irish wool and tobacco. As the port has been so busy over the years, it has had to be extended three times (in 1663, 1692 and 1890), on the last occasion it was discovered that the old mooring posts, were actually Spanish Armada cannons, all of which were excavated and are now situated in Victoria Park.

The Bideford Chambers.

Bideford’s Council Chambers have recently been restored to their former splendour, and images of every Mayor, dating back to the early 1800s hang on the walls. The Mayor’s office has an array of glass cabinets, displaying intriguing historical documents and artefacts that help you to catalogue Bideford’s past.

Although not generally open to the public, the Chambers and the Mayor’s office can be viewed if a tour is pre-booked in advance. These tours are usually only open to schools and groups.