Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Bideford has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Bideford.
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Sights in Bideford
Bideford is a market town located on the River Torridge in Devon, England. It is the secondlargest town in the district of Torridge, with a population of 11,349 at the 2011 census. The town is twinned with Brest in France and Quedlinburg in Germany. Bideford is around 190 miles (310 km) from London.
The River Torridge estuary forms part of the TawTorridge Estuary Nature Reserve which is recognised as a Ramsar site of international importance. On the opposite bank of the River Torridge is Instow. Instow is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. It is located on the River Torridge, some 4 miles (6 km) northwest of the town of Great Torrington and 12 miles (19 km) north of the town of Barnstaple.
Bideford Bay is not a bay in the geological sense but an inlet of the Bristol Channel. The water in the bay is very shallow and at low tide much of the area of wet sand is exposed. The River Torridge flows into the bay at its southern end. The Northam Burrows Country Park lies to the immediate south of the town. These former sand dunes now form a golf course and nature reserve.Hartland Point, with its lighthouse, is located 13 miles (21 km) to the northwest of Bideford.
The Port of Bideford is the secondsmallest port in England. It is located on the River Torridge in Devon, England. The port is tidal and has been in existence since at least the 13th century. It is an important export point for locallycaught fish, particularly mussels and crabs, as well as for china clay. The port also exports timber and bark.
Bideford’s title of “Ancient Borough” was conferred by a charter of King Edward III, dated 6 November 1327. In that year the town was authorized to hold a weekly market and an annual fair. The right to hold a market on Wednesdays was confirmed by a charter of King Henry VI, dated 10 October 1451.
The town’s charter was further extended by charters of King William III, dated 16 February 1696, and of Queen Anne, dated 23 April 1708. The Wednesday market still continues, and the fairs are now held twice yearly, on the second Wednesday in June and the fourth Wednesday in September.
The town has a guildhall, which was built in 1762. The ground floor is used as a market house and for other public meetings, while the first floor contains the courtroom and offices of the clerk of the peace.
The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin is of Norman origin, though it has been much restored. There are three libraries in the town, two of which, the North Devon Athenaeum and the Burton Art Gallery and Museum, are open to the public.
History of Bideford
The town of Bideford in Devon, England, dates back to at least the 9th century. It is mentioned in the Old English Chronicle as a landing place for Viking ships in 893, and in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a market town with a population of around 1,000. The first recordedbridge across the River Torridge was built in 1209, and by the 16th century Bideford was an important port, trading in wine, wool and cloth with Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. The town was also a centre for the manufacture of ship’s tackles, and for shipbuilding.
The prosperity of the town declined in the late 17th century, however, after the silting up of the River Torridge and the growth of nearby Barnstaple as a rival port. By the early 19th century Bideford was described as a “declining market town”, and in 1831 its population was just over 3,000.
Despite its somewhat downatheel appearance in the 19th century, Bideford still had some notable residents. The novelist Charles Dickens lived here for a time as a child, and the artist and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in the town in 1772.
Today Bideford is a small town with a population of around 11,000. It still has a busy port, handling around 110,000 tonnes of cargo each year, and its historic buildings and quiet streets make it a popular tourist destination.
Vacation in Bideford
Bideford is a small town located in Devon, England. It is situated on the River Torridge estuary, about 8 miles from the coast. The town has a population of around 11,000 people and is a popular tourist destination.
The town has a long and rich history dating back to the AngloSaxon era. It was an important trading port in medieval times and was home to a number of famous writers and artists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, Bideford is a thriving market town with a variety of shops and businesses.
There are a number of tourist attractions in Bideford including the historic Pannier Market, the Riverside Promenade, and the Burton Art Gallery and Museum. There are also a number of popular pubs and restaurants in the town.
Bideford is an ideal base for exploring the beautiful Devon countryside. The nearby town of Westward Ho! Is a popular spot for surfing and there are a number of walking and cycling trails in the area. The South West Coast Path runs through Bideford and there are some stunning coastal views to be enjoyed.
For those looking for a more relaxed vacation, Bideford has a number of bed and breakfast establishments and selfcatering cottages. There are also a number of hotels in the town.
Bideford is wellconnected by road and rail, making it easy to reach from most parts of the UK. There are regular trains to London, which take around 3 hours. The nearest airport is Bristol Airport, which is about a 2hour drive away.
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