In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Bideford like this:
Bideford, par., mun. bor., and seaport, N. Devon, on river Torridge, 4 miles from the sea, 7 miles SW. of Barnstaple, and 220 miles from London by rail, 3196 ac., pop. 6512; P.O., T.O., 3 Banks, 3 newspapers. Market-days, Tuesday and Saturday. The town is in two portions, united by a bridge of 24 arches. ...
It has mfrs. of earthenware, ropes, sails, and leather; and carries on shipbuilding. Exports-- oak-hark, gram, and its own mfrs; imports -- timber, coal, fruits, wines, and brandies. Vessels of 500 tons come up to the quay; steamers run to Ilfracombe and Lundy Island during summer, and to Bristol throughout the year. Bideford is now a sub-port of Barnstaple. On Braunton Sands is a lighthouse, with 2 fixed lights (Bideford) seen at 11 and 14 miles. Admiral Sir Richard Grenville, who fell in action with the Spaniards in 1591, was a native.
Bideford through time
Bideford is now part of Torridge district. Click here for graphs and data of how Torridge has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Bideford itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Bideford, in Torridge and Devon | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/449
Date accessed: 30th October 2024
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