Shipping notes No. 233 (August).

Posted on 02/09/2024 by Tango Alpha

Bideford Quay.

No commercial shipping at Bideford.

Yelland Quay.

No shipping in last month.

Appledore.

Quorn still in shipyard. Atherstone at the quay.

For the fist time in 19 months a commercial ship came into the river and berthed at Harland and Wolff berth Appledore –

Noodvlielt : flag Madeira : from Ternezem to Appledore : crew Dutch : arrived 20/8, sailed 23/8 : cargo 3,600 tons of rape seed for Mole Valley farmers & others.

Bristol Channel Observations.

1/8 at 08.08 cargo vessel Arklow Fern, 4,972 tons d.w., owners Arklow Shipping Eire, outward bound from Swansea having sailed at 04.56. At 10.23 cargo vessel Wilson Cadiz, 4,432 tons d.w., owners Wilson Shipowning Norway, outward bound from Newport having sailed at 04.47.

2/8 at 08.25 cargo vessel Rix Union, 4,247 tons d.w., owners Coalmar Shipping Ltd Latvia, inward bound for Cardiff. At 15.33 cargo vessel Wilson Davanger, 3,783 tons d.w., owners Wilson Shipowning Norway, inward bound for Cardiff. At 17.14 cargo vessel Isartal, 3,711 tons d.w., owners Isartal Schiffahtrs UG Germany, inward bound for Avonmouth.

3/8 at 08.11 vehicle carrier Michigan Highway, 17,673 tons d.w., owners Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd Japan, inward bound for Portbury. At 19.12 vehicle carrier Grande Detroit, 12,429 tons d.w., owners Grimaldi Line of Italy, inward bound for Portbury. (Seen again at 11.01 6th outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 06.20).

4/8 at 06.12 tanker Thun Genius, 7,559 tons d.w., owners Thun Tankers BV Sweden, inward bound for Cardiff. At 11.56 vehicle carrier Eurocargo Valencia, 15,500 tons d.w., owners Grimaldi Euromed SPA Italy, outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 07.56.

5/8 at 16.58 cargo vessel Pernille, 3,402 tons d.w., owners Pernille Interscan GMBH Germany, outward bound from Newport having sailed at 16.01 hrs 30th (previously at anchor in Blue Anchor bay awaiting orders). At 18.08 cargo vessel Wilson Flushing, 4,321 tons d.w., owners Wilson Shipowning Norway, inward bound for Cardiff.

6/8 at 07.10 cargo vessel Vitality, 4,181 tons d.w., owners Casper Chartering Ltd Immingham, inward bound for Newport. At 15.36 vehicle carrier Auto Energy, 16,988 tons d.w., owners Uniperssoal Madeira, inward bound for Portbury.

7/8 at 13.47 vehicle carrier Pleiades Spirit, 17,424 tons d.w., owners Racoon Navigation Inc Japan, inward bound for Portbury.

8/8 at 05.26 vehicle carrier Morning Cecilie, 22,699 tons d.w., owners Eukor Car Carriers Inc South Korea, outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 00.23.

9/8 at 15.12 vehicle carrier Neptune Aegli, 6,580 tons d.w., owners Aegli Shipping Greece, inward bound for Portbury. At 17.13 vehicle carrier Eurocargo Istanbul, 14,413 tons d.w., owners Malta Motorway of the Sea Malta, inward bound for Portbury.

10/8 at 15.58 cargo vessel Frederik, 4,508 tons d.w., owners Frederik Hermann Lohmann Germany, outward bound from Blue Anchor Bay having sailed at 12.42 and previously discharged at Newport. At 16.24 cargo vessel Johann, 4,400 tons d.w., owners Eroon Alpha Ltd Antigua and Barbuda, inward bound for Avonmouth.

11/8 at 05.25 vehicle carrier Autostar, 6,670 tons d.w., owners Uniperssoal Madeira, inward bound for Portbury. At 16.50 vehicle carrier Graceful Leader, 20,886 tons d.w., owners Ray Car Carriers Ltd Isle of Man, inward bound for Portbury. At 19.46 cargo vessel Kalli G, 3,798 tons d.w., owners Kalli and Gerdes Schiffahrts Germany, inward bound for Cardiff.

12/8 at 16.29 container vessel Encounter, 9,335 tons d.w., owners Encounter Bewarrder B.V. Netherlands, outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 11.36.

13/8 at 08.25 vehicle carrier Grande Detroit, 12,420 tons d.w., owners Grimaldi Line of Italy, inward bound for Portbury.

16/8 at 08.57 bulk carrier Bunun Hero, 37,811 tons d.w., owners Wisdom Marine Lines SA Panama, outward bound from Newport having sailed at 03.49.

17/8 at 11.02 container vessel Elbteam, inward bound for Portbury. At 10.05 vehicle carrier Grande Italia, 12,594 tons d.w., owners Grimaldi Line of Italy, inward bound for Portbury. At 10.07 vehicle carrier California Highway, 18,644 tons d.w., owners Kawaski Kisen K.K.Japan, outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 05.01. At 18.45 cargo vessel Glen, inward bound for Cardiff.

20/8 at 10.14 tanker Starling, 74,033 tons d.w., owners Straits Tanker L 1 Group Singapore, inward bound for Portbury with jet fuel. (Seen again at 20.12 23rd outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 12.31).

21/8 at 11.05 vehicle carrier Emerald Leader, inward bound for Portbury. At 14.07 cargo vessel Arklow Clipper, owners Arklow Shipping Eire, inward bound for Sharpness.

22/8 at 05.22 container vessel Containership V111, owners German, inward bound for Portbury.

23/8 at 16.25 bulk carrier Veloce, 83,410 tons d.w., owners Great Veloce Ltd Greece, inward bound for Portbury. (Seen again at 08.26 28th outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 02.40).

25/8 at 12.20 cargo vessel Nicola L, 4,995 tons d.w., owners Nicola L Herman Lohmann Germany, inward bound for Newport. At 15.42 chemical tanker Stolt Sanderling, 4,453 tons d.w., owners Brovig Stainless BV Netherlands, outward bound from Barry having sailed at 11.24. At 15.54 tanker Thun London, 18,684 tons d.w., owners Thun Tankers B.V Sweden, outward bound from Avonmouth having sailed at 10.21. At 16.05 vehicle carrier Autosun, 6,670 tons d.w., owners Uniperssoal Madeira, outward bound from Avonmouth having sailed at 09.31.

26/8 at 14.58 cargo vessel Arklow Valley, 5,169 tons d.w., owners Avoca Shipping B.V. Eire, inward bound for Avonmouth. At 11.45 vehicle carrier Neptune Aegli, 6,580 tons d.w., owners Aegli Shipping Greece, outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 22.41 10th (had been anchored in Blue Anchor Bay awaiting orders). At 17.48 cargo vessel Eems Dart, 3,725 tons d.w., owners Amny Dollard B.V. Netherlands, inward bound for Cardiff.

27/8 at 14.25 bulk carrier Rostrum America, 40,007 tons d.w., owners Rostrum America Ltd Germany, outward bound from Port Talbot having sailed at 10.14.

29/8 at 11.24 vehicle carrier Auto Aspire, 12,452 tons d.w. owners Uniperssoal Madeira, inward bound for Portbury.

30/8 at 05.26 tanker Angelina Amoretti, 23,740 tons d.w., owners Emiliana Spa Italy, inward bound for Avonmouth. At 07.57 bulk carrier Macaw Arrow, 60,940 tons d.w., owners Fjeldholman Shipping Norway, outward bound from Portbury having sailed at 02.08. At 10.20 ro-ro vessel City of Hamburg, 3,546 tons d.w., owners Airbus SAS France, inward bound for Portbury. (Seen again at 10.46 31st outward bound from Portbury having sailed from Portbury at 06.34). At 14.29 cargo vessel Kalli G, 3,798 tons d.w., owners Kalli & Derres Schiffahtrs Germany, inward bound for Cardiff.

31/8 at 08.55 cargo vessel Arklow Castle, 5,000 tons d.w., owners Avoca Shipping Eire, outward bound from Avonmouth having sailed at 02.50. At 14.30 cargo vessel Eems Dollard, inward bound for Sharpness

Regards,

Norman.

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“Bideford Legends” – 1.

Posted on 28/08/2024 by Tango Alpha

Introducing “Bideford Legends”.

My name is Tanya Harrison, I was born abroad and came to live in Bideford in 2017. By profession I am a Teacher of English to foreign students, not a photographer, not a writer, not an expert or historian. I don’t drive which makes me walk a lot, I am attentive to details and curious about the place. Bideford has its unique historical character which is worth memorising.

The aim of my project “Bideford Legends” (FB Bideford Legends) is to show the beauty of the buildings or images that are not very noticeable and sometimes forgotten, to highlight a different view on ordinary things and to encourage our community to share their priceless memories, knowledge, and experience.

* * * *

Bideford Carnegie (“Old”) Library.

Now they say the old Library will be converted, probably into a gym.

* * * *

Bideford Hospital.

The former Torridge Hospital, which was built as a workhouse. It still looks magnificent but it is said that people didn’t like going there because of its past.

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Burrows Rangers seek volunteers for autumn/ winter.

Posted on 20/08/2024 by Tango Alpha

The Northam Burrows rangers are preparing for a busy Autumn of nature conservation work, and the call has gone out for volunteers to help with the next round of vital tasks. Help from volunteers to look after the Country Park and other Local Nature Reserves is crucial for the protection of the local environment but also offers a great way for people to get outdoors, keep fit and have some fun with like-minded people.

The ranger team has organised a full programme of events for the community to get involved in, with an opportunity to discover more about nature and learn some new skills.

Events include:

Wednesday 20 November – Reed bed management and path improvements, Kenwith Valley.

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‘Postcard Pals’ at Bideford Library.

Posted on 01/08/2024 by Tango Alpha

I would like to draw your readers’ attention to a project we are launching in Torridge called Postcard Pals.

This is a project which encourages people to micro volunteer by designing and writing a postcard to a stranger. I have several groups of volunteers who will be meeting to create the postcards and I now need people in the Torridge community to register as recipients.

The recipient can choose whether to receive a postcard monthly from a different stranger, or they can register to receive a postcard and to write one back. Bideford Library will provide the postcards and resources and organise the delivery and collection of the postcards so everyone’s details will be protected. The aim is to give people who may feel lonely or isolated a way of feeling connected without having to leave their home.

Sarah,

Libraries Unlimited.

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A tribute to Peter Christie.

Posted on 22/02/2024 by Tango Alpha

Peter Christie.

We were very sorry to hear the news of the death of Peter Christie, Torridge councillor, author and historian, and loyal contributor to “Buzz”. He wrote a host of articles over the years, all of which have been saved for posterity in the Buzz Archives, and many which can be found on this website. He was a loyal supporter of the newsletter from its earliest days in 2005, helping us with funding via his role on the Bridge Trust, Bideford Town Council and Torridge District Council. He answered numerous questions posed by our readers on historical matters and was the ‘go to’ source for many local history queries.

He was also a personal friend and an adviser in my other role as Bideford Librarian.

All of us at “Buzz” send his friends and family our condolences at this sad time. We will miss him.

Rose Arno. Editor, “Bideford Buzz”.

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British Naturalists’ Association – local programme, 2024.

Posted on 24/01/2024 by Tango Alpha

BRITISH NATURALISTS’

ASSOCIATION

TAW AND EXMOOR BRANCH

Local Secretary

Brian Sims

9 Old Torrington Road

Barnstaple

North Devon

EX31 2DD

Tel: (01271) 343607

PROGRAMME TO JANUARY, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE – PARTICIPATION AT ALL EVENTS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Sunday December 15th

Birdwatching Bonanza. Meet at the CP* at 9.00 am to go to Topsham. If going direct be there at Dart’s Farm at 10.15 am (Post code EX3 0QH) visiting Dart’s Farm, Goosemoor, the RSPB Reserve at Bowling Green Marsh, the River Clyst, the Goat Walk and possibly Exminster Marshes and Powderham. Packed lunch, hot drinks, warm clothes. Level walking,

Sunday January 12th 2025

A trip to the RSPB Reserve at Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels hopefully to see bittern, kingfisher and a starling murmuration. Meet at the CP* at 9.00am or if going direct then at 10.45 am in the Ham Wall car park (Post Code BA6 9SX) where there are toilets and a small shop/cafe. Bring warm clothing, hot drink and a packed lunch. Very level walking.

CP* This is the former Park and Ride car park in Barnstaple alongside Park School..This enables us to amalgamate into fewer vehicles and save money and help protect the environment At the time of going to print it was free.

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‘Upstream Thinking’ project has many benefits.

Posted on 18/12/2023 by Tango Alpha

More than 40,000 native trees are being planted for farms and landowners to help reduce land run-off and improve natural water quality as part of South West Water’s catchment management programme, Upstream Thinking.

The trees, which were provided by the Woodland Trust, will be delivered and planted by Upstream Thinking partners Devon Wildlife Trust, and will see a range of native tree species like blackthorn, hazel and oak delivered to farms across Devon.

The native trees will encourage water to soak into the ground and thus help to stabilise the soil, reducing the rate of run-off from land into watercourses and thereby improving water quality. The trees will also help to capture carbon and increase biodiversity on the land.

The latest intake of trees will be delivered to around 60 farms across eight river catchments, taking the number of trees planted across the region by the Upstream Thinking programme to 260,000.

Tim Dart, Upstream Thinking Project Manager at Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “We are really pleased to be delivery partners on South West Water’s Upstream Thinking programme and for their support in delivering this important project to improve water quality and resilient water resources, along with the environmental benefits this brings for wildlife and people”.

Upstream Thinking is an award-winning catchment management programme delivered in partnership with Westcountry Rivers Trust, the Wildlife Trusts in Devon and Cornwall, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and South West Lakes Trust. The programme involves working with landowners to look at how land is managed to drive improvements in raw water quality in rivers across the region.

Eleanor Lewis, South West Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust said: “The benefits of trees are numerous and we are pleased to be able to support the Upstream Thinking project. Partnership working is key and this highlights how organisations can come together to work with landowners and farmers to find solutions to some of the problems we face”.

South West Water is committed to boosting nature recovery through planting 300,000 trees by 2025, and expanding Upstream Thinking to provide benefits to 146,500 hectares of land by 2030.

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A Devonshire poem about the Piskies.

Posted on 12/12/2023 by Tango Alpha

Here is an amusing poem in the local dialect by J C Harding, who spent his final years in the ‘White House’, which I believe was the name of the Bideford workhouse.

Mr Harding filled an exercise book in his own copperplate handwriting with a collection of poems that he had composed on a number of topics. They are of considerable interest for their subject matter; one is about the sinking of the Titanic, their political attitude (strongly imperialist), and above all their local concerns, such as Appledore lifeboat men, historical events, and the beauty of the district. A few, like this, are in dialect. I hope that readers today can still understand it!

Fortunately the manuscript has survived, as Mr Harding passed it to my grandfather Mr Jack Elliott of the Swan Inn in Mill Street for safekeeping. (My grandfather retired in the early 1950’s). I have owned it for many years, and now that “Buzz” has made it possible to bring it to the notice of the public I am sharing it, and will then send it to the Bideford and District Community Archive.

John Davies.

 

How Zammy Dawe zeed the piskies.

Wat es et young maister, wat es et yu zay,

Du I think thare iz piskies? I du then ees fay;

En wat’s more then thet , I kin tull ee ver shure,

I zeed min wan nite, out pin tap Burden moare.

Aw ees yu kin laff, en zay tes all stuff,

Bit zeeins beleevin, ees, thet’s gude anuff.

Wat,tull ee the story? Wull kum rest yer bones

Bezide aw ma basket, thare, tap aw the stones.

 

Yes yurs ago now, close pin mikkymes dey

I wiz working tu Stickypule vaarm, Welkin wey.

New wan day the maister zed, ‘Zam I declare,

Ef temarra want be the West Kintry vaare.

I mist geet awver airly , the marnin,’ sez ee;

En yu kim awn arter wi dree bastes,dee zee,

Ess,mist try geet min een tu West Kuntry zaale

Ver I think thare’ll be chance ver a purty gude dale.’

 

Next marnin dree Bullucks I draw tu the vaare,

En vury gude bizness the maister din thare.

Zo he zed tu ma, ‘Zam, yew kin vinish the day

But mind be hoam airly, tu late dont ee stay,

Ver I mist geet awver tu Harton chuch town,

Zo taake thicky shillun, tu du yerzel down.’

 

Wul yu knaw, times like thet wan draps pin owld vriends

Tedden mutch thet ee drinks, er eet wat ee spends,

The time slippeed by vor I knawed ware twiz tu,

En twiz tain vor I thawt thet et hoam I wiz du.

 

Wul I staarted awf hoam, jist a little bit vrisky,

Not nawthin like boozed, tho I’d had leetle wisky.

Twiz a ruff, lownsum rawd, en I’d seven mile tu go,

Bit a bewtivil nite, wi the mune all aglow.

 

I got awn purty wul teal I got pin the moare.

New it zimeed I cudden geet no vaarder voare.

The harder I tried,the moar I wid vind,

Er at laist es I thawt, I got vurder behind.

Thinks IZammy Dawe yu mist be piskie laid,

Ver I’d yurd zim quare caapers they little vooks plaid.

I wiz thare pin the moare, een a purty owld plite.

Aw Zammy owld man yu wuz maazed zure thet nite.

I keept waalkin awn, altho I wiz zure

I wiz offaw ma rawd een the middle the moare.

New awl ov a zidden a lite sheened out claare.

Thinks I tu mezel, thare’s a howze awver thaare

 

Zo I made ver thick lite es well es I may.

But tha vaarder I vaint, et vaint vaarder away.

Then tha thawt et kim entu me fulush owld hed

Thet’s a Jack een the lantern, I’m mitey avraid.

Thare wiz I Zammy Dawe es tired es a dug,

Avraid evvry minit I’d stick een a bug.

Me poare legs wiz akeen, me hed een a buzz

Zo I draaed mezel down be a gurt clat a vuzz.

I cudden a bin thare a minnet I’m zure

Wen the zownds aw sweet mewsick kim awver the moare.

 

The zownds kim cloase up ta ma thare ware I lies.

Aw massy, the zight wen I awpened me eyes,

Thare wiz hunnerds a leetle vooks dansin around,

Es thick es vuzz blawzim they cuvvered the grownd.

Zum dressed een gowld traade, en urd cloathes hed zum,

But nat wan aw min thare wiz es high es yer thumb.

Thare wiz zum riding rown pin the back ov a toad,

En zum ver a grasshopper wadden a load.

Thare wiz zum playeen mewsick, en zum aw min dansed

Arown een a ring they all galloped en pransed.

Zum klimeed the grass stalks es if twiz a tree.

Zich quare owld minewvers I never did zee.

But I tull ee, I wished mezel vaarder away,

Ver I thawt zim ould kickshaw awn me they mite play.

 

New the comicalest crayter yu ever shid zee

Kim away vrim the rest and made vore toward me.

He carred een hees hand a gurt stinging nettle.

Aw I wished mezel back een Westcuntryeen settle.

 

Then vaure he cud raitch ma, the nez thing I knaw

Wiz zumboddy baalin, ‘Yurs owld Zammy Dawe,

Out yur een the cairt howze,rowled up een the straw.

But whare heeth a bin tu I’m zure I dun naw,

Ver he’s cuvvered in mire, en I’m purty wul sure

He’th bin rowlin abowt all the nite awn the moare.’

 

En twiz true, thare wiz I, curled up nice en snug,

Ees rowled een the straw like a vlaay een a rug.

Howevver they little vooks carreed ma thare

I dun naw tu these day, bit I’m raddy tu sware

Een the nite I lied down out pin middle the moare,

En they mist a carreed ma hoam tu vore door.

 

Wats thet yu zay maister, ‘twiz tu menny whiskies’?

Aw no zur, I’m zure twiz they dratted owld piskies.

Bit ef yew nevver zeed wan a course yu dun naw.

Bit zeeins beeleevin at laist tu Zam Dawe.

 

James C. Harding.

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The Huntshaw Church bells project.

Posted on 16/04/2022 by Tango Alpha

Huntshaw’s Historic Bells drop into the limelight – After 500 years!

For over a year the ‘Friends of Huntshaw Bells’ have been raising money through grants, sponsorship and events and have raised so far £17k. There is a long way to go yet to get the full £30k needed, but last month saw a big step on the way.

Because Taylors of Loughborough (the Bell Founders) had a slot in their work schedule come free due to a cancellation they were able to come down and over a 3 day period remove the bells as a first step.

The tower in its present form was added to church in 1439 with 3 bells sitting on a framework of oak trusses; but over the centuries with decay in some of the trusses the bells have been sinking under their own weight making them unringable for the past 20 years, plus also needing attention with new fittings and bearings etc – plus one of them needs specialist welding as it is cracked.

The earliest bell, the tenor, dates from 1505 and was cast by Thomas Gefferies in Bristol, and this will be the first time it has seen daylight in 500 years! The other two are more local, one being cast in in Exeter in 1665 and the other in 1634 by “WK” in Barnstaple – this one is believed to be only 1 of 8 known to exist in the country. We still have some grant applications lodged which we hope will come to fruition soon, but our next event is: –

“The Art and Science of Bells and Bell Ringing.” – On Sat 14th May 2.30pm – with Ian Campbell.

Entry free but donations welcome.

Ian will bring an 8 ft high bell stand and large bell into the church to demonstrate ringing in the “up” position and when down. He will also bring a set of handbells and volunteers to demonstrate change ringing, and on his laptop connected to speakers he will demonstrate the “Magic of Bells.” – Ian says his talk will be more like ‘entertainment’ than a talk and afterwards everybody will have a chance to try to ring the bell. Whilst this is happening there will be Cream Teas (with pink bubbly), Devon Guild of Ringers displays and models to view, and activities for the children with some small prizes for them, a bell-shaped cake raffle and a “guess the weight” of a handbell (the handbell being the noisy prize!).

In renovating we also found a pristine 600-year-old hand-made nail in the bell chamber, so at about 4pm we’re going to hold an auction for it – just for Fun! (It will be framed and with certificate of provenance).

Further ahead: – on the afternoon of Sunday 17th July we are holding a “Walking Treasure Hunt” of about 3 to 5 miles ending at the church with a “Beer and Burger BBQ!”

For further info, or to become a sponsor, contact [email protected]

The 1505 Tenor bell comes down – first time in 517 years!

In transit.

In transit.

Ready for the off.

New steel UB goes up as replacement support.

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The ‘Way of the Wharves’ project.

Posted on 28/12/2021 by Tango Alpha

‘Way of the Wharves’.

The Torridge Estuary and Bideford have a long and fascinating maritime history with boat building documented back to Elizabethan times. On the east bank of the Torridge, opposite Bideford town, East-the-Water was an industrial and transport hub connecting the medieval bridge, port and railway. From the mid 1800s the deep-water channel started migrating west across the river, leading to the slow decline of the port on the east bank. In addition to the important transport links East-the-Water was a centre for ship and boat building, clay export and potteries, coal mining, lime burning, timber, agricultural suppliers, energy distribution and even a first world war munitions factory.

New Book from Way of the Wharves.

If covid helped the Way of the Wharves Project at all it was in giving time to pull together the research of the last years and write a book: A History of East-the-Water, Bideford. Published in December 2021, with line drawings by Lou Boulter, it includes chapters on timber, shipbuilding, mining, transport and pottery as well as the origins and traditions of Shamwickshire. You can order a copy on the Way of the Wharves website: http://thewharves.org/product/a-history-of-east-the-water-bideford

Also available at Walter Henry’s and The Burton.

One of the stories uncovered is that of local hero George Parkin. He started building boats on the site of the East the Water School, in Torrington Street, in about 1847. He operated from here until 1858, when he moved to Appledore. His boats were carvel built, with hull planks, fastened to a robust frame, laid edge to edge to form a smooth surface. By 1852, his pilot boat True Blue had won many accolades competing in local regattas, both under canvas and oars and this helped his business develop.

But Parkin also has a much more precious claim to fame. In July 1852, when he saw a seven-year-old local boy in danger of being swept away by the tide, he leapt from the rear wall of his house and rescued him. Everywhere he went there seemed to be people in need of rescuing. In 1871, after his twenty-ninth rescue, he was recognised by the Royal Humane Society. So, if you’ve local links and your family tree includes the surnames Reed, Rudd, Isaac, Cawell, Stanbury, Johns, Jenkins, Berry, Dannell, Fisher, Dunn, Colwill, or Lewis, then Parkin may just possibly have played his part in keeping that branch of your family alive.

‘Way of the Wharves’ CIO.

The Way of the Wharves charity (WOTW) was established in 2020 to advance information and education about the industrial and maritime heritage of the Wharves at East the Water and the Torridge Estuary. The project commenced four years earlier, when a group of volunteers started to research and promote the history of the wharves on Barnstaple Street.

This had not previously been researched in any detail and the imminent planning application for re-development of the site gave this great local interest. Torridge District Council have now granted planning approval for Red Earth to start work on a £20million development of commercial and residential units. The sea wall will be raised against flood risk and land that has always been an industrial site will in future have public access. A pathway through the bridge gardens will lead onto a riverside walkway along the wharf’s seawall and an open square, conserving the view between Bideford and the Grade 1 listed Royal Hotel.

Demolition, clearance and archaeological surveys started on the Barnstaple Street wharves site in November 2021. Archaeological work is being carried out by AC Archaeology, Exeter. They have uncovered walls and the edge of a dock on Brunswick Wharf. Work on another trench on Clarence Wharf car park will be undertaken later. At the time of writing, we have not heard that any important artefacts have been discovered. The next work on site will be the repairs to the seawall starting early in the new year. The main contractors are expected to start work in summer 2022 with completion anticipated in spring 2025.

Another time of rapid change for East-the-Water.

Above – blue lines mark planned trenches on wharves site (on 1886 base map).

Adopting the phone box in Torrington Street.

Working together with East the Water in Bloom, Way of the Wharves have adopted the phone box on Torrington Street, next to the Bethel Chapel. This iconic K6 phone box will be conserved and used by the two local groups as a community resource – promoting history and horticulture. Way of the Wharves will install information about local heritage whilst the box will look a bit different as a result of the planned floral exhibits from East the Water in Bloom. Local ‘history and horticulture’ links include the many lime kilns along the estuary, Fulfords agricultural and seed merchants (for many years headquartered on Queens Wharf) and Old Pottery Works, Torrington Lane which produced flower pots.

This phone box is in such a key position, just close to the Bideford station entrance, that there must be many stories connected with it. Happy news, sad news, calling for assistance, long distance romances. WOTW are working with Bideford library to collect phone box stories. These social and family history anecdotes will be turned into a digital archive, in the form of answer machine messages. Please let us know your phone box story.

More about ‘Way of the Wharves’.

If you’d like more information, check out the website www.thewharves.org. You can follow and like our Facebook page @Brunswick Wharf. Get more information and sign up for our email newsletter updates by mailing [email protected]

Michael Teare, Chair, Way of the Wharves, 14/12/2021.

New from Way of the Wharves.

“A History of East-the-Water, Bideford “. £10.00

By Michael Teare, Bob Kirby, Anthony Burt with line drawings by Lou Boulter.

Much that has been written about Bideford’s past has touched upon the story of East- the-Water, despite the long history of the wharves and their commercial importance to the local area, this is the first book to focus on their history.

After introducing East-the-Water and the wharves, the book concentrates on the important strands that make up the history of the local community: timber, emigration, shipbuilding, tobacco and pottery, coal mining and gravel extraction, fisheries, agriculture, energy and enterprise as well as the changes brought about by steamships and railways.

Profit from the sale of this book supports the work of the Way of the Wharves Charity – researching and promoting the maritime history of the Torridge Estuary and the wharves at East-the-Water.

Product Details.

“A History of East the Water, Bideford”.

By Michael Teare, Bob Kirby, Anthony Burt with line drawings by Lou Boulter. Published: Peterhouse Press. December 2021.

ISBN: 978-0-946312-20-7.  Paperback: 154 pages.  Size: 240 x 170mm, spine 9mm.

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The “Freshspring” project.

Posted on 28/10/2020 by Tango Alpha

Steamship ‘Freshspring’ celebrates four years in Bideford.

During the Second World War, a fleet of freshwater-carrying steam ships was commissioned by the Royal Navy to deliver water to warships. These became the ‘Fresh’ class of ships and the last one to be built by Lytham Shipbuilders, in 1946, was named ‘Freshspring’. She served most of her time in Malta before being retired to the Clyde in the late 1970s, where she was decommissioned and mothballed.

While all of her sister ships were scrapped, ‘Freshspring’ was sold into civilian life and was towed to a new life in Bristol’s Floating Harbour. However, all did not go well and in the late 1980s she eventually ended up moored on the banks of the River Severn at Newnham where her machinery was kept in good order by her then owner, though externally she was deteriorating.

In 2012, a charitable trust was set up with the aim of saving ‘Freshspring’, and she was acquired by the Trust in 2013. Major funds for hull repairs were gained in 2016 and on 16th Oct 2016, SS ‘Freshspring’, towed by the tug ‘Severn Sea’, made her way down the Bristol Channel and up the Torridge to a new home in Bideford. It was an amazing journey, managed by a team classed as lunatics by experts for even attempting this remarkable project.

During her early days in Bideford, SS ‘Freshspring’ could not be opened to the public, as she needed further work. Volunteers stepped forward and achieved miracles with the ship, but some things needed funds. The wheelhouse and boat deck were rotten but the team persisted.

Four years later with Heritage Lottery Funding, local financial support and in the safe hands of the people of Bideford, SS ‘Freshspring’ is a very different ship.

Welcoming over 3,500 visitors during 2018/2019, The Trust’s 54 registered volunteers have been working hard to make sure that the visitor experience is truly memorable.

From 2017- 2019, the Steamship Freshspring Trust contributed over £18,000 to the local economy.

With its own brand of beer, sponsored and brewed in a local brewery, and a range of branded clothing, also supplied locally, the Trust is proud to cultivate maritime pride back into Bideford and be part of the community.

SS Freshspring is more than a steamship. She’s a place for volunteers to meet, learn new skills and have a sense of purpose. She’s a classroom for local schools where education involves hands-on activities and learning, she’s a venue for art classes, she helps young people to understand careers in maritime and has potential for so much more.


In recent months, Covid-19 has forced the Trust to review its ways of working. Confined spaces have made it impossible to safely open the ship to the public. However, a virtual reality tour, currently being created in partnership with BMT Global, will provide a valuable education resource and let the public tour the ship without leaving the comfort of the fore deck. This is a really exciting piece of work using cutting edge technologies. With the newly crowdfunded awning in place, tours won’t even be hampered by inclement weather!

The next challenge is to secure funding for two essential studies. Tenders are in for Feasibility and Viability studies and are ready to go. Once funds for this work are obtained, the Trust will learn exactly what needs to be done for SS ‘Freshspring’ to operate and become economically sustainable. These studies are pivotal pieces of work.

There are so many ways that you could help Freshspring, either from home or by helping on board. You are promised a warm welcome and a range of activities to choose from. Visit https://www.ssfreshspring.co.uk/get-involved/volunteering to find out more.

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Abbotsham – an historical note.

Posted on 02/09/2019 by Tango Alpha

If you have been watching the last series of ‘Poldark’ you will know that the final episodes dealt with the threat of invasion in the West Country by the French. This threat was temporarily resolved by the Peace of Amiens in March 1802, but by May of 1803 the war was back on and the threat of invasion with it.

This threat was perceived very seriously in the area around Bideford, as can be seen from two documents in the North Devon Record office that relate to the parish of Abbotsham. These are what in today’s parlance might be called a ‘contingency plan’.

The first document, dated 4th December 1803, is ‘The minutes of the resolutions entered into at a meeting of the inhabitants of Abbotsham’. There were six numbered resolutions setting out where parishioners were to meet and place themselves under the direction of named persons, where they should take their stock, that various carts were appointed for the removal of sick and infirm people and that the overseers of the poor would supply 6 bushels of meal at parish expense to Mrs Stone to make 4 loaves of bread for each of the poor. The Overseers of the Poor were also to supply materials to enable the livestock to be marked and they even specified how and where such markings we to be placed.

The document then sets out who would conduct and drive the stock along one of two specified routes – one to Dartmoor and the other to Somerton, distances of about 40 miles and 80 miles. They weren’t taking any chances!

The second document details the owners of the stock that was to be moved plus the names of the old and decrepit persons and whose cart they should travel on. There followed details of the routes to be used, with some alterations written in pencil, showing slight differences to those of the first document, which must be the later version.

This shows some forward thinking by the leaders of the parish, although one can’t help wondering how much notice of invasion they would need to put this plan into action.

David Snow.

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Heroine of India honoured with statue in Torrington.

Posted on 09/08/2019 by Tango Alpha

A bronze statue of Sister Nivedita (1867-1911) was unveiled by Great Torrington Town and Torridge District Councillors in Great Torrington Cemetery on Saturday 27th August . Sister Nivedita, who was born Margaret Elizabeth Noble, spent much of her life in India where she is revered as an educationalist and campaigner for India’s freedom movement. Her involvement with India came about after a meeting with Swami Vivekananda in London in 1895 after which she travelled to Calcutta. She was given the name Nivedita meaning “dedicated to god” and opened a girls school in 1898. Her intention was to educate girls who were at the time deprived of even the most basic education. She is also noted for nursing the poor during the plague epidemic in Calcutta in 1899 as well as having a close association with the Ramakrishna Mission until later when she made an active contribution in the field of Indian Nationalism.

She died in Darjeeling in 1911 and following her cremation her ashes were returned to Great Torrington where they were interred in the family grave. The statue and plinth were commissioned and paid for by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee to commemorate the 150th anniversary of her birth on July 4th and also in commemoration of her life which she dedicated to India. Torridge District Council provided the plot on which the bronze statue has been sited as a permanent memorial. It is the first statue of Sister Nivedita to be erected outside of India and was unveiled jointly by Deputy Mayor of Torrington Doug Smith and Torridge and Great Torrington Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin who is also lead member for Community, Culture and Leisure at Torridge District Council.

TDC Lead member for Community, Culture and Leisure – Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin said – “I must admit that I was largely unaware of Sister Nivedita’s family connection to the Great Torrington area or of the fascinating and selfless work she devoted herself to in India. Clearly she was a remarkable woman at a time when people (and women in particular) were not given the opportunities that they have today. This makes her achievements even more significant, and I hope that the statue will act as an inspiration to those who see it and bring about a greater recognition of her life which was dedicated to helping those who were less fortunate.”

Mayor of Great Torrington – Councillor Keeley Allin said: “The information in relation to Sister Nivedita’s incredible achievements in India and her connection to Great Torrington have been a revelation to many over these past few months. It is clear that amongst other things, this lady’s life had a major impact in empowering young women in India through the provision of education and learning. It is a privilege to host the statue of remembrance and recognition in our town’s cemetery and hope that many people, young and old, will visit and be inspired by the life and achievements of Sister Nivedita.”

Swami Sarvasthananda said: “We are delighted to be part of unveiling ceremony of Sister Nivedita, also known as Margaret Noble, who gave her all to India at the behest of her spiritual master Swami Vivekananda. She was inspired by his message of Service of God in man and contributed a lot in several fields for the uplift of the Indian masses including that of women’s education. It is a great privilege for the monks and devotees of the Ramakrishna Mission to honour her contribution by installing a bronze statue in Torrington kindly made possible by the help received from the government of West Bengal, India. Our sincere thanks to Torridge District Council for their unconditional help and support.”

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Felicity’s sustainable fish cookery – March.

Posted on 02/03/2019 by Tango Alpha

 

 

Finnish Herring Pie – baked herring with tomatoes.

Ingredients.

4 /6 herrings.

2 large onions.

oil/ butter.

1-2 ½ lbs of potatoes (6-med/large potatoes).

S &P.

½pt. milk.

 

Method.

Scale and bone the herring and clean by removing the roes and washing inside.

Soak in salted water for several hours before using. Slice up the drained herring fillet.

Fry the onions lightly in the oil until golden.

Grease a fireproof dish with butter.

Put in a layer of sliced potatoes -followed by a layer of sliced onions and sliced tomatoes and slices of herring fillets.

Season well with salt and pepper.

Top with the remaining sliced potatoes and pour over the milk.

Cook in the centre of the oven for 90 mins at Gas Mark 4-180C.

Serve with extra green vegetables or with crusty bread for supper.

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Buzz Byte; Alan Turing.

Posted on 30/09/2018 by Tango Alpha

Do you know who Alan Turing was? Until I watched the 2014 film ‘The Imitation Game’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch, I did not know who he was and what he had contributed.

Mr Turing was a highly intelligent mathematician and logician. During World War II he worked for the government to crack the enemy’s codes that they received on a recovered Enigma machine. Mr Turing deviated from his original purpose and devised a machine that was eventually used to decrypt the coded messages. Along with his fellow code-breakers, working at Bletchley Park, an electro-mechanical device, named the ‘Bombe’ was created to speed up the detection of the key to that day’s encoded enigma messages. It is said the Churchill declared Mr Turing’s efforts had shortened the war by two years, saving millions of lives across the globe. This work earned him the title of ‘The Father of Modern Computing.’

It was Alan Turing who developed the idea of the modern computer and data science. Back in 1936 he wrote a paper about humans’ ability to perform a specified task ; he created a ‘universal machine’ which could decode and perform any set of instructions. It would be another 10 years before his concept was turned into a practical machine. The telephone decryption, codenamed Delilah, which he worked on during his time at Bletchley Park gave him practical experience with electronics. In 1946 Mr Turing designed the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE), which stored programmes in its memory. The key principles of theoretical and applied mathematics along with engineering and computer skills allowed him to be pioneering in these developments towards technology.

I thought that artificial intelligence (AI) was a relatively new concept, but Mr Turing had already devised the notion by claiming that a computer could rival independent human thought. He compared human and machine outputs; the Turing test. In these he predicted the advancement of AI. In his initial tests an interrogator asked the same questions of a human and a computer, not knowing which was which,(the computer responses were textual.) He debated whether computers should be seen as intelligent from the response. The idea was to determine if a computer could imitate a human, and from Facebook’s recent endeavour into AI, they can.

This is only a brief look into a very interesting and influential life. Alan Turing died in 1954, just short of his 42nd birthday, a victim of his sexuality.

Nickie Baglow.

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