Tag Archives: river Torridge

Shipping notes No. 227 (February).

Bideford Quay. No shipping this month. However, the Oldenburg had to return to Sharpness on the 8th. Appledore. Quorn and Atherstone still at shipyard. Yelland Quay. No shipping. Bristol Channel Observations. 1/2 at 09.01 vehicle carrier Victorious Ace, 18,396 tons … Continue reading

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Shipping notes No. 226 (January).

Bideford Quay. No shipping this month. Yelland Quay. No shipping this month. Appledore. Quorn and Atherstone still at shipyard. Bristol Channel Observations. 1/1 at 05.42 vehicle carrier Don Quijote, 28,142 tons d.w., owners Wallenius Wilhelmsen Oslo and Stockholm, outward bound … Continue reading

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Shipping notes No. 225 (December).

Bideford Quay. No shipping this month. Oldenburg returned on 17th from drydocking at Sharpness. Appledore. Quorn and Atherstone still at Shipyard. Yelland Quay. No shipping this month. Bristol Channel Observations. 1/12 at 15.43 vehicle carrier RCC Passion, 11,196 tons d.w., … Continue reading

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The ‘Way of the Wharves’ project.

‘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 … Continue reading

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Freezing.

In this age of man-made global warming it is unlikely that we will see a repetition of what occurred in Bideford in 1894-5 and 1963. Simply put, this was the freezing over of the River Torridge around the Bridge. Both … Continue reading

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Two Bideford-built schooners of the Nineteenth Century.

“Buzz” was contacted in June by Roger Banfield of Scilly seeking information on the schooner “Vivid”, built in Bideford in 1851 (see Shipping Notes 136, July edition). Mr. Banfield undertakes maritime history research for his own interest, and also in … Continue reading

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Memories of Bideford Shipyard.

Many thanks to Mr. Freddie Palmer, who provided these photos. We’re sure that they’ll be of interest to many people. “Buzz” is dating the photos of the trawler “Galatea” as 1975, since records show that as date of launch.  Names … Continue reading

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The Torridge Sealock.

Anyone who has been to the harbour at Bude will know the canal basin and sea lock where the Bude Canal meets the sea. Far fewer people are aware that just three miles up the Torridge from Bideford port is … Continue reading

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Crossing the Torridge – 11 bridges between Bideford & Torrington !

It’s surprising how they add up once you set out to count the bridges.! The oldest of course were the pack-horse bridges dating from around the 12th century of which there were three, Bideford, Rothern and Taddiport. All these show … Continue reading

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Floods and salt marshes.

All sorts of habitats have been affected by the floods this winter, and in many places it’s the human habitation in low lying areas that has been the most spectacularly damaged. Then, when you see the thick red-brown colouration of … Continue reading

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When the tide comes in

I’m not talking about sandy beaches or rock pools, but the saltmarshes above the Iron Bridge and beside the river Yeo. Here, an hour or so after the tide approaches the top of Westward Ho! beach, salt water is sweeping … Continue reading

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