Bideford

Bideford, a 'little white seaport town' of North Devon, on both sides of the Torridge, 3½ miles above its confluence with the estuary of the Taw, and 9 miles SW. of Barnstaple. The name signifies 'by-the-ford,' and is pronounced Bid-de-ford, like that of its American daughter. The old bridge of 24 arches and 226 yards long, which unites the two divisions of Bideford, was widened in 1864. The church was rebuilt, all but the tower, in 1864. There are manufactures of ropes, sails, earthenware, and leather; and these are exported, together with oak-bark, corn, flour, linens, woollens, iron, &c. Vessels of 500 tons can get up to the quay. Pop. (1891) 7831. A place of Viking sepulture, Bideford was the port whence Sir Richard Grenville sailed on his last voyage, and it figures much in Kingsley's Westward Ho!