The Bideford Heritage Trail
Introduction to the Heritage Trail
The Bideford Heritage Trail helps you to understand about the development of this intriguing port and market town and tells you about some of the colourful and surprising stories that have made Bideford such a fascinating place.
In recent years the town has grown and through economic necessity moved away from its reliance on the port and agricultural industries but many of the features and architecture from its vibrant past have been maintained, keeping its identity intact.
The First known settlers were the Celts who were followed by the Saxons. After the Norman invasion the land holdings passed from the Saxon lord Brirtic to William the Conqueror’s Queen Matilda.
Over the next five hundred years Bideford continued to grow and was ideally situated for the prosperity that came with the Elizabethan era.
The Trail concentrates on the Elizabethan and later maritime and trading activities that saw Bideford grow into a bustling port, a booming town and an important link to the New World colonies – thanks to the vision, courage and endeavour of the Elizabethan entrepreneur and adventurer Sir Richard Grenville, who may well have founded the first English colony in North America.
This text is available in the form of a free walking guide from many places in Bideford eg, Tourist Information at the Burton Art Gallery, the Library and various shops and other businesses.