Bideford
Sign in to saveBideford ( ) is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England. It is the main town of the Torridge local government district.
Key facts
- UK place.country
- England
- UK place.static_image_name
- Bideford-Devon.jpg
- UK place.static_image_caption
- Bideford viewed looking westward across the River Torridge. Bideford Long Bridge is visible on the left
- UK place.static_image_2_name
- Coat of arms of Bideford Town Council.svg
- UK place.static_image_2_caption
- Coat of arms
- UK place.static_image_2_width
- 100px
- UK place.official_name
- Bideford
- UK place.population
- 18,260
- UK place.population_ref
- (2021 Census)
- UK place.civil_parish
- Bideford
- UK place.shire_district
- Torridge
- UK place.shire_county
- Devon
- UK place.region
- South West England
- UK place.post_town
- BIDEFORD
- UK place.postcode_district
- EX39
- UK place.postcode_area
- EX
- UK place.dial_code
- 01237
- UK place.os_grid_reference
- SS4426
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
41 sectionsContents
- Toponymy
- History
- Early history
- 1500–1700
- Witch trial
- 1800–1939
- World War II
- Long Bridge
- Port and shipping
- Late 20th century
- Literary references
- Namesakes
- Bideford Black
- Demography
- Transport
- Roads
- Ferry
- South West Coast Path
- Buses
- Railway
- Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway
- Climate
- East-the-Water
- Governance
- Education
- Religion
- Culture
- New Year traditions
- Radio
- Television
- Newspapers
- Twinning
- Art
- Bideford Film Society
- Markets
- Shopping
- Sport and recreation
- Notable people
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Bideford ( ) is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England. It is the main town of the Torridge local government district.
==Toponymy== In ancient records Bideford is recorded as Bedeford, Byddyfrod, Bedyford, Bydeford, Bytheford and Biddeford. The etymology of the name means "by the ford", and records show that, before a bridge, there was a ford at Bideford where River Torridge is estuarine. At low tide, it is possible (but not advisable) to cross the river by wading on foot.