Bideford Reflections

by Christie, Peter; Hobbs, Graham

• ISBN13: 9781398104228
• ISBN10: 1398104221
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2021-05-15
• Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Summary

The north Devon town of Bideford, situated on the estuary of the River Torridge, has a long and fascinating history as a port. From its quays sailed the first colonising venture to the New World under Sir Richard Grenville. The first Native American to be buried in England lies in its churchyard. The town was home to the Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, who set his novel ‘Westward Ho!’ in the area, and its tourism industry went on to develop greatly. Still popular with visitors today, Bideford’s narrow streets lead to a tree-lined quay bustling with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats.In this book, writer Peter Christie and photographer Graham Hobbs have chosen a selection of old and new photographs that are individually merged to reveal how Bideford has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers have the opportunity to ‘step back in time’ and discover what life was like for previous generations.This fascinating visual chronicle ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.

Author Biography

Peter Christie is a lecturer at Petroc College where he teaches Geography and Oral History. He is the senior district & town councilor. He’s twice been Mayor of Bideford and is currently Chairman of the Bideford Bridge Trust. He was the Reviews Editor of The Local Historian for 12 years and has published over 1000 articles on the history of North Devon. A long time writer for local newspapers he currently runs the 'Yesteryear' page in the North Devon Journal and has written many books on Devon.Graham Hobbs has been a photographer for 30yrs and has won many awards which is listed on his website ref awards and achievements www.grahamhobbsphotography.co.uk. His work appears often in newspapers, magazines, books, calendars, greeting cards, and on websites. He has worked alongside actors, artist, world record breakers, TV personalities, authors and members of government. He was the appointed official photographer for HRH Princess Anne visit to north Devon (website). He has received worldwide recognition for a good commercial eye. Main Judge for the north Devon heritage photographic competition. For more info Google - Graham Hobbs Bideford.