Marine Heritage on the Torridge Estuary | 07.07.2022

Marine Heritage on the Torridge Estuary. 
An illustrated talk by Dr. Michael Teare on Thursday, 7th July, 2022 at 7pm in The Devon Rural Archive.

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 hub connecting the medieval bridge, port and railway. From the mid 1800s the deep-water channel started migrating west across the river, leading to the slow decline of the port on the east bank. In addition to the important transport links East-the-Water was a centre for ship and boat building, clay export and potteries, coal mining, lime burning, timber, agricultural suppliers, energy distribution and even a first world war munitions factory. This talk will introduce some of these themes and stories.  

Having completed a PhD in estuarine ecology in Plymouth most of Michael Teare‘s career was spent in commercial roles in the international medical device industry. It was researching his own family history, as sailmakers and ships chandlers on the Isle of Man that got him started in maritime heritage. Michael chairs the Way of the Wharves charity in Bideford  advancing the education and information about the maritime and industrial heritage of the wharves at East the Water and the Torridge Estuary. 

Picture above: blessing the Edward Birkbeck Restarick’s Yard in 1885.

Tickets are £5 each, and must be purchased in advance.  
A Season Ticket to attend all 11 lectures in our 2022 programme is also available in our online shop.  
Please note that payments are non-refundable. 

Doors open at 6:30pm for complimentary refreshments and a chance to explore the Archive.
Before visiting the Archive, please see our current guidance about attending face-to-face events during the pandemic. 

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