Bideford
Bideford is a traditional port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in North Devon, in the southwest of England. The town's name means 'by the ford', with evidence showing that before the development of a bridge, there was a ford at Bideford where the River Torridge is estuarine. At low tide, it's feasible, though not always safe, to walk across the river. Bideford currently is the main town of the Torridge local government district. As recorded in the 2011 Census, the town contains a population of around 17,000. Bideford is widely known as the place by which the American GIs arrived in 1942 during WW2. Originally located there to work in radar stations throughout North Devon, rising numbers of troops came over throughout the war. Bideford is renowned for its New Year's Eve celebrations. This consists of thousands of people from the nearby towns and villages arriving in fancy dress outfits congregating on the quay for entertainment as well as a firework show. The event includes a number of local musicians. The town has a very long background of communal New Year's Eve celebrations. A custom from 1605 was for citizens to try to run across the bridge in the time taken for the bells of St. Mary's parish church to chime at midnight. Within the same year, the mayor set up a trust fund to raise money to purchase food for the poor and elderly who applied at the Mayor's Parlour. This remains in place and takes place on New Year's Day. For all of your house improvement jobs, be certain that you employ trustworthy specialists in Bideford to make sure that you get the top quality service.
