Bideford
Bideford is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in North Devon, situated in the southwest of England. The town's name translates as 'by the ford', with records showing that before the construction of a bridge, there was a ford at Bideford where the River Torridge is estuarine. At low tide, it's possible, though not recommended, to cross the river by wading on foot. Bideford presently functions as the main town of the Torridge local government district. As recorded in the 2011 Census, the town contains a population of approximately 17,107. Bideford is broadly famous for being the place where the American GIs arrived in 1942 during World War Two. Initially situated there to work in radar stations across North Devon, rising quantities of troops came over throughout the course of the war. Bideford is famous for its New Year's Eve celebrations. This consists of thousands of people from the surrounding towns and villages arriving in fancy dress outfits congregating on the quay for a party along with a firework show. The event includes numerous local musicians. The town has a lengthy record of local New Year's Eve celebrations. A historical custom from 1605 was for locals to try to run across the bridge in the time taken for the bells of St. Mary's church to chime at midnight. During the same year, the mayor established a trust fund to raise money to buy meals for the poor and elderly who applied at the Mayor's Parlour. This stays in place and is on New Year's Day. For all of your house upgrades, ensure that you choose vetted professionals in Bideford to make sure you get a great quality service.