Mike Teare - Way of the Wharves and Torridge Heritage Harbour Group

Bideford & River Torridge was recognised as a UK Heritage Harbour in January 2024

because of the depth of local maritime history and national and international connections. Heritage Harbours are community organisations that inform about and encourage visits to local maritime heritage by guided walks and talks, events and publications. The heritage harbour extends from Appledore, through the port of Bideford, upriver to the Sea Lock and along the track of the Rolle Canal to the canal basin in Rosemoor Garden - the historically navigable waterway. One of the important outcomes of heritage harbour has been to bring together the heritage organisations from along the historical waterway and create the River Torridge Heritage Group, sharing information and projects around heritage. Michael Teare

will describe some of the heritage harbour activities and partnerships illustrating them with historical stories from along the estuary. Bideford & River Torridge were winners of the 2026 Northern Devon Flourishing Culture Award for Heritage.