Way of the Wharves

The Quay
Bideford
EX39 2HW
United Kingdom

Way of the Wharves interpretation panel

Way of the Wharves is a Bideford based Maritime Heritage Charity. They created this stunning piece of informative art on the quayside wall, next to the Tarka the Otter sculpture.

The 2-metre long, stainless steel interpretation panel tells the tale of East-the-Water’s historic wharves. Spanning almost 500 years of maritime heritage, these wharves were a commercial and industrial hub with limekilns, shipbuilding, potteries, warehouses, railway yard, pubs and even a coal mine.  This was not just a local story. Ships from here traveled the world, North America was a destination for the Newfoundland cod fishermen. During the Napoleonic wars timber was sourced from Prince Edward Island, to where many North Devonians subsequently emigrated. During the First World War there was a munitions factory, producing the acetone essential for cordite in shells and during the build up to D Day in the Second World War the lounge of the Royal Hotel hosted many secret discussions.
 

Find out more about this rich, diverse and intriguing history of Bideford at www.thewharves.org  and pick up a self guided heritage walking map from Tourist Information to explore more