Bideford Reflections

by Peter Christie

The north Devon town of Bideford, situated on the estuary of the River Torridge, has a long and fascinating history as a port. From its quays sailed the first colonising venture to the New World under Sir Richard Grenville. The first Native American to be buried in England lies in its churchyard. The town was home to the Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, who set his novel ‘Westward Ho!’ in the area, and its tourism industry went on to develop greatly. Still popular with visitors today, Bideford’s narrow streets lead to a tree-lined quay bustling with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats.In this book, writer Peter Christie and photographer Graham Hobbs have chosen a selection of old and new photographs that are individually merged to reveal how Bideford has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers have the opportunity to ‘step back in time’ and discover what life was like for previous generations.This fascinating visual chronicle ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.

Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2021

About the author

Peter Christie is a science writer and editor whose work has appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including The Globe and Mail, the South China Morning Post, the Ottawa Citizen, On Nature magazine, and Canadian Geographic. He is a member of the Canadian Science Writers' Association and a Science in Society Journalism Award winner.

These days, Peter spends much of his writing time working for national environmental groups to help get their message out. An avid birder and naturalist, Peter is the author of Reptiles and Amphibians of Prince Edward County and enjoys painting and paddling when he can.

Peter lives with his wife and two young daughters in Kingston, Ontario. His books for children—Animal Snoops (Spring 2010), Well-schooled Fish and Feathered Bandits (2006) and Naturally Wild Musicians (2007)—explore the science of animal behavior. The Curse of Akkad (2008) is for teen readers and describes catastrophic climate changes through human history.