Bideford 500 – what is it, what does it aspire to achieve, who supports and who works for it?
click here for Heritage Day 2011
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Bideford 500 was born out of a smaller Pilot Project which was developed and supported by a group of like minded people and brought to life by Pauline Smith, a local researcher and writer. Pauline was employed by the Pilot to undertake a specific piece of research and present her findings back to the Pilot’s funders and to as many local people as possible. During this time Pauline also collaborated with Tony Koorlander to make short film that could demonstrate the many untapped opportunities that the town presented. This film was shown along with the earlier mentioned research to several audiences. |
The particular focus of Pauline’s work, and indeed the continuing work of Bideford 500 being delivered over the next two years, is on the last 500 years of the town’s history and heritage. Bideford 500 is particularly fortunate to have Dr Mark Horton, a Reader in Archaeology at the University of Bristol and one of the ’Coast’ Team of BBC fame as its President. Mark’s support for the Project came about after he’d spoken at a Manor Court Ceremony in 2008 where he gave a Talk that clearly indicated that Bideford’s significant past was not being celebrated as it should. Bideford 500 continues today as a Constituted Project supported by an enthusiastic Committee intent on celebrating and promoting those 500 years between the 16th and 20th century in Bideford.
Bideford 500 plan Heritage Day 2011 - Elizabethan Bideford
Following on from the success of the Medieval day in Victoria Park in 2010, Bideford 500 are again delivering a Heritage Day for Bideford, which will take place on Saturday July 2nd.
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This year’s theme is Elizabethan Bideford. It will celebrate the extraordinary development of Bideford as a bustling port and a booming town during these times. Bideford 500’s Project Development Worker, Sadie Green said “It’s very exciting. We are planning lots of events for this year, to take place in settings all over the town centre. This will include a town centre parade in Elizabethan costumes; commemorating the resting place of ‘Rawley’ the native American who was brought back from Roanoke Island by Sir Richard Grenville and who was buried at St Mary’s Church; a series of talks about Bideford’s history; street performers and musicians; guided walks; a street market and a living history trail re-creating everyday life in Elizabethan times" |
Bideford has some fascinating history - from the late 1500’s through to the 1700’s, there was a huge trade, with the import of tobacco from the Eastern seaboard of America and the export of North Devon pottery to Wales, Ireland and the British colonies in America. There was also fishing trade with Newfoundland, making the shipping and shipbuilding trade extremely important and enabling the adventurers and explorers to seek new opportunities and set up new lives.
Sir Richard Grenville, Lord of the Manor in the mid 1500’s and adventurer, was responsible for creating opportunities for developing Bideford’s wealth. The merchants’ houses in Bridgeland St, for example, are a testament to that wealth.
Bideford 500 wants locals and visitors to discover, celebrate and enjoy this important and unique history.
This year they are keen to work with community groups, voluntary groups and schools in Bideford and would particularly like lots of people to take part in a town centre parade. If you are a group or organisation and would like to take part on Saturday July 2nd , walking, marching, playing music, carrying a banner, or you have your own ideas, please contact Bideford500.
Who to contact - Sadie Green, Bideford 500 Project Development Worker.
Sadie and the Committee are looking to work with and train volunteers to get involved and learn about Bideford’s Heritage. If you would like to know more, are interested in volunteering, getting involved or sharing your knowledge, please contact Sadie by email at:
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or call 01237 428871 (Thursdays)
call 07855 760411 (Wednesdays & Thursdays).
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This project is part-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for |
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This work Copyright © by Bideford 500 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.
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