Willet Street
Willet Street, sadly now mostly demolished, was the centre of the Bideford potteries that produced clay ware such as bread ovens, pitchers, plant pots and clay pipes.
The potteries were very important to the town, particularly in the 17th century when they were in great demand in the new American colonies as well as Europe and were popular for provisioning ships. In 1683 140,000 parcels of Bideford earthenware were exported to Ireland to be used for marketing butter.
Continue down Willet Street and at the bottom turn right.
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Rope Walk
Rope Walk is a long, narrow lane where ropes were plaited along its length for over 250 years. The industry was located here to be alongside the port and local shipbuilding yards from where, in the days of sailing ships, there was a constant demand for rope.
On one side of the Walk there was a long narrow shed where long strands of hemp were laid before being plaited or twisted into rope and then dried. Rope was essential in sailing ships and the longer the better, a British Naval Rope was 305m (1000ft) long, and a small trading vessel could easily require 3km of rope!
Follow Rope Walk to the Quay and turn right.
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