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 reflects past and present glimpses of
Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians
and all those with links to the town.