The Book of Bideford
ISBN: 1841144053
Peter Christie & Alison Grant

Bideford is one of the most historic towns in the West Country – its medieval bridge, still-working quay, narrow streets and buildings – all are steeped in history. At the same time change has been a constant theme in the town’s development – from the building of the bridge through to the opening up of links with North America, the arrival of the railways and the reinvention of the town as a tourist attraction. This new history by two of North Devon’s leading historians addresses all these aspects in a searching yet easily accessible way. All this, and much more, is detailed in this 160 page book, copiously illustrated throughout with over 400 historic photographs of the places and people who have made up the thriving community of Bideford and its surrounding parish.
Price: £19.99

Old Bideford and District
Muriel Goaman
ISBN: 1898546517

Muriel Goaman was the first woman councillor, Mayor and Alderman in the history of Bideford. She served on the Borough Council for fifteen years until 1963, following a family tradition set up by her grandfather, uncle and father. She was a Justice for the County of Devon. This book, first published in 1968, now updated covers many fascinating aspects of the history of Bideford, Northam, Westward Ho! and Appledore. From pre-history, through the civil war, and on into the early twentieth century, this book includes over a hundred black and white photographs which beautifully illustrate the intriguing history of this area of North Devon.
Price: £10.00

Fever- a story from a Devon churchyard
Liz Shakespeare
ISBN: 0951687913

How many of us have wandered through a country churchyard and been moved by the memorials to young children? In this book the author sets out to discover the truth behind a number of graves dating from just one year in a nineteenth century Devon village. Her compelling investigation reveals the harsh reality of life in a small village before the days of effective medical care. By skillfully weaving social history, research and imaginative reconstruction she builds a sympathetic portrait of a community in the midst of adversity. We hear of strange remedies, the attempts of the clergy to help the stricken village, and the desperate poverty and over-crowding in farm labourers’ cottages – the same cottages which are considered desirable today.
It is a story common to many rural communities; it is impossible to remain unmoved by the knowledge that this story is true.
Price: £7.99

The Illustrated history Appledore
David Carter
ISBN: 0953852407

A fascinating new publication was launched at the end of May 2000 entitled 'Illustrated History of Appledore'. It chronicles the history of the sea-port village of Appledore in North Devon, from the earliest historical sources to the present day, including its heyday as one of the nation's prime maritime ports in the South West of England. The book includes many original illustrations and approximately 300 old photographs of the village taken over the past century. Each of the photographs has detailed notes which give added life to the narrative. The book has been written as the culmination of a five-year project by David Carter, whose interest in the village was sparked by research into his family history, and whose ancestors can be traced back over 200 years in Appledore.
Price: £12.50

Granfer’s Bible stories
John Twedde Downes
ISBN: 0951287281

John Downes (80), a church-man all his life, is the author of A Dictionary of Devon Dialect (Tabb House, 1986). About seven years ago he began interpreting the Bible stories in the Devonshire vernacular, each story being told by an old Devon Grandfather - ‘Granfer’. These stories are now collected together in a remarkable book. This book presents selected parts of the Bible as one more-or-less continuous tale in short ‘bite sized’ stories intended for dipping into or even for bed-time reading. Very many corners, of course, have been cut – for which no apology is offered. `Granfer` treats the well-known biblical characters as if they were simple country folk living in the next village. Many of the stories are treated with a degree of bucolic humour and kindly irreverence, which not only gives the reader an opportunity to re-evaluate familiar tales in a new light, but do so in both an entertaining and a spiritually uplifting manner. But this book is not only valuable from a religious point of view. It is a work of genuine scholarship. Books on Devonshire dialect have tended – in the past – to be either dryly academic or – worse – have given the impression that they were mocking those folk for whom these words are their everyday language. At the end of the book the reader will find it hard to decide which of the characters is more ‘real’ to him; the people from the Bible or the kindly old Devon grandfather.
Price: £8.00

Rough Guide to Devon & Cornwall
ISBN: 184353312x

The Rough Guide to Devon and Cornwall is the ultimate insider's handbook to one of the most beautiful and popular regions of the UK. In this new edition, there is a 24-page full-colour introduction to the author's pick of the attractions and activities, from the cliff-top Minack theatre to a helicopter ride to the Isles of Scilly. The guide provides expert coverage of all the major sights, from the wild expanses of Dartmoor to the Eden project and critical reviews of the best restaurants, pubs and accommodation in every area. There is also practical advice for the host of outdoor activities available, from surfing to rambling and horse riding to diving
Price: £9.99