Bideford Town                             

Charles Kingsley wrote:

"Everyone who knows Bideford cannot but know Bideford Bridge for its very soul..... around which the town, as a body, has organised itself..."

The Long Bridge was begun c1280, when tradition has it that Bishop Quivel of Exeter was granted indulgences to raise the money for its cost. It was certainly there in 1327, when Bishop Stapleton left forty shillings to "the bridge of Bydeforde". The original structure was wooden and there was a chapel at each end. In 1459, the Pope granted indulgences for the repair of the "Bridge at Bideford... there flows a very rapid and dangerous river, in which on account of the faulty structure of the said bridge, which is of wood, many persons have been drowned, and that on the said bridge there are two chapels, the one of St. Mary the Virgin and the other of All Saints, which are also in great need of repair".

The museum has two items relating to Bideford's famous bridge: the model of the Bridge at various stages of its development, constructed by Mr. Frank Whiting in 1945, for the Bridge Trust. Mr. Whiting, a notable architect, designed the original Burton Art Gallery.

The oak beam from the original Bideford bridge was discovered during repairs to the later, stone bridge. It has a mortice and tenon joint at one end, and a scarfe joint on the other, suggesting that it was a diagonal supporting timber. 

A Model by Frank Whiting F.R.I.B.A of Bideford Bridge at various stages of its history from 1280 - 1925.