Bideford Railway Trails. End of the line.

Below is one of the views passengers would see while waiting to alight from the train arriving at the platform Bideford. I can imagine them stepping off the carriage and being greeted by the staff from the Royal Hotel which could be accessed from the trackside. Opposite the hotel by the river is Brunswick Wharf, home berth for many years to the iconic Top Sail Schooner 'Kathleen and May'. The wharf and building has been cleared recently cleared in readiness for the 'Brunswick Wharf Regeneration'. >Pic 2 is the iconic hotel rising up from the platform. Welcome to Bideford.

The railway from Barnstaple to Bideford was opened in 1855 but was sadly closed to regular passengers in October 1965 as part of the notorious Beeching Report. The line from Barnstaple-Torrington-Meeth remained open for freight traffic until 1982. The railway track was lifted in 1985 and the whole of line was purchased by Devon County Council and converted into the now popular Tarka Trail Footpath & Cycleway. The Bideford & Instow Railway Group was set up in 1988 and has worked hard since that date to restore the Bideford Station site. The Bideford Railway Heritage Centre is situated here

 

Bideford Long Bridge view from the Tarka Trail. Photo copyright Pat Adams

The Royal Hotel rising up from the Bideford Railway platform. Photo copyright Pat Adams

Bideford Railway Heritage Centre on the Tarka Trail, Bideford. Photo copyright Pat Adams

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Bideford Railway Tracks Blog Post Click Here

Kathleen and May Maritime Heritage Links and the Duke of Edinburgh - Click Here

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About: "Kathleen and May is the last remaining British built wooden hull three masted top sail schooner. Registered in Bideford, North Devon, but presently based in Liverpool, she is listed as part of the National Historic Fleet." (>wikipedia)

About: Brunwick Wharf Regeneration > "A beautiful new quayside development, featuring apartments, design studios, retail and restaurants"

Maritime Heritage Links. The Kathleen and May, The Maritime Trust and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

A look back at the Kathleen and May, “one of the UK’s last working wooden hulled three-masted topsail schooner”. 

In 1969 the HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who had been instrumental in the rescue and restoration of Cutty Sark, started the Maritime Trust as a means of preserving other significant British ships, with Kathleen and May, an early object of the Trust’s attention, as a national icon.  She was officially classified by the Arts Council as a National Treasure and at the HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s behest, took part in the 2012 River Pageant to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

The vessel was purchased by the late Bideford councillor and businessman, Steve Clarke in 1998. He spent 12 years lovingly restoring the then 100-year-old three-masted vessel, battling to keep her in Bideford where she was berthed at Brunswick Wharf. In 2008, Mr Clarke was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List for his services to maritime heritage to the community in Bideford. “The Kathleen and May left Bideford in May 2011, after a 13-month struggle by Mr Clarke to keep her berthed at Brunswick Wharf…”

“The 110-year-old vessel, is one of the famous tall ships listed in the Core Collection on the UK National Historic Ships Register, alongside such vessels as the Cutty Sark and HMS Victory".

RIP HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 10June 1921-9 April 2021

First and Last: I took the photos below at the Bideford Water Festival in 2010 recording the first appearance of the new Tamar-class Appledore Lifeboat Mollie Hunt and the last for the Kathleen and May.

Kathleen and May at Bideford Water Festival 2010. Photo credit Pat Adams North Devon Focus (All Rights Reserved)

Kathleen and May alongside Bideford Quay 2010. Photo credit Pat Adams North Devon Focus (All Rights Reserved)

Kathleen and May alongside Bideford Quay 2010. Photo credit Pat Adams North Devon Focus (All Rights Reserved)

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**If you have any news updates on the Kathleen and May  do leave a comment.**

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 The above historical information on the Kathleen and May is attributed to various sources including:

nationalhistoricships.org.uk 

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kathleenandmay.co.uk

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northdevongazette.co.uk

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