Bideford
Bideford is a historic port town that's on the estuary of the River Torridge in North Devon, situated in the southwest of England. The town's name can be translated as 'by the ford', with evidence showing that before the development of a bridge, there was a ford at Bideford where the River Torridge is estuarine. At low tide, it is feasible, although not recommended, to cross the river by wading on foot. Bideford presently is the central town of the Torridge local government district. As recorded in the 2011 Census, the town has a population of about 17,107. Bideford is broadly famous for being the location where the American GIs landed in 1942 during the Second World War. Originally situated there to work in radar stations across North Devon, expanding numbers of troops came over during the course of the war. Bideford is well known for its New Year's Eve celebrations. This involves thousands of people from close by towns and villages arriving in fancy dress outfits congregating on the quay for a party and a firework display. Included in the event are many local bands. The town has a very long record of communal New Year's Eve celebrations. A custom from 1605 was for locals to try to cross the bridge in the time taken for the bells of St. Mary's church to chime at midnight. During the same year, the mayor established a trust fund to raise money to purchase food for the poor and elderly who applied at the Mayor's Parlour. This remains in place and is on New Year's Day. For all of your home improvement tasks, make sure that you pick reputable professionals in Bideford to ensure you get a top quality service.