The town of Bideford is very pleasantly situated on the banks of the River Torridge, which divides it into two parts, the eastern and western divisions, and is crossed by a stone bridge of twenty-four arches, with sufficient span to allow vessels of considerable tonnage to pass: this bridge was built in the early part of the 14th century, and is said to have been erected by the Grenvilles, lords of the manor.

In Willis's Notita Parliamentaria it is called a borough, and appears to have sent members to parliament in the reign of Edward I. and II., but not since. A market on Monday and a fair for five days at the festival of St Margaret, were granted in 1271, to Richard de Grenville; it is probable that it has fallen away considerably, for in 1574 Sir Richard Grenville procured a charter from Queen Elizabeth, by which the market and fair were confirmed, and two other fairs granted, and the town incorporated and made a free borough. It subsequently received further and extended charters in the reign of James I. Under the Municipal Corporation Act of 1835, it is governed by a Mayor, four Aldermen, twelve Councillors, with a Recorder etc. It has a court of Quarter Sessions, and Petty Sessions are held every Monday. The market is now held on Tuesday, and is well supplied with the neccessaries of life: there are three great markets and three fairs annually, the former in March, May, and September, and the latter in February, July, and November.

In the reign of Charles I., the Bideford merchants imported large quantities of wool from Spain, and afterwards, besides their commerce with Holland, and France and the Mediterranean, had so large a share in the Newfoundland trade, that in the yeare 1699 they sent out more ships than any other port in England, except London and Topsham, the numbers being - London 71, Topsham 34, Bideford 28, Bristol 12, Plymouth 5, and Liverpool 3. The chief of the vessels belonging tothe port are now employed in the coasting trade. The quay is upwards of 12,000 feet in length, and at high water vessels of 500 tons burden can discharge their cargoes. Ship-building is carried on to a very considerable extent, and gives employment to many of the inhabitants. Silk-weaving was introduced here in 1650, and after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, many French Protestants settled in the town, and established the manufacture of silk and cotton, but the trade has long since died away.

During the Civil Wars two small forts were erected on the banks of the river, and a third at Appledore near Romney Marsh, which were garrisoned in the interest of Parliament, until they were taken for the King by Colonel Digby, after the battle of Torrington, September 2nd, 1643, who soon afterwards entered the town, which had been evacuated by the Parliamentary troops. On the eastern side of the river are the remains of one of these fortifications, called after the Parliamentary General, Chudleigh; it is surrounded by a stone wall, turreted at the top.

Bideford has been the birthplace of several individuals worthy of record, amongst the foremost of whom may be noticed Sir Richard.Grenville, who distinguished himself in 1591, in an action fought near the island of Flores, with a Spanish fleet , consisting of fifty-three sail and 10,000 men; nor did he surrender till he had spent all his ammunition, and then only on honourable terms. Dr. John Shebbeare, a noted political writer, was born here in 1709: his writings giving offence to the ruling powers, he was sentenced to stand in the pillory, but was attended by a servant who held an umbrella over his head; the sheriff was prosecuted for not enforcing the sentence. Those celebrated mathematicians, Abraham and Benjamin Down, the latter of whom published maps of Devon and Cornwall, were born here. On October 29th, 1855, the extension line of the North Devon Railway was opened from Barnstaple to Bideford, which was the occasion of much rejoicing by the inhabitants.