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Summary

Site of the Chapel of St Mary at the eastern end of Bideford Bridge, shown on 18th century plan.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS42NE/12
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SS42NE 14

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CHAPEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Worthy, C., 1884, Notes - Genealogical and Historical - Being a Second Essay towards a History of Bideford, 672 (Article in Serial). SDV18900.

Refers to the chapel as that of St Thomas the Martyr.

Chope, R. P., 1922 - 1923, Old Bideford Bridge, 240 (Article in Serial). SDV18895.

In a letter issued by the Pope, 7 April 1459, this chapel is referred to as St Mary the Virgin.

Chope, R. P., 1924 - 1925, Old Bideford Bridge, 61-65 (Article in Serial). SDV18915.

The Reverend R. Granville, following Dr. Oliver, is responsible for the erroneous and much quoted statement that the chapel was dedicated to St Thomas the Martyr, and afterwards called St Anne's. The error occurs in quoting a writ of Edward III dated 1342 as applying to Bideford instead of Bedford.

Henderson, C. + Jervoise, E., 1938, Old Devon Bridges, 93 (Monograph). SDV2296.

Rouge et Noir, 1940 - 1941, Chapel near Bideford, 73-74 (Article in Serial). SDV19511.

Dedicated to St Mary the Virgin according to a deed dated 1076. Its true location is doubtful.

Whiting, F. E., 1948, Bideford Bridge, 132; Plate 10, figure 1, Plate 11 (Article in Serial). SDV18901.

The chapel at the east end of the bridge was known as St Annes, and was licensed for divine service for the inhabitants of East-the-Water. From the old bridge seal it appears to be more ornate than the one at the western end, and was probably built slightly later. In the Book of Bridge Plans of Properties, dated 1745, it is shown with the Toll House adjacent to the river.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953, SS42NE14 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV342469.

Medieval Chapel of St. Mary (site of)
1. A chapel at the eastern end of Bideford Bridge is shown on the Old Bridge Seal, which was in use in 1474. It is described in documents of 1459 and 1516 as the chapel of St Mary the Virgin, and Leland calles it a "fair chapelle of our Lady". According to Chope, alleged dedications to St Thomas the Martyr and St Anne are the result of a confusion, originated by Dr George Oliver, of Bideford with Bedford. Demolished some time after 1835
2. Visited on 10th December 1953. No visible trace of the chapel remains. The area is covered by modern buildings and roadways.

Leland, J., 1964, Leland's Itinerary 1535-45, 172, 299 (Monograph). SDV337630.

Timms, S. C., 1976, The Devon Urban Survey, 1976. First Draft, 90 (Report - Survey). SDV341346.

Dodd, M., 2004, Dean Milles Parochial Survey. Questionnaire (1747-1762) (Un-published). SDV162499.

Respondent to Dean Milles questionnaire noted two chapels, both in ruins, one of which was on the south-east edge of Bideford.

Rushton, N., 2006, River Torridge Pipeline, Bideford, Devon: Rapid Archaeological Appraisal, 6, 12; site WA 04 (Report - Interim). SDV342463.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4517 - Archaeological Appraisal of River Torridge Pipeline Routes, Bideford, Devon

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