Chudleigh Fort’s flagpole should be back soon, with a new flag according to Cllr Huw Thomas
The pole managed to stand up through Storm Darragh (though the lanyard was ripped off) but must have been weakened as it was snapped off at the base by the next gale on December 18th.
The old pole has been removed and TDC are getting prices for a replacement.
Chudleigh Fort’s flagpole
In 1642, during the Civil War, the Parliamentarian Captain (later General) Chudleigh built an eight-gun fort at East-the-Water which, along with another fort on the west side of the river, defended Bideford and the river approaches.
The fort is a five-sided platform with a stone-rubble retaining wall and parapet with 14 gun-ports. It was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. This is probably the date of the granite plaque with lead lettering reading:
FORT ERECTED BY PARLIAMENTARY FORCES COMMANDED BY MAJOR-GEN. CHUDLEIGH. April 1642
The Fort is situated on the East side of Bideford in East-the-Water. It is now a public park maintained by the Torridge District Council. It is one of many landmarks throughout the town and neighbouring areas.
In the mid 19th-century, the East-the-Water of gun platform was rebuilt in stone as a five-sided folly by James Ley from Northam, who gave it 14-gun emplacements instead of the original eight. Seven old cannons on wheeled wooden gun-carriages were also installed at the stone fort. Ley’s interpretation of “Chudleigh Fort” was for it to be a belvedere that provided elevated views across the town and the River Torridge; it had no genuine military purpose with thin stone walls and an open rear. The plaque on the wall states “Fort erected by Major-General Chudleigh. April 1642”. However, this is an error as the Civil War did not start until August 1642.
It is set in a nice peaceful surroundings and it is well worth a visit.
