Military Rank:

Major General

First Name:

George

Last Name:

Chudleigh

Memorial Type:

Memorial - Plaque

Does the monument still exist?

Yes

Inscription:

"Fort erected by Major-General Chudleigh. April 1642"

Allegiance:

Parliamentarian

Condition:

Good

Condition Description:

Photographic evidence

Memorial Notes:

Originally built as a 17th century fortification and gun platform was built for Sir George Chudleigh and his son James Chudleigh, who had served as officers in the Royalist army in Ireland. They then sided with the Roundhead garrison in Barnstaple, Some time after August 1642 James Chudleigh built a pair of 8-gun earthwork artillery gun platforms on both sides of the River Torridge to guard the seaborne approaches to Bideford against attacks by Royalist ships. They were strategically positioned on the high ground at East-the-Water and West-the-Water.

In the 19th century, the site was reconstructed to create a stone five-sided folly and belvedere 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.

The site was purchased by public subscription in 1921 for use as a public park in memory of those who died in World War I. At this time the war memorial was built, paths were laid out and the park was landscaped and laid to grass. Later the plaques on the war memorial were altered to commemorate the residents of Bideford who were killed or missing in World War I and World War II. It was given Grade II listed building status in 1949. The park is maintained by the Torridge District Council.