A fascinating new publication was launched at the end of May 2000 entitled 'Illustrated History of Appledore'. It chronicles the history of the sea-port village of Appledore in North Devon, from the earliest historical sources to the present day, including its heyday as one of the nation's prime maritime ports in the South West of England.

"In terms of Appledore's history, this book has a well balanced comprehensive coverage, and the text is excellent and unusually accurate. The captions to the photographs are very good, and I can find none of the irritations which normally are part of reading local history books, especially maritime ones. David has done a tremendous amount of work to very good effect, and the book deserves every success".

Dr Basil Greenhill (former Director of the National Maritime Museum)

The book includes many original illustrations and approximately 300 old photographs of the village taken over the past century. Each of the photographs has detailed notes which give added life to the narrative. The book has been written as the culmination of a five-year project by David Carter, whose interest in the village was sparked by research into his family history, and whose ancestors can be traced back over 200 years in Appledore.

The wide spectrum of research carried out shows just what a fascinating history can be unearthed from surviving documents and sources. Many of David's ancestors were sailors and ship-owners, and their voyages and exploits also form part of this new book. There were a number of prominent families that formed the working fabric of the village and David has written about his own particular ancestors - the Slade family - whose history in the village can be traced back for seven generations in Appledore, and a further nine generations around North Molton. This part of the book makes the history of Appledore more interesting in human terms, as it concerns individual people's lives, and how they contributed to its overall historical development.

The book is made up of 200 pages,  and is large paperback size - 6½" x 9½" or 170 x 245mm.

The Author, David Carter

Where to Buy:  

The book is available for sale from the North Devon Maritime Museum, Odun Road, Appledore, and also from other local shops, priced at £12:50. Out of this price, a donation of £1 will be split equally between the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the North Devon Museum Trust.

The book can also be obtained from the Author by post or email:

'Docton Court’,
2 Myrtle Street,
Appledore,
Bideford,
North Devon,
EX39 1PH
UK

or enquiries@nimrodresearch.co.uk

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