Bude Harbour History
Bude Harbour or, as it was once known, Bede’s Haven was just that for early mariners of pre-history. At one time the haven included a wide and five kilometre long estuary. However, the estuary and the geography of Bude was changed forever in the sixteenth century when Sir John Arundell built a tidal mill across its mouth. This provided a safe crossing for the local people from the north side to the southern banks, but it did cause the estuary to silt up. In the early nineteenth century, Sir Thomas Acland built a canal on the southern banks to convey lime-rich beach sand to the interior. This has now left Bude with an amazing boating, canoeing and walking asset right in the town. To learn more about the canal history click the link below. Also, for anyone wishing to know more about the tidal mill and about our iconic Nanny Moore’s bridge, a book, “Bude’s Tide Mill and Bridge” is available from local bookshops and from the T.I.C.