A Brief History of Appledore:

Appledore is situated at the mouth of the River Torridge at the point where it meets the Taw. Its function has always been bound up with its maritime situation, and it continues as a fishing port to this day. It has also long served as a centre for shipbuilding and repairing. In the mediaeval and early modern periods this would have been carried out on the foreshore as was usual at that time, but by the 19th Century purpose built shipyards were coming in to use.

Richmond Dock was built in 1856 and was said to have been the largest dry dock in all the Bristol Channel ports at that time. By the early nineteenth century much of the timber for shipbuilding in Britain was being imported from North America, the traditional supply from the Baltic Ports being interrupted by the Napoleonic Wars. Appledore was excellently sited to use the North American trade economically, but the business became more sophisticated when ships were rough built on Prince Edward Island and sailed over to Appledore for finishing.

Richmond Dock was constructed for this particular business, and prospered. Its exceptional importance in the history of North Devon shipbuilding has been recognised by its designated Grade 2* listed status. Richmond shipyard took its name from the North American focus of the Yeo Family’s trade - Richmond Bay on Prince Edward Island in Canada.