Bridford is an upland village in Devon in South West England, rising to over 1100 feet in places, and is situated on the Eastern side of Dartmoor National Park. 473 people live in the village today. In 1801 the population was 444 and by 1901 it dropped to 404. Mining was a major activity in the area for 50 years, ending in the 1950s. Minerals found included silver, lead, zinc, iron ore, manganese and barytes. Bridford is twinned with Saint-Vaast-sur-Seulles, a village in the Normandy region of France.
- The Bridford Inn is a traditional 17th century pub in the heart of the village and includes the village shop, situated inside.
- The granite church of St Thomas Becket Church is situated in the heart of the village, at the top of a ‘lofty flight of stairs’ and exposed to the elements. It is perhaps unsurprising that an 18th Century visitor described it as a ‘damp church’. Like many churches it has undergone numerous changes through the centuries both in terms of renovation and ‘modernisation’ and also in how it is used by the community. The Visitor’s Guide available within the church gives much of the background.
Books about Bridford and St Thomas Becket Church
References to Bridford and St Thomas Becket church occasionally appear in dissertations, usually as part of a study of Rood Screens. These theses have not been listed here. This short list of key books below nonetheless provides numerous insights into village and church life through the centuries.