Appledore
Appledore, a small seaport town and an ecclesiastical district formed, in 1844, out of the ancient parish of Northam, contained 2364 inhabitants (1019 males, and 1345 females) in 1871, living in 533 houses, on 130 acres of land. The town, which is in two divisions, called East and West Appledore, is delightfully seated on the coast of Barnstaple Bay, at the mouths of the rivers Torridge and Taw, 3 miles N. of Bideford. The town stands on and around the slope of a hill, commands extensive views of the Estuary, and of the rivers Taw and Torridge, and is provided with small hotels, and with lodgings for visitors. It is the first harbour of importance within the bar of the broad estuary of the two rivers, and is subordinate to the port of Bideford. The principal trade is coasting and fishing, while a large and small dry dock, and several shipbuilding yards, a rope manufactory, together with its landing quays for the discharge of vessels, give employment to many of its inhabitants, and promote its general prosperity. Appledore has two provision markets, on Wednesday and Saturday, mostly held in a small building, erected in 1828. Hubba, the Dane, landed here in the reign of Alfred the Great, and was discomfited and slain, with about 2000 men, before Kenwith Castle, which stood near Kenwith Lodge, in the adjoining parish of Abbotsham. Tradition says he was buried at the southern end of East Appledore, under a large stone, called Hubba stone.
Transcribed from History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devon, by William White, 2nd edition, 1878-9