Most of the photographs in these pages that were found in a leather suitcase that had been under four feet of water for several days when my parent’s house was flooded in 1993. They were dried out but, needless to say, they are in not in their original state. I have put them together in small galleries for those who are interested in the history of the Westcountry trading ketches and also the history of Bude. I will add more photographs as time goes on.
The dock is the Richmond Dry Dock in Appledore, North Devon. The dock was started in 1853 and completed in 1856 and is still there although no longer used. The buildings around it have disappeared. The last one, the building behind Ceres in the first two photographs, was burnt to the ground during the night of 31st May 1948.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Beyond Steeple Point 
Hello, I’m David Carter in Appledore. I’ve just finished writing my 3rd book on the local history here, and I’m interested to see your photographs of the Ceres in the Richmond dry dock. Would it be ok with you, if I used one of these pictures in my book – I’m particularly interested in the buildings in the background (although the boat is great too!). Do you have any idea of the dates of these pictures? Many thanks.