Peter Christie – författare

The North Devon town of Bideford, situated on the estuary of the River Torridge, has a long and fascinating history as a port. From its quays sailed the first colonising venture to the New World under Sir Richard Grenville. The first Native American to be buried in England lies in its churchyard. The town was home to the Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, who set his novel Westward Ho! in the area, and its tourism industry went on to develop greatly. Still popular with visitors today, Bideford’s narrow streets lead to a tree-lined quay bustling with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats.In this book, writer Peter Christie and photographer Graham Hobbs have chosen a selection of old and new photographs that are individually merged to reveal how Bideford has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers have the opportunity to ‘step back in time’ and discover what life was like for previous generations.This fascinating visual chronicle reflects past and present glimpses of Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.

Bideford is a historic port on the River Torridge in north Devon. In the sixteenth century Bideford developed as a major trading port for the American colonies and maintained its significance into the eighteenth century. During the twentieth century the port and shipbuilding declined in Bideford, although it still has a fishing fleet. In Lost Bideford & District authors Julian and Anthony Barnes and Peter Christie portray, through the years, the old bridge in Bideford and the pier, wartime activities including the arrival of American GIs, old businesses that have disappeared today including factories, mines and lime kilns, lost schools, mansions, windmills, chapels and toll houses, railways that have closed, the changing face of neighbouring Instow and Northam, and much more.Lost Bideford & District presents a portrait of this corner of the South West over the last century to recent decades, showing not only industries and buildings that have gone but also people and street scenes, many popular places of entertainment and much more. This fascinating photographic history of lost Bideford and the surrounding district will appeal to all those who live in the area or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.

From its scenic vantage point on the North Devon coast, the seaside town of Ilfracombe has seen many changes in its long history. In this unique selection of old and new images from the archives of the Ilfracombe Museum, many of which are previously unpublished photographs, the reader is invited to share a nostalgic glimpse of Ilfracombe in days gone by. Its situation as the only port on a long stretch of dangerous coast made it ideal for smaller trading ships and fishing vessels who docked in the harbour to load and unload their cargo, while the clear sea air made the town a popular destination for tourists from the cities. We explore the hotels, theatres, halls and public rooms where the crowds were entertained, and visit the streets and lanes, houses, schools, shops and people that have played a part in shaping the town of today. Accompanied by informative and detailed text, this outstanding collection offers a valuable record of the past that is sure to appeal to both residents and visitors alike.

Bideford History Tour is a unique guide to the fascinating past of an historic English port town. Sited astride the River Torridge, its two halves are linked by the thirteenth-century bridge with its twenty-four arches all of different sizes. Founded by the Saxons, it has a long and fascinating history as a port and market town. Peter Christie and Graham Hobbs guide the reader through its charming streets, showing how its famous landmarks and hidden-away gems have transformed over time. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited on this tour to discover for themselves the changing face of Bideford.

We love our pets. Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other species have become an essential part of more families than ever before. Pet owners are drawn to their animal companions through an innate desire to connect with other species. But there is a dark side to our domestic connection with animal life: the pet industry is contributing to a global conservation crisis for wildlife, often without the knowledge of pet owners.In Unnatural Companions, journalist Peter Christie issues a call to action for pet owners. If we hope to reverse the alarming trend of wildlife decline, pet owners must acknowledge the pets-versus-conservation dilemma and concede that our well-fed and sheltered cats too often prey on garden wildlife and seemingly harmless reptiles released into the wild might be the next destructive invasive species. We want our pets to eat nutritionally healthy food, but how does the designer food we feed them impact the environment?Christie's book is a cautionary tale to responsible pet owners about why we must change the ways we love and care for our pets. It concludes with the positive message that the small changes we make at home can foster better practices within the pet industry that will ultimately benefit our pets’ wild brethren.