For centuries, Bude has been a much loved home to many people. ⁤⁤In fact, Bude-Stratton is believed to have been a settlement since the Bronze Age, although no evidence remains. ⁤⁤However, during the 1700s and 1800s, Bude thrived as a bustling port. ⁤⁤The town had facilitated trade via the Bude Canal, whose origins date back to the late 1700s. ⁤⁤The canal was initially intended to transport Bude's sea sand to surrounding farms, but now stands as a testament to Bude's heritage, managed by the Bude Canal Trust.

Meanwhile, Sir Goldsworthy Gurney decided to build The Castle in 1830 to showcase his remarkable engineering and invention skills. ⁤⁤Gurney's inventions, such as the Bude Light and the Gurney Stove, transformed how lighting and heating systems work in the United Kingdom. ⁤Over the years, many people have owned The Castle, but in 1974, it became public property managed by Bude Urban District Council. Since then it has served multiple different purposes before becoming a heritage centre in 2007.

If you want to learn more about Bude’s past and present we invite you to check some of these pages: