The Torridge has seen many strange craft come and go but none more unique than the children’s Noah’s Ark pictured above on her Board of Trade trials on the river on Friday.

Painted in bright colours, the Noah’s Ark was built by Messrs M W Blackmore and Sons, of New Road, Bideford, to the orders of Weston-super-Mare Corporation for use on the town’s Marine Pleasure Lake.
The cartoon figures seen in nautical garb are the work of Mr Charles King, the Bucks Mills artist.
The full Gazette article is dated 17 August 1951