The Old Steam Laundry in Bude, is a historic building that has been converted into a residential and commercial space. It is situated in the heart of the town, near the river and the Bude Canal.
Originally built in the late 19th century, the Bude Steam Laundry was a significant local business that served the surrounding area. The laundry was powered by steam engines, which was a common practice during that era for heavy-duty laundry operations. The building reflects the industrial architecture of the time with its red-brick facade and large windows. Over the years, the laundry underwent several changes in ownership and operation. It was initially run by the local gas company, who used the steam produced from gas engines to power the washing machines and presses. Later, it was taken over by various private entities, continuing to serve the community's laundry needs until the mid-20th century.
The decline of steam power and the advent of modern laundry technology led to the eventual closure of the steam laundry. The building was later acquired and renovated, transforming it into a mix of residential apartments and commercial spaces. Today, it houses a number of small businesses, including a restaurant, office spaces, and art studios.
Rowing Boats on Bude Canal
The Old Laundry has lovely, spacious, self catering accommodation, its own parking and a canal side location with private terrace/jetty.
The location is quiet yet only a few minutes walk to the beach, town centre, restaurants & cliff-top walks.
Bude is perfect for a relaxing break or family holiday. The nearby and are popular with families and surfers. They offer long stretches of sand and there are plenty of rock pools to explore.
The town centre has many independently owned gift and clothes shops as well as 3 supermarkets. Bude has an excellent golf course, tennis courts, and many other outdoor pursuits and facilities.
There is also an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and large indoor children's ball park in Bude.
Bude is also ideally located for those who want to venture further a field. Just a few miles south are the Historic Harbour villages of Boscastle and Tintagel (with its legends of King Arthur).
Go North into Devon and you will find unspoilt and rugged coastline with beautiful villages such as Clovelly. For walkers there are many coastal walks as well as Bodmin and Dartmoor.
Tourist Information
Bude has a large tourist Information office which can be found on
the other side of the canal and short walk from Stapletons. It is stocked
with all the information you might need for places to see and things
to do.
The Bude Canal is a historic waterway located in the north of Cornwall, England. It was constructed between 1793 and 1825 to facilitate the transportation of goods, particularly lime-rich sand and sea coal, to inland areas from the coastal town of Bude. The canal was an essential part of the local economy during the 19th century, serving agricultural and industrial purposes. The canal extends approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) inland, though only a small section of it is navigable today due to various restoration efforts and natural changes.
The Bude Canal has a unique design feature: it uses inclined planes instead of locks to navigate the significant changes in elevation along its route. These inclined planes are essentially steep slopes with a cable system that allowed ships to be dragged up and down the hillsides, reducing the need for extensive construction of lock systems. The original plan was to extend the canal all the way to Launceston, but financial issues and the rise of the railway network led to its truncation at the village of Bude.
Today, the Bude Canal is a picturesque recreational area, popular among walkers, cyclists, and nature enthusiasts. The remaining stretches of the canal are maintained for leisure and wildlife conservation purposes. The Bude Canal and its surrounding landscape offer a tranquil setting, with opportunities to observe various species of flora and fauna, including water birds and aquatic plants. The towpath has been developed into the Bude Canal Towpath Walk, a scenic trail that allows visitors to appreciate the beauty and heritage of this former industrial artery. Additionally, there is a heritage center in Bude that provides information about the canal's history and its role in the area's development.
Bude Canal and Lock Gates
