 In 1835 the Bideford Poor Law Union was founded; followed by the building, in 1837, of the Bideford workhouse in Meddon Street.The workhouse had a 40-bed infirmary and would later become Torridge Hospital and, eventually, a residential building.In 1830 it was reported that 5000 people waved farewell to ships leaving Bideford for New York City, St. Andrews, Newfoundland, and Montreal.