Abbotsham once had its own railway station at Abbotsham Road on the Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway, which was built entirely on this peninsula with no direct connection across the River Torridge to the British railway network.
Vidal was born at Cornborough House, Abbotsham near Bideford, Devon, England, and educated at Westminster School, being Captain of School and of the School's football and cricket XIs when he left in 1872.
He was also very active in local public affairs in Devon, as chairman of Abbotsham Parish Council, member of Bideford Rural District Council, vice-chairman of Bideford Board of Guardians, member of Devon County Education Committee and a local Commissioner for Income Tax.