• Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

    Read More
  • Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 2 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 3 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 4 School's link with cargo ship

  • 5 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 6 Variety in summer weather

  • 7

    Bidefordians
  • 8 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 9

    Building works
  • 10 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 11 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 12 Northam's almshouse

  • 13 North Devon Driving School

  • 14 No laughing matter

  • 15 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 16 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 17 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 18 Can spring be far away?

  • 19

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 20 It really was the 'last time'

  • 21 Caught in the act>
  • 22 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 23 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 24 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 25 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 26 For crying out loud!

  • 27 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 28 So this is the mainland!

  • 29 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 30

    New gateway
  • 31 Filming at Hartland

  • 32 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 33 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 34 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 35 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 36 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 37 He beat the floods

  • 38 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 39 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 40 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 41 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 42 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 43 New choral society's growing response

  • 44 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 45 Police station view of Bideford

  • 46 Private home for public pump

  • 47 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 48 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 49 Recognise this resort?

  • 50 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 51

    Married in 1908
  • 52 Blanchards ad.>
  • 53 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 54 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 55 Littleham family's five generations

  • 56 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 57 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 58

    Exhibition of school work
  • 59 Torrington in 1967

  • 60 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 61 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 62 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 63 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 64

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 65 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 66

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 67 Mobile missionary

  • 68 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 69 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 70 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 71 Picking the pops

  • 72 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 73 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 74 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 75 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 76 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 77 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 78 Clovelly nightmare

  • 79 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 80 Twenty-one yachts

  • 81 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 82

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 83 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 84 Picking the pops

  • 85 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 86 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 87 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 88 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 89 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 90 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 91 Revenge in style

  • 92 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 93 Out of puff!

  • 94 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 95 Some 240 exhibits

  • 96 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 97 Six footed lamb

  • 98 Hartland Dancers
  • 99 Hartland postman retires

  • 100 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 101 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 102 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 103 Penny for the guy

  • 104 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 105 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 106 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 107 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 108 Last train from Torrington

  • 109 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 110 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 111 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 112 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 113 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 114 New art gallery opened

  • 115 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 116 Ships at Bideford

  • 117 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 118 Jumble sale fever

  • 119 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 120 New addition to Quay front

  • 121 Just over a year old

  • 122 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 123 What's the time?

  • 124 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 125 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 126 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 127 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 128

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 129 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 130 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 131 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 132

    First prize
  • 133 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 134 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 135 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 136 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 137 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 138 Appledore's largest

  • 139 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 140 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 141 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 142 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 143 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 144

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 145 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 146 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 147 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 148 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 149 Centenary of Gazette

  • 150 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 151 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 152 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 153 New look in the hayfields

  • 154 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 155 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 156 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 157 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 158

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 159 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 160 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 161 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 162 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 163 New shipyard on schedule

  • 164 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 165 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 166 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 167 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 168 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 169 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 170 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 171 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 172 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 173 Weare Giffard potato

  • 174 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 175 Bideford computer stars

  • 176 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 177 Waldon Triplets
  • 178 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 179 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 180 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 181

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 182 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 183 The Geneva marionettes

  • 184 Decontrol of meat

  • 185 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 186 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 187 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 188 New life for Hartland organ

  • 189 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 190 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 191 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 192 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 193 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 194

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 195 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 196 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 197 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 198 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 199 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 200

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 201 Bideford loses training ship

  • 202 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 203 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 204 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 205 Some mushroom!

  • 206 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 207 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 208 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 209 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 210 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 211 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 212 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 213

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 214 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 215 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 216 Capers on the cobbles

  • 217 First ship in 8 years

  • 218 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 219 New Lundy stamps

  • 220 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 221 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 222 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 223 Loads of black and white

  • 224 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 225

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 226 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 227 Sweets derationing

  • 228 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 229 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 230

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 231 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 232 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 233 Riverside mystery

  • 234 From Bobby to Brian

  • 235 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 236 When horses score over the tractor

  • 237 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 238 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 239 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 240 They are parted pro-tem

  • 241 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 242 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 243

    Was a missionary
  • 244 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 245

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 246 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 247 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 248 Peter poses for TV film

  • 249

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 250 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 251 The cab at the corner>
  • 252 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 253 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 254 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 255 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 256 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 257 Circus comes to town

  • 258 Torrington's new amenity

  • 259 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 260 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 261 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 262 Devil sent packing

  • 263 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 264 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 265 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 266 A man and his wheel

  • 267 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 268 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 269 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 270 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 271 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 272 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 273

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 274 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 275 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 276 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 277 113 years at Instow

  • 278 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 279 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 280 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 281 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 282 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 283 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 284 Burnard family reunion

  • 285 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 286 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 287

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 288 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 289 Puppet characters introduced

  • 290 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 291 Artisans' Club

  • 292 By pony and trap to market

  • 293

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 294 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 295 Service with a smile

  • 296 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 297 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 298 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 299 Over the bank together>
  • 300 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 301 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 302

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 303 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 304 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 305 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 306 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 307 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 308 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 309 Emergency ferry services

  • 310 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 311 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 312 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 313 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 314 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 315 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 316

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 317 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 318 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 319 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 320 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 321 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 322 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 323 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 324 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 325 Happy Days!

  • 326 Ten year old scrambler

  • 327 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 328

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 329 Finished in 1876

  • 330 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 331 No sale of Springfield House

  • 332 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 333 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 334 All aboard the ark

  • 335 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 336 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 337 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 338 New civic medallions

  • 339 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 340

    Relatives all over the world
  • 341 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 342 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 343 New Post Office

  • 344 Clovelly custom

  • 345 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 346 Hartland's invitation

  • 347

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 348 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 349 Traditions and skills still there

  • 350 A story to tell!

  • 351 Pannier Market's future?

  • 352 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 353 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 354 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 355

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 356 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 357 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 358 Cruising down the river

  • 359 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 360 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 361 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 362 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 363 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 364 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 365 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 366 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 367 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 368 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 369 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 370 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 371 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 372 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 373 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 374 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 375 Off on a great adventure

  • 376

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 377 Northam footballers of the future

  • 378 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 379 End of the line

  • 380 A roof-top view - where?

  • 381 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 382 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 383 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 384 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 385 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 386 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 387 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 388 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 389 A bird of their own!

  • 390 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 391 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 392 The art of the thatcher

  • 393 Life begins at 80

  • 394 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 395

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 396 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 397 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 398 All for the love of a lady!

  • 399 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 400 Parkham plan realised

  • 401 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 402 Bideford regatta

  • 403 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 404 Warmington's garage ad

  • 405 School crossing patrol begins

  • 406 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 407 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 408 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 409 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 410 Bridging the stream

  • 411 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 412 Sight of a lifetime

  • 413 Simple Item 138
  • 414 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 415 Modern living at Bideford

  • 416 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 417 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 418 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 419 In their new robes and hats

  • 420 Torrington children build igloo
  • 421 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 422 X-ray shoe fitting

3.5.1957 Robins win Hansen Cup

Robins Win The Hansen Cup

May 3rd, 1957

Bideford AFC pictured with the Hansen Cup after they had defeated Bude 2-1 in the final

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • Torrington May Fair Queen and Her Attendants

    Names from left to right:Joan Ricketts; Joan Newcombe; Jean Wernhem; Margaret Sweet; Enid Ovenden; Rona Elsworthy; Doris Short; (back row);
    Eileen Short; Miss Margery Bennett (Queen); Joyce Downman; David Fiddian (Page); Peggie Sussex;

    Read More

  • Christmas Eve at the Front

    An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

    Read More

  • Seafield House - the "Spooky House" of Westward Ho!

    The house on the cliff edge known locally as ‘Spooky House’ or even ‘Haunted House’ , was built about 1885.

    The road was especially built to enable access to the house and was initially known as Seafield Road; later it became Merley Road.

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
1911 Coronation Medal

Coronation Medal Presented on June 22nd 1911   Learn More

The Hoops Inn

The Hoops Inn close to Peppercombe Beach

The Quay at Appledore

Appledore Quay where Taw and Torridge Rivers meet 

 
Wynne Olley

Crowning Glory

12 October 1962

Their finest achievement to date...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

Who painted the Appledore donkey?

Who painted this donkey on Appledore Park wall?

9.8.1952 Appledore donkey

It seems a mystery, but perhaps a jovial fisherman taking time off from painting his boat dashed off this free and easy work of art as light relief.

No doubt there are many readers, including Appledorians, who have never seen this donkey for it is really only visible from the beach (hard and stoney here), the river and, with a pair of binoculars, from the Instow side of the river.

8 August 1952

Eisteddfod Win For Hartland

Hartland Methodist Sunday school scored the highest number of points

at the Bude Methodist circuit youth eisteddfod

25.3.1977 Eisteddfod Hartland

After the marks had been adjusted to take into account the differences between large and small Sunday schools in the circuit Hartland had 2,405 points. Second were Kilkhampton with 1,786 points and third Morwenstow with 1,515 points.

Winners of the trophies for most points in the senior section were Ian Petvin, of Bude, and Carolyn Vanstone, of Kilkhampton, Wendy Heard, Hartland won the trophy in the 9-11 years section and Dwayne Heard, also of Hartland, was runner up in the 12-14 years section to David Cleave. The trophy for the 6-8 years olds went to Kay Wise of Flexbury.

First prize winners from Hartland were: Dwayne Heard, Andrew Prouse, Lisa Manley, Tracey Thorne, Denis Short, Maria Prouse, and Wendy Heard.

The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1977

Northam Twinning Links With Mondeville Renewed

Guests and hosts taught one another dances of their countries at a dinner-dance that was the highlight of a weekend visit to Northam by a party of a dozen from the twin towns of Mondeville.

15.4.1977 Northam twinning

The venue was the Port Quarter at Appledore where the chairman of the local committee, Mr Gordon Dell, thanked Mr Rupert Hill who arranged the visit. Mlle Lydie Coupard, who was paying her third visit, sang songs in English and French and music was provided by Terry Triggs and Larry Bignell.
The new Mayor of Mondeville and his wife were unable to make the visit but they were represented by their son, Mons Jean-Yves Gasnier.
Others in the group were Mons Bernard Henriot of the Mondeville Twinning Committee and Mons Bernard Pezaril.
The full Gazette article is dated 15 April 1977

  • 1

Login Form