• 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
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  • 1 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 2 Ships at Bideford

  • 3 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 4

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 5 A bird of their own!

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

  • 7 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 8 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 9 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 10 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 11 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

  • 13 Decontrol of meat

  • 14 Blanchards ad.>
  • 15 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 16 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 17 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 18 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 19 New shipyard on schedule

  • 20 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 21 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 22 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 23 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 24 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 25 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 26 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 27 New Post Office

  • 28 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 29

    First prize
  • 30 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 31 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 32

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 33

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 34 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 35 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 36 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 37 Northam footballers of the future

  • 38 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 39 Parkham plan realised

  • 40

    Exhibition of school work
  • 41 Bideford computer stars

  • 42 Sweets derationing

  • 43 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 44 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 45 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 46 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 47 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 48 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 49

    Married in 1908
  • 50 Devil sent packing

  • 51 Mobile missionary

  • 52 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 53 New Lundy stamps

  • 54 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 55 Torrington children build igloo
  • 56 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 57 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 58 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 59 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 60 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 61 Pannier Market's future?

  • 62 Filming at Hartland

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

  • 64 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 65 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 66 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 67 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 68 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 69 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 70 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 71

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 72 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 73 Hartland postman retires

  • 74 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 75 End of the line

  • 76 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 77

    New gateway
  • 78 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 79 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 80 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 81 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 82 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 83 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 84 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 85 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 86 A sense of humour in advertising

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

  • 88 Torrington's new amenity

  • 89 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 90

    Bidefordians
  • 91 Cruising down the river

  • 92 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 93 By pony and trap to market

  • 94 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 95 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 96 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 97 Waldon Triplets
  • 98

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 99

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 100 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 101 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 102 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 103 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 104 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 105 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 106 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 107 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 108 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 109 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 110

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 111 From Bobby to Brian

  • 112 Northam's almshouse

  • 113 Littleham family's five generations

  • 114 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 115 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 116 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 117 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 118 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 119 It really was the 'last time'

  • 120 In their new robes and hats

  • 121 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 122 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 123

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 124

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 125 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 126 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 127 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 128 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 129 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 130

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 131

    Was a missionary
  • 132 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 133 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 134 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 135 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 136 Service with a smile

  • 137 Loads of black and white

  • 138 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 139 New look in the hayfields

  • 140 He beat the floods

  • 141 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 142

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 143 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 144

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 145 For crying out loud!

  • 146

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 147 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 148 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 149 The art of the thatcher

  • 150 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 151

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 152 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 153 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 154 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 155 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 156 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 157 Puppet characters introduced

  • 158 Clovelly custom

  • 159 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 160 They are parted pro-tem

  • 161 Ten year old scrambler

  • 162 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 163 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 164 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 165 First ship in 8 years

  • 166 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 167 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 168 Torrington in 1967

  • 169 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 170 New choral society's growing response

  • 171 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 172 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 173 Some 240 exhibits

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

  • 175

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 176 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 177 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 178 North Devon Driving School

  • 179 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 180 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 181 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 182 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 183 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 184 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 185 All for the love of a lady!

  • 186 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 187 No laughing matter

  • 188 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 189 Private home for public pump

  • 190 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 191 Last train from Torrington

  • 192 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 193 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 194 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 195 Just over a year old

  • 196

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 197 Revenge in style

  • 198 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 199 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 200 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 201 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 202 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 203 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 204 Happy Days!

  • 205

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 206 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 207 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 208 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 209 A man and his wheel

  • 210 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 211 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 212 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 213 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 214 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 215 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 216 School crossing patrol begins

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

  • 218 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 219 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 220 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 221 Penny for the guy

  • 222 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 223 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 224 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 225 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 226 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 227 Six footed lamb

  • 228 When horses score over the tractor

  • 229 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 230 Traditions and skills still there

  • 231 Riverside mystery

  • 232 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 233 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 234 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 235 Artisans' Club

  • 236 Circus comes to town

  • 237 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 238 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 239 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 240 Jumble sale fever

  • 241 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 242 Bideford regatta

  • 243 Capers on the cobbles

  • 244

    Relatives all over the world
  • 245 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 246

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 247 Can spring be far away?

  • 248 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 249 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 250 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 251 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 252 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 253 Life begins at 80

  • 254 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 255 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 256 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 257 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 258 113 years at Instow

  • 259 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 260 Police station view of Bideford

  • 261 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 262 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 263 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 264 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 265 Bridging the stream

  • 266 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 267 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 268 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 269 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 270 New art gallery opened

  • 271

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 272 Twenty-one yachts

  • 273 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 274 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 275 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 276 All aboard the ark

  • 277 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 278 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 279 Variety in summer weather

  • 280 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 281 School's link with cargo ship

  • 282 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 283 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 284 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 285 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 286 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 287 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 288 Emergency ferry services

  • 289 Bideford loses training ship

  • 290 A roof-top view - where?

  • 291 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 292 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 293 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 294 What's the time?

  • 295 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 296 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 297 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 298 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 299 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 300 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 301 Appledore's largest

  • 302 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 303

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 304 Warmington's garage ad

  • 305 Picking the pops

  • 306 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 307 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 308 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 309 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 310 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 311 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 312 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 313 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 314 Hartland's invitation

  • 315

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 316 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 317 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 318 Picking the pops

  • 319 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 320 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 321

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 322 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 323 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 324 So this is the mainland!

  • 325 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 326 Off on a great adventure

  • 327 Modern living at Bideford

  • 328 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 329 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 330 Hartland Dancers
  • 331 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 332 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

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

  • 334 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 335 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 336 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 337 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 338 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 339 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 340 A story to tell!

  • 341 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 342 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 343

    Building works
  • 344 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 345 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 346 Finished in 1876

  • 347 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 349 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 350 Weare Giffard potato

  • 351 Sight of a lifetime

  • 352 Clovelly nightmare

  • 353 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 354 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 355 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 356 Caught in the act>
  • 357 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 359 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 360 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 361 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 362 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 363 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 364 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 365 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 366 No sale of Springfield House

  • 367 The cab at the corner>
  • 368 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 369 New civic medallions

  • 370 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 371 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 372 New life for Hartland organ

  • 373

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 374 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 375 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 376 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 377 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 378

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 379 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 380 Recognise this resort?

  • 381 Over the bank together>
  • 382 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 384 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 385 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 386 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 388 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 389 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 390 New addition to Quay front

  • 391 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 392 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 393 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 394 Out of puff!

  • 395

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 396 Simple Item 138
  • 397 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 398 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 399 Peter poses for TV film

  • 400 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 401 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 402 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 403 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 404 The Geneva marionettes

  • 405 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 406 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 407 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 408 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 409 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 410 Burnard family reunion

  • 411 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 412 Centenary of Gazette

  • 413 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 414 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 415 Some mushroom!

  • 416 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 417 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 418 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 419 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 420 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 421 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 422 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

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and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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;

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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...

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Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

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N Devon’s Peak Holiday Week

Last weekend brought the peak of the year’s holiday traffic to North Devon.

8.8.1958 peak holiday week1

By rail and road, thousands of visitors arrived to take up their booking at hotels, guest houses and holiday centres, and large numbers were passing through in the course of tours of the SW.
Traffic reached record proportions on all main roads, with inevitable delays
Inquiries among Bideford hoteliers indicated that they were ‘fully booked’. At the New Inn Hotel, Mr Tom Pennington said “The town is certainly full of visitors, many of them inquiring for accommodation but we’ve nothing to offer except for the odd room between reservations”.
Mrs Middleton of the Royal Hotel also anticipated ‘capacity business from now on’. Generally it was the same story from other districts. At Hartland Quay Hotel it was stated that business had been building up over the past weeks, with people seeking accommodation having to be refused.
At the West Country Inn, on the trunk road, a spokesman said that one night last week at many as 50 people had to be turned away as all accommodation there was taken.
In Torrington, Mrs Harman of the Globe Hotel also confirmed that business was increasing rapidly, with demand for rooms exceeding supply.
The manager of the Torville Camp, Westward Ho! while also reporting that he was fully booked, thought that the influx was not quite so great as last year, estimating he was having to refuse about 70 a week as against 150 twelve months ago.
At the Seagate Hotel, Appledore, the arrival on Saturday morning of a telegram cancelling reservations for five people did not present the proprietor with any difficulty in filling the vacancies.

8.8.1958 peak holiday week

The full Gazette article is dated 8 August 1958

Visit from the Cardiff Queen

Saturday afternoon brought the first of the summer season visits to Bideford of Messrs P and A Campbell’s pleasure steamers.

8.7.1955 Cardiff Queen

It was the Cardiff Queen, and the warm welcome accorded was reminiscent of the occasion last year when she came to reintroduce pleasure trips by the firm from Bideford after a lapse of some thirty years.
Bideford Town Band played on the Quayside and many of the crowd went aboard for a trip down the Torridge around Bideford Bay and back. Later she again left Bideford for Ilfracombe and her cross-Channel schedule. A series of similar trips is arranged for the summer season.
Gazette article dated 8 July 1955

Coming soon!

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