• 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 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 2 Centenary of Gazette

  • 3 Centuries old but today busier than ever

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

  • 5 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 6 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 7 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 8 Bideford regatta

  • 9 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 10 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 11

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 12

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 13 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 14 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 15 Last train from Torrington

  • 16 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 17 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 18 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 19 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 20 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 21 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 22 New look in the hayfields

  • 23 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 24 Blanchards ad.>
  • 25 Northam footballers of the future

  • 26 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 27 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 28 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 29

    Exhibition of school work
  • 30 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 31

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 32 North Devon Driving School

  • 33 Variety in summer weather

  • 34 For crying out loud!

  • 35 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 36 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 37 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 38 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 39 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 40 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 41 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 42 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 43 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 44 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 45 The art of the thatcher

  • 46 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 47 Caught in the act>
  • 48 Loads of black and white

  • 49 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 50 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 51 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 52 Torrington children build igloo
  • 53

    Was a missionary
  • 54 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 55 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 56

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 57 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 58

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 59 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 60 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 61 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 62 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 63 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 64 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 65 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 66 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 67 New civic medallions

  • 68 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 69 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 71 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 72 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

  • 74 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 75 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 76 Some mushroom!

  • 77 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 78 New art gallery opened

  • 79 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 80 By pony and trap to market

  • 81 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 82

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 83

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 84 Life begins at 80

  • 85 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 86 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 87 A bird of their own!

  • 88 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 89 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 90 So this is the mainland!

  • 91 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 92 New life for Hartland organ

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

  • 94 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 95 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 96 113 years at Instow

  • 97 School crossing patrol begins

  • 98 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 99 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 100 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 101 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 102 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 103 Parkham plan realised

  • 104 Over the bank together>
  • 105 Emergency ferry services

  • 106 School's link with cargo ship

  • 107 Sweets derationing

  • 108

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 109 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 110 Torrington Church's new organ

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

  • 112 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 113 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 114 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 115 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 116 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 117 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 118 Six footed lamb

  • 119 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 120 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 121 It really was the 'last time'

  • 122 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 123 New Lundy stamps

  • 124 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 125 Private home for public pump

  • 126 Torrington's new amenity

  • 127 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 128 Can spring be far away?

  • 129 Littleham family's five generations

  • 130 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 131 Hartland's invitation

  • 132 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 133 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 134 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 135 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 136 Picking the pops

  • 137 New choral society's growing response

  • 138

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 139 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 140 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 141 Bideford computer stars

  • 142 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 143 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 144 Clovelly nightmare

  • 145 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 146 A roof-top view - where?

  • 147 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 148 Clovelly custom

  • 149 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 150

    First prize
  • 151 Finished in 1876

  • 152 No sale of Springfield House

  • 153 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 154 Hartland postman retires

  • 155 End of the line

  • 156 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 157 The cab at the corner>
  • 158 In their new robes and hats

  • 159 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 160 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 161 Pannier Market's future?

  • 162 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 163 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 164 Service with a smile

  • 165 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 166 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 167 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 168 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 169 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 170 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 171 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 172 Burnard family reunion

  • 173 Cruising down the river

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

  • 176 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 177 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 178 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 180 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 181 Riverside mystery

  • 182

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 183 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 184 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 185 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 186 Waldon Triplets
  • 187

    Relatives all over the world
  • 188 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 189 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 190 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

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

  • 192 Traditions and skills still there

  • 193 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 194 Simple Item 138
  • 195 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 196 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 197 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 198 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 199 Bridging the stream

  • 200 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 201 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 202 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 203

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 204 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 205 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 206 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 207

    Bidefordians
  • 208

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 209 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 210 Weare Giffard potato

  • 211 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 212 New Post Office

  • 213 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 214 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 215 Warmington's garage ad

  • 216

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 217 He beat the floods

  • 218 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 219 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 220 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 221 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 222 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 223 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 224

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 225 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 226 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 227 Devil sent packing

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

  • 229 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 230 They are parted pro-tem

  • 231 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 232

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 233 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 234 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 235 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 236 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 237 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 238 Peter poses for TV film

  • 239 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 240 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 241

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

  • 243 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 244 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 245 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 246 New addition to Quay front

  • 247 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 248 The Geneva marionettes

  • 249 Westward Ho! combined op

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

  • 251 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 252 New shipyard on schedule

  • 253

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 254 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 255 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 256 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 257 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 258 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 259 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 260 Torrington in 1967

  • 261 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 262

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 263 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 264 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 265 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 266 All for the love of a lady!

  • 267 Happy Days!

  • 268 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 269 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 270 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 271 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 272 Hartland Dancers
  • 273 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 274 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 275 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 276 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 277 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 278 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 279 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 280 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 281 Twenty-one yachts

  • 282 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 283 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 284 Mobile missionary

  • 285 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 286 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 287 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 288 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 289 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 290 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 291 Puppet characters introduced

  • 292 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 293 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 294 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 295 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 296 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 297 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 298 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 299 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 300 Modern living at Bideford

  • 301 Off on a great adventure

  • 302 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 303 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 304

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 305 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 306

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 307 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 308 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 309 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 310 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 311

    Building works
  • 312 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 313 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 314 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 315 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 316 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 317 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 318 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 319

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 320 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 321 Capers on the cobbles

  • 322 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 323

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 324 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 325 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 326 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 327 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 328 What's the time?

  • 329 Artisans' Club

  • 330 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 331 Recognise this resort?

  • 332 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 333 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 334 First ship in 8 years

  • 335 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 336 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 337

    New gateway
  • 338 No laughing matter

  • 339 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 340 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 341 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 342 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 343 Sight of a lifetime

  • 344 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 345 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 346 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 347 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 348 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 349 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 350 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 351 Police station view of Bideford

  • 352 Revenge in style

  • 353 Picking the pops

  • 354 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 355 Bideford country dancers on TV

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

  • 357 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 358 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 359 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 360 Decontrol of meat

  • 361 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 362 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 363 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 364 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 365 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 366 Out of puff!

  • 367 Ten year old scrambler

  • 368

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 369 From Bobby to Brian

  • 370 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 371 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 372 Watch the dicky bird!

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

  • 374 When horses score over the tractor

  • 375 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 376 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 377 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 378 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 379 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 381 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 382 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 383 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 384 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 385 Some 240 exhibits

  • 386 Circus comes to town

  • 387

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 388 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 389 A man and his wheel

  • 390 All aboard the ark

  • 391 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 392 Filming at Hartland

  • 393

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 394 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 395 Just over a year old

  • 396 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 397 Sailing to victory at Appledore

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

  • 399 Appledore's largest

  • 400 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 401 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 402 Northam's almshouse

  • 403 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 404 Jumble sale fever

  • 405 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 406 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 407 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 408

    Married in 1908
  • 409 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 410 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 411 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 412 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 413 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 414 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 415 Bideford loses training ship

  • 416 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 417 Ships at Bideford

  • 418 A story to tell!

  • 419 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 420 Penny for the guy

  • 421 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 422 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

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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Bideford Nurse Is Silver Medallist

Nurse Margaret Shute,

daughter of Mr and Mrs Arthur Shute, of 1 Northam Road, was awarded the silver medal at the annual prize giving at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

15.5.1964 Nurse Shute

She received the medal from the hands of the Bishop of Exeter, Dr R C Mortimer.

Miss Shute began her nursing training at Bideford Hospital, where she also won a medal – for the best all round nurse.

Staff Nurse Shute is an Old Girl of Edgehill College.

Gazette article dated 15 May 1964

North Devon To Have ‘Baby Bank’

Artificial Insemination by husband

6.4.1973 Baby bank artificial insemination

The go-ahead for the establishment of a ‘baby bank’ for the storage of sperm in North Devon has been given by the North Devon Hospital Management Committee.

Facilities for the purposes of AIH – artificial insemination by husband – will be provided initially.

Should a ‘by donor’ service become national policy then the facilities could be used for it, said hospital group secretary, Mr J C Woolley, after the meeting at which the decision was reached. An application for it to be set up had come from Mr J M McGarry, the group’s newly appointed consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.

The full Gazette article is dated 6 April 1951

Appointment As Matron

Previously a dressmaker

News of the appointment of Miss Maida A C Chapple, SRN, as matron of the Rush Court Nursing Home of the Distressed Gentlefolks’ Aid Association, at Wallingford, Berks, will be received with much interest by her many friends in this district.

10.10.1958 Matron

A further point of interest locally is that she succeeds in that appointment Miss E M Ruck, who was matron of Bideford Hospital from July 1948 until May 1953 when she went to Wallingford.

Miss Chapple, who lived in Bideford with her brother-in-law and sister, Mr and Mrs George Clark, of Combe Lea, Cottingham Crescent, was in business as a dress-maker here until, in her late thirties, she decided to take up nursing as a career. She had been a member of the Bideford Nursing Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade from its earliest days and had held the rank of Ambulance Sister.

The full Gazette article is dated 10 October 1958.

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