• 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 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 2

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 3 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 4 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 5 A roof-top view - where?

  • 6 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 7 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 8 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 9 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 10

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 11 Warmington's garage ad

  • 12 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 13 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 14 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 15 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 16 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 17 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 18 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 19 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 20

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 21 Torrington in 1967

  • 22

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 23 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

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

  • 25 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 26 Clovelly nightmare

  • 27 The art of the thatcher

  • 28 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 29 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 30 New art gallery opened

  • 31 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 32 Bridging the stream

  • 33 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 34 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 35 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 36 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 37 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 38

    New gateway
  • 39 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 40 All aboard the ark

  • 41 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 42 Appledore's largest

  • 43

    Exhibition of school work
  • 44 Burnard family reunion

  • 45 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 46 Picking the pops

  • 47 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

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

  • 49 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 50 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 51 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 52 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 53 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 54 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 55 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 56

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 57 Parkham plan realised

  • 58 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 59 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 60 Just over a year old

  • 61 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 62 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 63 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 64 Hartland Dancers
  • 65 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 66 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 67 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 68 Clovelly custom

  • 69 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 70 Revenge in style

  • 71

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 72 Finished in 1876

  • 73 Mobile missionary

  • 74 Life begins at 80

  • 75 Picking the pops

  • 76 Twenty-one yachts

  • 77 Riverside mystery

  • 78 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 79

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 80

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 81

    First prize
  • 82 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 83 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 84 So this is the mainland!

  • 85 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 86 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

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

  • 88

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 89 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 90 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 91 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 92

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 93 Private home for public pump

  • 94 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 95 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 96 Loads of black and white

  • 97 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 98 New life for Hartland organ

  • 99 End of the line

  • 100

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 101 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 102 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 103 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 104 Over the bank together>
  • 105 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 106 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 107 New civic medallions

  • 108 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 109 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 110 In their new robes and hats

  • 111 Off on a great adventure

  • 112 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 113 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 114 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 115 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 116 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 117 Torrington children build igloo
  • 118 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 119 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 120 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 121 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 122 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

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

  • 124 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 125 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 126 Emergency ferry services

  • 127 Service with a smile

  • 128 Bideford loses training ship

  • 129 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 130 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 131 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 132 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 133 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 134 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 135 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 136 Filming at Hartland

  • 137 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 138 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 139 Decontrol of meat

  • 140 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 141

    Building works
  • 142 New shipyard on schedule

  • 143 Northam footballers of the future

  • 144 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 145 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 146 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 147 No laughing matter

  • 148 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 149 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

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

  • 151 Six footed lamb

  • 152

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 153 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 154 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 155 New addition to Quay front

  • 156

    Was a missionary
  • 157 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 158 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 159 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 160 Littleham family's five generations

  • 161 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 162 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 163 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 164 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 165

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 166 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 167 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 168 Caught in the act>
  • 169 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 170 New look in the hayfields

  • 171 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 172 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 173 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 174 Weare Giffard potato

  • 175 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 176 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 177 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 178 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 179 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 180

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 181 Waldon Triplets
  • 182 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 183 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

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

  • 185 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 186 No sale of Springfield House

  • 187 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 188 Artisans' Club

  • 189

    Relatives all over the world
  • 190 It really was the 'last time'

  • 191 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 192 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 193 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 194 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 195

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 196 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 197 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 198 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 199 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 200 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 201 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 202 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 203 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 204 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 205 Northam's almshouse

  • 206 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 207 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 208 New Lundy stamps

  • 209 First ship in 8 years

  • 210 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 211 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 212 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 213 The Geneva marionettes

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

  • 215 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 216 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 217 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 218 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 219 Jumble sale fever

  • 220 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 221 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 222 A story to tell!

  • 223 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 224 New choral society's growing response

  • 225 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 226 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 227 From Bobby to Brian

  • 228 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 229 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 230 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 231 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 232 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 233 School crossing patrol begins

  • 234 A bird of their own!

  • 235 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 236 School's link with cargo ship

  • 237 Bideford computer stars

  • 238 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 239 For crying out loud!

  • 240

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 241

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 242 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 243 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 244 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 245 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 247 Penny for the guy

  • 248 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 249 Simple Item 138
  • 250 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 251 Happy Days!

  • 252 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 253 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 254 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 255 All for the love of a lady!

  • 256

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 257 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 258 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 259 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 260 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 261 Torrington's new amenity

  • 262 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 263 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 264 The cab at the corner>
  • 265 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 266 When horses score over the tractor

  • 267 Sweets derationing

  • 268 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 269 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 270 Modern living at Bideford

  • 271 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 272 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 273 Centenary of Gazette

  • 274 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 275 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 276 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 277 North Devon Driving School

  • 278 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 279 Hartland postman retires

  • 280 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 281 Ten year old scrambler

  • 282 Peter poses for TV film

  • 283 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 284 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 285 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 286 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 287

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 288 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 289

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 290

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 291 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 292 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 293 Out of puff!

  • 294 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 295 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 296 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 297 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 298 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 299 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 300 113 years at Instow

  • 301 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 302 Last train from Torrington

  • 303 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 304 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 305 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

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

  • 307 He beat the floods

  • 308 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 309 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 310 Mural in the whimsical fashion

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

  • 312 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 313 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 314 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 315 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 316 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 317 A man and his wheel

  • 318 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 319 Capers on the cobbles

  • 320 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 321 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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

  • 323 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 324 Pannier Market's future?

  • 325 Can spring be far away?

  • 326 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 327 Some mushroom!

  • 328 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 329 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 330 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 331 Traditions and skills still there

  • 332 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 333 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 334 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 335 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 336 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 337 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 338 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 339 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 340 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 341 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 342 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 343 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 344 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 345 Puppet characters introduced

  • 346 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 347 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 348 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 349

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 350 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 351 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 352 Circus comes to town

  • 353 Devil sent packing

  • 354 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 355 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 356 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 357 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 358 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 359 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 360 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 361 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 362 Ships at Bideford

  • 363 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 364 Recognise this resort?

  • 365 Variety in summer weather

  • 366

    Bidefordians
  • 367 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 368 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 369 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 370 Blanchards ad.>
  • 371 They are parted pro-tem

  • 372 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 373 Bideford regatta

  • 374 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 375 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 376 Cruising down the river

  • 377 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 378 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 379 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 380 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 381 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 382 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 383

    Married in 1908
  • 384 Some 240 exhibits

  • 385 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 386 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 387 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 388 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 389 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 390 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 391 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 392 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 393 What's the time?

  • 394 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 395 Sight of a lifetime

  • 396 Hartland's invitation

  • 397 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 398 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 399 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 400 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 401 New Post Office

  • 402 By pony and trap to market

  • 403 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 404 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 405 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 406 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 407 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 408 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 409 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 410 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 411 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 412 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 413 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 414

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 415

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 416

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 417 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 418 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 419 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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

  • 421 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 422 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Disastrous dock fire at Appledore

Second misfortune within a year

Fire, which broke out at Richmond Dry Dock premises of Messrs. P.K. Harris and Sons., Appledore last week did thousands of pounds worth of damage. This is the second such misfortune to occur at the firm’s premises in a year. On June 21 last year a similar type of building in another part of the yards was destroyed by fire.

8 June 1948 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore

The gutted building housed power plant, saw mills, joiner’s shop and a rigging shop with boiler marker’s shop adjoining.

Gazette article 8 June 1948

 

The young smith of Abbotsham

Following in family's footsteps

Four years old David Stapleton of the Smithy, Abbotsham is evidently going to follow in father’s, grandfather’s and great grandfather’s footsteps as a shoeing and general smith.

4 May 1948 The young smith of Abbotsham

His father, Mr Fredk. T. Stapleton, works the forge at Abbotsham and his grandfather, Mr Ernest S. Stapleton, took over the smithy at Old Town, Bideford, two years ago, having previously been at Abbotsham for some twenty-three years. David’s great-grandfather, the late Mr Thomas Stapleton who founded the family business was the smith at Gammaton Moor for between thirty and forty years and lived to the age of 95.

Gazette article 4 May 1948

 

Meredith & Son ad.

Bideford ironmongers changes hands

20 April 1948 Meredith son adJPG

Gazette ad. 20 April 1948

 

 

 

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