• 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 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 2 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 3

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 4 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 5 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 6

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 7 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 8 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 9 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 10 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 12 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 13 All aboard the ark

  • 14

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 15 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 16 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 17 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 18 No sale of Springfield House

  • 19 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 20 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 21 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 22 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 23 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 24 Torrington in 1967

  • 25 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 26 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 27 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 28 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 29 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 30 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 31 New choral society's growing response

  • 32 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 33 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 34 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 35 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 36 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 37 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 38 Littleham family's five generations

  • 39 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 40 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 41 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 42 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 43 Sight of a lifetime

  • 44 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 45 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 46 School crossing patrol begins

  • 47 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 48 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 49 An early 'special' to Bideford

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

  • 51 Puppet characters introduced

  • 52 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 53 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 54 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 55 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 56 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 57 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 58 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 59 Six footed lamb

  • 60 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 61 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 62 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 63 Recognise this resort?

  • 64 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 65 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 66 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 67 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 68 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 69 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 70 Police station view of Bideford

  • 71 Simple Item 138
  • 72 Peter poses for TV film

  • 73 Some 240 exhibits

  • 74 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 75

    Relatives all over the world
  • 76 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 77 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 78 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 79

    New gateway
  • 80 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 81 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 82

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 83 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 84 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 85 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 86 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 87 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 88 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 89

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 90

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 91 Waldon Triplets
  • 92 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 93

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 94 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 95 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 96 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 97 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 98 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 99 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 100 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 101

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 102 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 103 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 104 Capers on the cobbles

  • 105 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 106 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 107 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 108 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 109

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 110 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 111 Bideford loses training ship

  • 112 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 113 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 114 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 115 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 116 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 117 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 118 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 119 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 120 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 121 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 122 Hartland postman retires

  • 123 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 124 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 125 Modern living at Bideford

  • 126 What's the time?

  • 127 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 128 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 129

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 130 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 131 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 132 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 133 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 134 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 135 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 136 For crying out loud!

  • 137 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 138 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 139 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 140 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 141 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 142 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 143 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 144 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 146 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 147 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 148

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 149 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 150 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 151 Revenge in style

  • 152

    Bidefordians
  • 153 Jumble sale fever

  • 154 New addition to Quay front

  • 155 First ship in 8 years

  • 156 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 157 Northam's almshouse

  • 158 Just over a year old

  • 159 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 160 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 161

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 162 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 163 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 164 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 165 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 166 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 167 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 168 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 169 Clovelly nightmare

  • 170 Bridging the stream

  • 171 Decontrol of meat

  • 172 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 173 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 174 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 175 Clovelly custom

  • 176 Some mushroom!

  • 177 Hartland Dancers
  • 178 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 179 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 180 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 181 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 182

    Exhibition of school work
  • 183 So this is the mainland!

  • 184 The Geneva marionettes

  • 185 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 186 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 187 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 188 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 189 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 190 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 191 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 192 A story to tell!

  • 193

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 194 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 195 Picking the pops

  • 196 New civic medallions

  • 197 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 198 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 199

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 200

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 201

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 202 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 203 Caught in the act>
  • 204 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 205 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 207 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 208 No laughing matter

  • 209 Parkham plan realised

  • 210 A roof-top view - where?

  • 211 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 212 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 213 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 214 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 215 Emergency ferry services

  • 216

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 217 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 218 In their new robes and hats

  • 219

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 220 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 221 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 222 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 223 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 224 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 225 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 226 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 227 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 228 A man and his wheel

  • 229 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 230 113 years at Instow

  • 231 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 232 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 233 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 234 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 235 Cruising down the river

  • 236 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 237 New Post Office

  • 238 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 239 Devil sent packing

  • 240 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 241 Picking the pops

  • 242 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 243 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 244 Variety in summer weather

  • 245 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 246 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 247 It really was the 'last time'

  • 248 Weare Giffard potato

  • 249 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 250 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 251 Mobile missionary

  • 252

    Was a missionary
  • 253 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 254 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 255 Riverside mystery

  • 256 Bideford regatta

  • 257 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 258 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

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

  • 261 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 262 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 263 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 264 Bideford computer stars

  • 265 Burnard family reunion

  • 266 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 267 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 268 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 269

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 270 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 271 Penny for the guy

  • 272 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 274 A bird of their own!

  • 275 Finished in 1876

  • 276 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 277 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 278 Happy Days!

  • 279 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

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

  • 281

    Building works
  • 282 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 283 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 284 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 285 Circus comes to town

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

  • 287 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 288 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 289 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 290 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 291 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 292 Private home for public pump

  • 293 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 294 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 295 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 296

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 297 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 298 Artisans' Club

  • 299 Over the bank together>
  • 300 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 301 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 302 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 303 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 304 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 305 He beat the floods

  • 306 New Lundy stamps

  • 307 Traditions and skills still there

  • 308 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 309 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 310 End of the line

  • 311 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 312 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 313 The art of the thatcher

  • 314 By pony and trap to market

  • 315 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 316 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 317 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 318 Torrington children build igloo
  • 319 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 320 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 321 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 322 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 323 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 324 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 325 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 326 New look in the hayfields

  • 327 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 328 Blanchards ad.>
  • 329 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 330

    Married in 1908
  • 331 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 333

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 334 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 335 When horses score over the tractor

  • 336 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 337 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 338 Ten year old scrambler

  • 339 They are parted pro-tem

  • 340 Quads at Thornhillhead

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

  • 342 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 343 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 344 New shipyard on schedule

  • 345 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 346 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 347 Warmington's garage ad

  • 348 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 349 Sweets derationing

  • 350 The cab at the corner>
  • 351 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 352 Northam footballers of the future

  • 353

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 354 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 355 Loads of black and white

  • 356 Torrington's new amenity

  • 357

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 358 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 359 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 360 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 361 Service with a smile

  • 362 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 363 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 364 Life begins at 80

  • 365 North Devon Driving School

  • 366 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 367 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 368 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 369 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 370 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 371 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 372 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 373 School's link with cargo ship

  • 374 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 375 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 376 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 377 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 378 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 379 Twenty-one yachts

  • 380 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 381 Centenary of Gazette

  • 382 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 383 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 384 Ships at Bideford

  • 385 Out of puff!

  • 386 From Bobby to Brian

  • 387 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 388 Can spring be far away?

  • 389 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 390 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 391 Appledore's largest

  • 392 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 393

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 394 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 395 Last train from Torrington

  • 396 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 397 Hartland's invitation

  • 398 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 399 Off on a great adventure

  • 400 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 401 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 402 New life for Hartland organ

  • 403 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 404 Filming at Hartland

  • 405

    First prize
  • 406 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 407

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 408 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 409 Pannier Market's future?

  • 410 All for the love of a lady!

  • 411 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 412 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 413 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 414 New art gallery opened

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

  • 416 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 417 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 418 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 419 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 420 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 421 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 422 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at Nursing exhibition

Model of Florence Nightingale

An exhibition attracting great attention at the London Nursing Exhibition was the lighted model of Florence Nightingale and her nurses in a ward of the army hospital at Scutari during the Crimean War which hade been designed and made specially for the exhibition by Miss Judith Ackland and Miss Mary Stella Edwards of Bideford.

22 October 1954 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists

They are perhaps best known as water-colour landscape artists but Miss Ackland also makes charming Jakanda model figures from cotton-wool by a secret process, with Miss Edwards carrying out much of the necessary research work for the models.

It was 100 years since Florence Nightingale set out on her mission to the Crimea.

Gazette article 22 October 1954

 

Torrington acclaims the 400th anniversary of the granting of its charter

Modern view of Torrington

A few years before the town received its charter, Leland, the noted librarian and chronicler, in his records proclaimed Torrington as a great town standing on the brow of a hill with fair streets, a good market and the best fair in all those quarters.

24 September Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary

In this arial photograph is seen displayed the main street pattern of this old town with a modern outlook.

Gazette article 24 September 1954

 

A man and his wheel

Wheel at Old Mill Farm

For well over a century the Tape family, father and son, have worked the wheel at the Old Mill Farm, Coombe Valley on the Cornish borderline with Devon.

20 August 1954 A man and his wheel

Above can be seen Mr Fred Tape now well into his seventies. Everything at the farm depends on the old water-wheel which supplies electric light by direct current, milling corn for local farmers, pulping, saw-milling, and other mechanical duties.

Gazette article 20 August 1954#

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