• 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 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 2 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 3 Riverside mystery

  • 4 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 5

    Exhibition of school work
  • 6 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 7

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 8 Torrington children build igloo
  • 9 Happy Days!

  • 10 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 11 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 12

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 13 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 14 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 15 Weare Giffard potato

  • 16 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 17 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 18 Mobile missionary

  • 19 New Post Office

  • 20 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 21 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 22 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 23 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 24 The Geneva marionettes

  • 25 For crying out loud!

  • 26 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 27 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 28 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 29 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 30 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 31 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 32 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 33 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 34 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 35 Last train from Torrington

  • 36

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 37 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 38 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 39 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 40 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 41 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 42 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 43 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 44 Over the bank together>
  • 45 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 46 He beat the floods

  • 47 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 48 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 49 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 50 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 51

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 52 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 53

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 54 Clovelly nightmare

  • 55 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 56 Traditions and skills still there

  • 57 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 58 Bideford regatta

  • 59 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 60 Out of puff!

  • 61 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 62 Service with a smile

  • 63 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 64 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 65 Peter poses for TV film

  • 66 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 67 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 68

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 69 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 70 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 71

    New gateway
  • 72 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 73 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 74 Hartland's invitation

  • 75 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 76 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 77 Police station view of Bideford

  • 78 Picking the pops

  • 79 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 80 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 81 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 82 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 83 All for the love of a lady!

  • 84 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 85 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 86 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 87 Parkham plan realised

  • 88 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 89 Cruising down the river

  • 90 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 91 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 92

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 93 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 94 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 95 Decontrol of meat

  • 96 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 97 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 98

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 99

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 100 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 101 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 102

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 103 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 104 North Devon Driving School

  • 105 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 106 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 107 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 108

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 109 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 110

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 111 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 112 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 113 Variety in summer weather

  • 114 Hartland Dancers
  • 115 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 116 All aboard the ark

  • 117 Ships at Bideford

  • 118 School crossing patrol begins

  • 119 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 120 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 121 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 122 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 123 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 124 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 125 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 126 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 127 No sale of Springfield House

  • 128 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 129 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 130 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 131 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 132 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 133 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 134 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 135

    Relatives all over the world
  • 136

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 137 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 138 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 139 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 140 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 141 Loads of black and white

  • 142 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 143 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 144 New shipyard on schedule

  • 145 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 146 Torrington's new amenity

  • 147 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 148 Penny for the guy

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

  • 150 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 151 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 152 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 153 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 154 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 155 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 156 Centenary of Gazette

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

  • 158 Filming at Hartland

  • 159 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 160 Littleham family's five generations

  • 161 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

  • 163 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 164 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 165 Simple Item 138
  • 166 Can spring be far away?

  • 167 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 168 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 169 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 170 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 171 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 172 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 173 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 174 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 175 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 176 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 177 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 178

    Was a missionary
  • 179 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 180 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 181 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 182 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 183 Northam's almshouse

  • 184 Some 240 exhibits

  • 185 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 186 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 187 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 188 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 189 Jumble sale fever

  • 190 Pannier Market's future?

  • 191 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 192 New art gallery opened

  • 193 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 194 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 195 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 196 Revenge in style

  • 197 Torrington in 1967

  • 198

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 199 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 200 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 201 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 202 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 203 A story to tell!

  • 204

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 205 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 206 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 207 End of the line

  • 208 Picking the pops

  • 209 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 210 Finished in 1876

  • 211

    First prize
  • 212 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 213 Circus comes to town

  • 214 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 215 Emergency ferry services

  • 216 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 217 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 218 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 219 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 220 In their new robes and hats

  • 221 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 222 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 223 Sweets derationing

  • 224 Warmington's garage ad

  • 225 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 226 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 227 Hartland postman retires

  • 228 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 229 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 230 Sight of a lifetime

  • 231 It really was the 'last time'

  • 232 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 233 Burnard family reunion

  • 234 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 235 Capers on the cobbles

  • 236 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 237 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 238 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 239 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 240 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 241 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 242 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 243 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 244 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 245 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 246 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 247 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

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

  • 249 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 250 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 251 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 252 Twenty-one yachts

  • 253 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 254 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 255

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

  • 257 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 258 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 259 Modern living at Bideford

  • 260 A man and his wheel

  • 261 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 262 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 263 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 264 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 265 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 266

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 267 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 268 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 269 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 270 Northam footballers of the future

  • 271 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 272 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 273 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 275 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 276 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 277 When horses score over the tractor

  • 278 Six footed lamb

  • 279 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 280 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 281 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 282 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 283 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 284 Private home for public pump

  • 285

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 286 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 287 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 288 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 289 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 290 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 291 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 292 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 293 Recognise this resort?

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

  • 295 New choral society's growing response

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

  • 297 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 298 Blanchards ad.>
  • 299 Life begins at 80

  • 300 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 301 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 302 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 303 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 304 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 305 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 306

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 307 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 308 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 309 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 310 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 311 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 312 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 313 School's link with cargo ship

  • 314 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 315 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 316 By pony and trap to market

  • 317 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 318 New civic medallions

  • 319 Artisans' Club

  • 320

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 321 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 322 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 323 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 324 New life for Hartland organ

  • 325 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 326 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 327 A bird of their own!

  • 328 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 329 Puppet characters introduced

  • 330 Ten year old scrambler

  • 331 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 332 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 333 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 334

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 335 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 336

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 337 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 338 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 339 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 340 New look in the hayfields

  • 341 Bridging the stream

  • 342 Waldon Triplets
  • 343 The cab at the corner>
  • 344 Off on a great adventure

  • 345 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 346 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 347

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 348 Bideford loses training ship

  • 349 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 350 Clovelly custom

  • 351 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 352 So this is the mainland!

  • 353 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 354 Bideford computer stars

  • 355 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 356 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 357 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 358 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 359 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 360 113 years at Instow

  • 361 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 362 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 363 Torrington to have first woman mayor

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

  • 365

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 366 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 367 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 368 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 369 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 370 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 371 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 372 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 373 They are parted pro-tem

  • 374 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 375 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 376 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 377 New addition to Quay front

  • 378 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 379 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 380 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 381

    Married in 1908
  • 382 A roof-top view - where?

  • 383 No laughing matter

  • 384 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 385 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 386 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 387 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 388 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 389 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 390 First ship in 8 years

  • 391 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 392 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 393 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 394 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 395 Some mushroom!

  • 396 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 397 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 398

    Bidefordians
  • 399 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 400 Appledore's largest

  • 401 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 402 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 403 From Bobby to Brian

  • 404 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 405 Torridge wins on time schedule

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

  • 407 Caught in the act>
  • 408

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 409 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 410 The art of the thatcher

  • 411 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 412 What's the time?

  • 413 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 414 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 415 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 416 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 417 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 418 New Lundy stamps

  • 419 Devil sent packing

  • 420 Just over a year old

  • 421

    Building works
  • 422 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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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  • 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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  • 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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Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

Large assembly at Wednesday’s celebration

Typical of the many smaller Methodist foundations to be found in the North Devon countryside, Landcross Methodist chapel is snugly tucked alongside the Bideford to Torrington main road at its junction with the Bradworthy road.

25 June 1954 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

The chapel was built over a cattle shed which continued to be used as such to at leased 1881.

The present membership of Landcross Chapel is seventeen. The population of Landcross in 1850 was 120 and the present day only 64.

Gazette article 25 June 1954

 

Light reading for the Lighthouse

County library visits Hartland Point

Hartland Lighthouse is one of forty-five centres in the north-west part of Devon which is supplied with collections of books from the Torridge Regional Brach of the Devon County Library at Torrington.

14 May 1954 Light reading for the lighthouse

The regional librarian (Mr P.A. Drake) is seen at the lighthouse as the fresh collection of books is delivered for the use of the lighthouse staff and their wives, who read more than 400 books during the past year.

Gazette article 14 May 1954

New civic medallions

Medallions for Bideford Mayor and Mayoress

Two medallions were presented to the town at Bideford Manor Court, the lower one for the use of Mayors, being the gift of Mr Stanley J. Bowen (a London-Bidefordian), and above it that to be worn by Mayoresses, the gift of the Mayor (Mr C.A. Grant in commemoration of the Coronation of Elizabeth II).

30 April 1954 New civic medallions

Both medallions were made locally to the design of Mr W.J.A. Corke, principal of Bideford School of Art.

Gazette article 30 April 1954

 

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