• 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 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 2 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 3 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 4 Northam footballers of the future

  • 5 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 6 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 7 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 8 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 9 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 10 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 11 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 12 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 13 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 14 All for the love of a lady!

  • 15 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 16 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 17 Picking the pops

  • 18 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 19 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 20 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 21 First ship in 8 years

  • 22 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 23 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 24 Private home for public pump

  • 25 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 26

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 27 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 28 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 29 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 30 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 31 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 32 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 33 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 34 Traditions and skills still there

  • 35 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 36 Simple Item 138
  • 37 From Bobby to Brian

  • 38 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 39 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 40 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 41 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 42 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 43 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 44 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 45 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 46 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 47 Centenary of Gazette

  • 48 Clovelly custom

  • 49 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 50 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 51 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 52

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 53 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 54 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

  • 56 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 57 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 58 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 59 Burnard family reunion

  • 60 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 61

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 62 Finished in 1876

  • 63 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 64 It really was the 'last time'

  • 65 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 66 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 67 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 68 He beat the floods

  • 69 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 70 A roof-top view - where?

  • 71 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 72 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 73 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 74 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 75

    Married in 1908
  • 76 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 77 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 78 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 79 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 80 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 81 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 82 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 83

    Was a missionary
  • 84 Cruising down the river

  • 85 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 86 They are parted pro-tem

  • 87 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 88 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 89 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 91 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 92 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 93 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 94 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 95 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 96 New art gallery opened

  • 97 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 98 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 99 Some mushroom!

  • 100 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 101 Sight of a lifetime

  • 102 Out of puff!

  • 103 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 104 Penny for the guy

  • 105 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 106 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 107 Service with a smile

  • 108 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 109 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 110 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 111 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 112 Decontrol of meat

  • 113 New life for Hartland organ

  • 114 New look in the hayfields

  • 115 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 116 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 117 Off on a great adventure

  • 118 When horses score over the tractor

  • 119

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 120 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 121 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 122 Artisans' Club

  • 123 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 124 Circus comes to town

  • 125 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 126 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 127 Happy Days!

  • 128 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 129 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 130 Caught in the act>
  • 131 Clovelly nightmare

  • 132 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 133 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 134 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 135 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 136

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 137 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 138 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 139 Jumble sale fever

  • 140

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 141 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 142 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 143 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 144 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 145 Appledore's largest

  • 146 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 147 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 148 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 149 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 150 New Lundy stamps

  • 151 A man and his wheel

  • 152 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 153

    Exhibition of school work
  • 154 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 155 Hartland postman retires

  • 156 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 157 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 158 Police station view of Bideford

  • 159 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 160

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 161 Weare Giffard potato

  • 162 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 163 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 164 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 165 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 166 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 167 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 168 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 169

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 170 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 171 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 172 Recognise this resort?

  • 173 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 174 Revenge in style

  • 175 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 176 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 177

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 178 Mobile missionary

  • 179 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 180 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 181 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 182 End of the line

  • 183 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 184 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 185 All aboard the ark

  • 186 Ships at Bideford

  • 187 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 188 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 189 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 190 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 191 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 192 Warmington's garage ad

  • 193 Sweets derationing

  • 194 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 195

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 196 Pannier Market's future?

  • 197 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 198 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 199 Littleham family's five generations

  • 200 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 201 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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

  • 203 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 204 New civic medallions

  • 205 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 206 Can spring be far away?

  • 207 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 208 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 209 What's the time?

  • 210 So this is the mainland!

  • 211 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 212 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 213 Over the bank together>
  • 214 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 215

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

  • 217 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 218 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 219 By pony and trap to market

  • 220 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 221 Peter poses for TV film

  • 222 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 223 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 224 Ten year old scrambler

  • 225 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 226 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 227 Devil sent packing

  • 228 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 229 Riverside mystery

  • 230 Parkham plan realised

  • 231 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 232 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 233

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 234 Bideford loses training ship

  • 235 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 236 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 237 The cab at the corner>
  • 238 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 239 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 240 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 241 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 242 For crying out loud!

  • 243 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 244 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 245

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 246 Some 240 exhibits

  • 247 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 248 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 249 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 250 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 251

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 252 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 253

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 254 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 255 New Post Office

  • 256 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 257 Just over a year old

  • 258 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 259 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 260

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 261 Variety in summer weather

  • 262 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 263 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 264 Last train from Torrington

  • 265 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 266 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 267 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 268

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 269 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 270

    New gateway
  • 271 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 272 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 273 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 274 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 275 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 276 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 277 Capers on the cobbles

  • 278 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 279 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 280 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 281 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 282 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 283

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 284 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 285 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 286 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 287

    Building works
  • 288 Hartland Dancers
  • 289 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 290 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 291 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 292 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 293 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 294 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 295 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 296 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 297 Emergency ferry services

  • 298 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 299 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 300 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 301

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 302 Six footed lamb

  • 303 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 304 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 305

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 306 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 307 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 308 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 309 Born 1883 - still going strong

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

  • 311

    Relatives all over the world
  • 312 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 313 Waldon Triplets
  • 314 Hartland's invitation

  • 315 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 316 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 317 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 318 Bideford computer stars

  • 319 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 320 Loads of black and white

  • 321 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 322

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 323 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 324 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 325 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 326 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 327 Blanchards ad.>
  • 328 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 329 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 330 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 331 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 332 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 333 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 334 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 335 113 years at Instow

  • 336 In their new robes and hats

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

  • 338 Bideford regatta

  • 339 Puppet characters introduced

  • 340 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 341 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 342 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 343 Filming at Hartland

  • 344 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 345 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 346 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 347 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 348 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 349 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 350 New choral society's growing response

  • 351 The Geneva marionettes

  • 352 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 353 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 354 Torrington in 1967

  • 355 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 356 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 357 Life begins at 80

  • 358 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 359 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 360 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 361 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 362 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 363 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 364 North Devon Driving School

  • 365 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 366 A story to tell!

  • 367 Modern living at Bideford

  • 368 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 369 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 370 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 371 New shipyard on schedule

  • 372 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 373 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 374 Picking the pops

  • 375 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 376 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 377 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 378 No sale of Springfield House

  • 379 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 380

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 381

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 382 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 383 The art of the thatcher

  • 384 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 385 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 386 Northam's almshouse

  • 387 Bridging the stream

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

  • 389 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 390 Twenty-one yachts

  • 391 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 392 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 393

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 394 A bird of their own!

  • 395 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

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

  • 397 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 398 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 399 No laughing matter

  • 400 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 401 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 402

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 403 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 404 School's link with cargo ship

  • 405 School crossing patrol begins

  • 406 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 407 A craftsman's 'potted' history

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

  • 409 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 410 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 411 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 412 Torrington children build igloo
  • 413

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 414 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 415 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 416 Torrington's new amenity

  • 417 New addition to Quay front

  • 418

    Bidefordians
  • 419 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 420 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 421 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 422 Train returns to Westleigh straight

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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At Bideford Arts Ball

Bideford Art School students enjoy ball

Four of the fancy dress costumes which presented such a gay sight at the Arts Ball organised by Bideford Art School students at Westward Ho! Holiday Centre. The ball proved a very popular occasion for the many associated with the school and their friends and much ‘artistic’ humour was displayed in the array of fancy dress.

23 December 1949 At Bideford Arts Ball

On the left in the photograph above is Mr N.H. Chope (Bideford). On the right is Mr Bizzell (Westward Ho!) and next to him Miss Peggy Moppett (Torrington).

Gazette article 23 December 1949

 

 

Mayor becomes engine driver

‘Torrington’ naming ceremony: schoolchildren given rides

A self-confessed ‘engine spotter’ in his youth, the Mayor of Torrington, Ald. E.A. Holwill, was the envy of the large crowd of schoolchildren at Torrington Station last week, when he drove the new Westcountry class engine ‘Torrington’ which he had just named out of the station with whistle tooting.

2 December 1949 Mayor becomes engine driver

Following the naming ceremony, schoolchildren from the Torrington Secondary Modern School, the County Primary and the Blue Coat Church schools were taken for rides in the engine cab.

Gazette article 2 December 1949

 

From Bobby to Brian

Schoolboy plays Jim Hawkins

Long John Silver, parrot on shoulder, puts a protecting arm around young Jim Hawkins.

In the photograph taken during the filming at Appledore of shots in the film ‘Treasure Island’ are Mr William Harding as Long John Silver and schoolboy Brian Tilke as Jim Hawkins. Also in the group, second from left, is Mr A. Huxtable, also of Appledore.

2 December 1949 From Bobby to Brian

Young Brian, who lives at 6 Tomouth Road, Appledore, has since received a photograph of Bobby Driscoll, the American boy film star who played the part of Jim Hawkins.

Gazette article 2 December 1949

 

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