• 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 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 2 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 3 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

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

  • 5 New addition to Quay front

  • 6 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 8 Off on a great adventure

  • 9

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 10 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 11 What's the time?

  • 12 Picking the pops

  • 13 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 14 Weare Giffard potato

  • 15 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 16 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 17 113 years at Instow

  • 18 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 19

    Exhibition of school work
  • 20

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 21

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 22 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 23 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 24 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 25 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 26 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 27 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 28 In their new robes and hats

  • 29 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 30 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 31 Littleham family's five generations

  • 32 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 33 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 34 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 35

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 36 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 37 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 38 Ten year old scrambler

  • 39 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 40 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 41 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 42

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 43 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 44 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 45 Circus comes to town

  • 46 Mobile missionary

  • 47 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 48 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 49 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 50

    Bidefordians
  • 51

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 52 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 53 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 54 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 56 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 57 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 58 Hartland postman retires

  • 59 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 60 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 61 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 62 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 63 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 64 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 65 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 66 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 67 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 68 Loads of black and white

  • 69 School's link with cargo ship

  • 70 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 71

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 72 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 73 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 74 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 75 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 76 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 77 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 78 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 79 Cruising down the river

  • 80 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 81 Happy Days!

  • 82 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 83 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 84 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 85 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 86 Clovelly custom

  • 87 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 88 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 89 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 90 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 91 Finished in 1876

  • 92 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 93 Bideford loses training ship

  • 94 They are parted pro-tem

  • 95

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 96

    Was a missionary
  • 97 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 98 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 99 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 100 The cab at the corner>
  • 101 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 102 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 103 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 104 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 105 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 106 Artisans' Club

  • 107 For crying out loud!

  • 108 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 109 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 110 Jumble sale fever

  • 111 Clovelly nightmare

  • 112 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 113 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 114 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 115 Variety in summer weather

  • 116 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 117 Bridging the stream

  • 118 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 119 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 120 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 121 Waldon Triplets
  • 122 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 123 Warmington's garage ad

  • 124 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 125 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 126 Twenty-one yachts

  • 127 Out of puff!

  • 128 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 129 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 130 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 131 He beat the floods

  • 132 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 133 Sight of a lifetime

  • 134 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 135 Over the bank together>
  • 136 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 137 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 139 New life for Hartland organ

  • 140 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 141 All aboard the ark

  • 142 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 143 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 144 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 145

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 146 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 147 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 148 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 149 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 150

    First prize
  • 151 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 152 Filming at Hartland

  • 153 From Bobby to Brian

  • 154 Emergency ferry services

  • 155 Torrington in 1967

  • 156 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 157 No laughing matter

  • 158 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 159 Hartland's invitation

  • 160

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 161 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 162 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 163 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 164

    Building works
  • 165 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 166 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 167 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 168 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 169 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

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

  • 171

    Married in 1908
  • 172 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 173 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 174 North Devon Driving School

  • 175

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 176 Decontrol of meat

  • 177 Service with a smile

  • 178 Blanchards ad.>
  • 179 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 180 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 181 Pannier Market's future?

  • 182

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 183 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 184 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 185 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 186 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 187 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 189 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 190 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 191 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 192 Torrington's new amenity

  • 193 Riverside mystery

  • 194 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 195 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 196 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 197 Picking the pops

  • 198 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 199 By pony and trap to market

  • 200 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 201 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 202 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 203 Modern living at Bideford

  • 204 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 205 Peter poses for TV film

  • 206 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 207 So this is the mainland!

  • 208 Life begins at 80

  • 209 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 210 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 211 New choral society's growing response

  • 212 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 213 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 214 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 215 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 216 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 217 The art of the thatcher

  • 218 Centenary of Gazette

  • 219 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 220 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 221 Puppet characters introduced

  • 222 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 223 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 224 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 225 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 226 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 227 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 228 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 229 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 230 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 231 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 232 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 233 Traditions and skills still there

  • 234 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 235 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 236 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 237 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 238 Bideford computer stars

  • 239 When horses score over the tractor

  • 240 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 241 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 242 School crossing patrol begins

  • 243 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

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

  • 245 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 246 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 247 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 248 All for the love of a lady!

  • 249 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 250 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 251 New Lundy stamps

  • 252 Burnard family reunion

  • 253 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 254 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 255 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 256 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 257 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 258 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 259 A man and his wheel

  • 260 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 261 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 262 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 263 First ship in 8 years

  • 264 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 265 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 266 Pretty pennies at Beaford

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

  • 268 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 270

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 271

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 272 Private home for public pump

  • 273 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 274 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 275 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 276

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 277 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

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

  • 279 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 280 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 281 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 282 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 283 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 284 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 285 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 286 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 287 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 288 Last train from Torrington

  • 289 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 290 A bird of their own!

  • 291 Just over a year old

  • 292 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 293 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 294 Six footed lamb

  • 295 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 296

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 297

    Relatives all over the world
  • 298

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 299 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 300 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 301 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 302 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 303 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 304 Police station view of Bideford

  • 305 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 306 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 307 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 308 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 309 New shipyard on schedule

  • 310 Can spring be far away?

  • 311 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 312 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 313 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 314

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 315 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 316 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 317 Simple Item 138
  • 318 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 319 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 320 Caught in the act>
  • 321 The Geneva marionettes

  • 322 Recognise this resort?

  • 323 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 324 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 325 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 326 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 327 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 328 Devil sent packing

  • 329 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 330 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 331 New look in the hayfields

  • 332 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 333 Sweets derationing

  • 334 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 335 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 336 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 337 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 338

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 339 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 340 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 341 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 342

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 343 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 344 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 345 New Post Office

  • 346

    New gateway
  • 347 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 348 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 349 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 350 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 351 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 352 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 353 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 354 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 355 Capers on the cobbles

  • 356 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 357 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

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

  • 359 Penny for the guy

  • 360 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 361 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 362 End of the line

  • 363

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 364 New art gallery opened

  • 365 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 366 Revenge in style

  • 367 Bideford regatta

  • 368 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 369 Northam footballers of the future

  • 370 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 371

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 372 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 373 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 374 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 375 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 376 Ships at Bideford

  • 377 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 378

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 379 New civic medallions

  • 380 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 381 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 382 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 383

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 384 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 385 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 386 Northam's almshouse

  • 387 Torrington children build igloo
  • 388 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 389 Some mushroom!

  • 390 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 391 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 392 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 393 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 394 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 395 Appledore's largest

  • 396 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 397 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 398 East-the-Water sets town an example

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

  • 400 It really was the 'last time'

  • 401 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 402 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 403 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 404 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 405 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 406 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 407

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 408 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 409 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 410 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 411 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 412 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 413 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 414 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 415 Some 240 exhibits

  • 416 Hartland Dancers
  • 417 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 418 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 419 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 420 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 421 No sale of Springfield House

  • 422 A story to tell!

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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Record pebble-throwing day at Westward Ho!

2,000 people lend a hand

Revived for the first time for 21 years, the annual potwallopers throwing back the pebbles day on Monday proved a record occasion, some 2,000 people, many of them holiday-makers taking part.

9 August 1957 Record pebble throwing day

No-one seems certain of the exact origin of this useful custom. It was once observed every year in the days when the custom was linked with Northam potwallopers. It was a day of holiday and enjoyment and families would picnic on the Burrows or sand while men-folk and children engaged in the task of throwing back the pebbles that had strayed onto the grazing and golfing land of the Burrows replacing the pebbles in positions to strengthen the natural breakwater of the ridge in anticipation of high tides and winter storms.

Gazette article 9 August 1957

 

Fish nearly pulled him in

Robin’s adventure

Proudly displaying a fish half as long as himself and weighing as many pounds as his years, which he caught at Westward Ho!, is six year old Robin Bright, son of Mr and Mrs Cyril Bright of 3 Cooper Street, Bideford.

19 July 1957 Fish nearly pulled him in

Last Sunday afternoon Robin accompanied his father and elder brother David on a fishing expedition at a gully near the old pier at Westward Ho! David called his father as he was having difficulty with his rod and Robin came to look after his father’s line, holding a rod for the first time in his life. In two minutes Robin cried ‘Daddy, daddy, there’s a fish pulling me in the water.’ There was a 6 lb. bass on the line and it took Mr Bright ten minutes to hall it in.

Gazette article 19 July 1957

 

Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

Landmarks struck by lightning

Two familiar Torridge landmarks were badly damaged in a thunderstorm that occurred during the summer heat of just 25 years ago. Lightning struck the same time at Chanter’s Folly, causing a vertical rift which resulted in its ultimate demolition a year or two ago, and destroyed the Clevland obelisk (as shown in the picture). The obelisk stood high over the river at Tapeley Park.

28 June 1957 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

The obelisk was erected in 1856 by public subscription in memory of Archibald Clevland, Cornet of the 17th Lancers, one of the three officers of his regiment to survive the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava but who fell victim to a shell early the next month at Inkerman.

Gazette article 28 June 1957

 

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