• 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 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 2 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 3 New civic medallions

  • 4 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 5 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 6 New addition to Quay front

  • 7 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 8 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 9

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 10 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 11 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 12 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 13 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 14

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 15 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 16 Some mushroom!

  • 17 A roof-top view - where?

  • 18 What's the time?

  • 19 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 20 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 21 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 22 Northam's almshouse

  • 23 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 24

    New gateway
  • 25 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 26 Ten year old scrambler

  • 27 In their new robes and hats

  • 28 Simple Item 138
  • 29 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 30 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 31 Six footed lamb

  • 32 He beat the floods

  • 33 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 34 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 35 New shipyard on schedule

  • 36 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 37 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 38 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 40 Bridging the stream

  • 41 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 42 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 43

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 44 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 45 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 46 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 47 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 48 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 49 Torrington's new amenity

  • 50

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 51 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 52 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 53 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 54 Centenary of Gazette

  • 55 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 56 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 57 Penny for the guy

  • 58 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 59 Artisans' Club

  • 60 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 62 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 63

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 64 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 65 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 66

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 67 Finished in 1876

  • 68 Torrington children build igloo
  • 69 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 70 New Post Office

  • 71

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 72

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 73 North Devon Driving School

  • 74 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 75 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 76 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 77 Circus comes to town

  • 78 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 79 By pony and trap to market

  • 80 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 81 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 82 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 83 Picking the pops

  • 84

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 85 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 86 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 87

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 88 A lost Bideford 'island'

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

  • 90 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 91 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 92 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 93 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 94 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 95 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 96 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 97 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 98 Emergency ferry services

  • 99 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 100 Meredith's ironmongers

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

  • 102 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 103 Modern living at Bideford

  • 104 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 105 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 106 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 107 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 108 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 109 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 110 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 111 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 112 Just over a year old

  • 113 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 114 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 115 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 116 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 117 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 118 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 119 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 120 Traditions and skills still there

  • 121 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 122 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 123 A bird of their own!

  • 124 Service with a smile

  • 125 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 126 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 127 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 128 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 129 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 130 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 131 Pannier Market's future?

  • 132

    Relatives all over the world
  • 133 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 134 A story to tell!

  • 135 No laughing matter

  • 136

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 137 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 138 Last train from Torrington

  • 139 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

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

  • 141 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 142 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 143 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 144 Twenty-one yachts

  • 145 Jumble sale fever

  • 146 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 147 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 148 Private home for public pump

  • 149 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 150 Can spring be far away?

  • 151 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 152 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 153 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 154 Parkham plan realised

  • 155 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 156 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 157 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 158 Puppet characters introduced

  • 159 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 160 From Bobby to Brian

  • 161 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 162 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 163 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 164 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 165 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 166 New art gallery opened

  • 167 Out of puff!

  • 168 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 169 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 170 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 171 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 172

    Exhibition of school work
  • 173 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 174 No sale of Springfield House

  • 175 Life begins at 80

  • 176

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 177 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 178 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 179 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 180 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 181 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 182 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 183 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 184 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

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

  • 186 All aboard the ark

  • 187 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 188 End of the line

  • 189 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 190 Waldon Triplets
  • 191 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 192 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 193 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 194 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 195

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 196 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 197 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 198 Mobile missionary

  • 199 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 200 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 201

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 202 Capers on the cobbles

  • 203 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 204 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 205 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 206 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 207 They are parted pro-tem

  • 208 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 209 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 210 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 211 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 212 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

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

  • 214 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 215 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 216 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 217 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 218 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 219 Over the bank together>
  • 220 Appledore's largest

  • 221 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 222 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 223 Some 240 exhibits

  • 224 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 225 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 226 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 227 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 228 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 229 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 230 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 231 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 232 Clovelly custom

  • 233 113 years at Instow

  • 234 Littleham family's five generations

  • 235 A man and his wheel

  • 236 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 237 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 238 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 239 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 240 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 241 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 242 Riverside mystery

  • 243

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 244 Sweets derationing

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

  • 246 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 247 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 248 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 249

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 250 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 251 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 252 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 253

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 254 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 255 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 256

    Bidefordians
  • 257 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 258 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 259 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 260 Weare Giffard potato

  • 261 Bideford computer stars

  • 262

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 263

    Was a missionary
  • 264 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 265 Devil sent packing

  • 266 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 267 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 268 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 269 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 270

    First prize
  • 271 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 272 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 273 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 274 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 275 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 276 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 277 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 278 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 279 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 280 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 281 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 282 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 283 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 284 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 285 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 286 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 287 School crossing patrol begins

  • 288 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 289 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 290 First ship in 8 years

  • 291 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 292 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 293 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 294 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 295 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 296 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 297 Decontrol of meat

  • 298 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 299 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 300 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 301 Filming at Hartland

  • 302 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 303

    Married in 1908
  • 304

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 305 It really was the 'last time'

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

  • 307 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 308 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 309 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 310 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 311 The Geneva marionettes

  • 312 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 313 New life for Hartland organ

  • 314 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 315 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 316 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 317 Hartland postman retires

  • 318 Down at the 'Donkey House'

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

  • 320

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 321 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 322 When horses score over the tractor

  • 323 Happy Days!

  • 324 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 325 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 326 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 327

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 328 Bideford loses training ship

  • 329 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 330

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 331 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 332

    Building works
  • 333 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 334 Ships at Bideford

  • 335 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 336 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 337 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 338 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 339

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 340 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 341 The cab at the corner>
  • 342 So this is the mainland!

  • 343 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 344 Cruising down the river

  • 345 New choral society's growing response

  • 346 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 347 Picking the pops

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

  • 349 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 350 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 352 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 353 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 354 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 355 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 356 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 357 Burnard family reunion

  • 358 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 359 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 360 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 361 Clovelly nightmare

  • 362 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 363 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 364 Loads of black and white

  • 365 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 366 All for the love of a lady!

  • 367 Peter poses for TV film

  • 368 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 369 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 370 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 371 New Lundy stamps

  • 372 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 373 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 374 Caught in the act>
  • 375 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 376 Police station view of Bideford

  • 377

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 378 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 379 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 380 Bideford regatta

  • 381 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 382 Recognise this resort?

  • 383 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 384 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 385 Torrington in 1967

  • 386 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 387 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 388 Variety in summer weather

  • 389 Off on a great adventure

  • 390 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 391 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 392 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 393 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 394 Hartland's invitation

  • 395 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 396 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 397 Revenge in style

  • 398 For crying out loud!

  • 399 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 400

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 401 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 402 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 403 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 404 Sight of a lifetime

  • 405 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 406 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 407 Northam footballers of the future

  • 408 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 409 School's link with cargo ship

  • 410 Blanchards ad.>
  • 411 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 412 Warmington's garage ad

  • 413 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 414 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 415 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 416 New look in the hayfields

  • 417 The art of the thatcher

  • 418 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 419 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 420 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 421 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 422 Hartland Dancers
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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Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

Halt proposed when present programme at top of town is completed

This row pf 22 houses now under construction alongside the main Bideford-Bude road, may be among the last Council houses to be built by Bideford Borough Council for the time being.

25 January 1957 Bideford has built over 500 post war homes

When this row is completed the Council will have put up over 500 Council houses since the war. The Council has already decided to halt its building programme during the present year once the 30 houses for 1956 – fourteen of them are to be built as an extension to Stucley Road on the Pynes Lane estate – are completed.

Gazette article 25 January 1957

 

Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

Opening of new hall

A visitor pauses to inspect the entrance porch of Alverdiscott’s new parish hall which was opened on Wednesday by Miss Lesley Saweard who plays the part of Christine Johnson in the BBC serial play ‘The Archers’.

18 January 1957 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

The hall is situated in a central position in the parish it will serve and stands on land given for the purpose some years ago by Mr and Mrs C. Ley. Alverdiscott parish has a population of only 240 people who, as a result of a great deal of hard work and under enthusiastic leadership, have raised the bulk of the cost of their new £3,500 parish hall.

Gazette article 18 January 1957

 

 

Future of Torrington Almshouses

Offer from Clinton Estates

Torrington Town Council are exploring further an offer by the Clinton (Devon) Estates Co. to hand over to the Council free, subject to the Council paying legal costs, the six almshouses held by the estate in New Street.

19 December 1958 Future of Torrington almshouses

Members of the Council are at present considering the extent of improvements contemplated. One of the agreed conditions will be that the houses shall continue to be let to old people.

Gazette article 19 December 1958

 

 

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