• 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 Capers on the cobbles

  • 2 East-the-Water sets town an example

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

  • 4 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 5 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 6 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 7 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 8 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 9 Caught in the act>
  • 10 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 11 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 12 Clovelly custom

  • 13 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 14 For crying out loud!

  • 15 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 16 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 17 Modern living at Bideford

  • 18 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 19 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 20 Recognise this resort?

  • 21 New choral society's growing response

  • 22 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 23

    New gateway
  • 24

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 25 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 26

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 27 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 28 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 29 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 30 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 31 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 32 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 33 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 34 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 35 Loads of black and white

  • 36 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 37 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 38 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 39 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 40 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 41 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 42 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 43 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 44 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 45 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 46 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 47 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 48 Waldon Triplets
  • 49 New shipyard on schedule

  • 50 Parkham plan realised

  • 51 School's link with cargo ship

  • 52 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 53

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 54 Can spring be far away?

  • 55

    Was a missionary
  • 56 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 57 Police station view of Bideford

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

  • 59 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 60 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 61 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 62 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 63 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 64

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 65 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 66 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 67 They are parted pro-tem

  • 68 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 69 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 70 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 71 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 72 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 73 Off on a great adventure

  • 74 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 75

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 76 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 77 Hartland Dancers
  • 78 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 79 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 80 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 81 What's the time?

  • 82 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 83 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 84 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 85 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 86 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 87 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 88 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 89 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 90

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 91 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 92 Ships at Bideford

  • 93

    Married in 1908
  • 94

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 95 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 96 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 97 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 98 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 99

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 100 Mobile missionary

  • 101 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 102 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 103 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 104 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 105

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 106 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 107 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 108 Bideford regatta

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

  • 110 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 111 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 112 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 113 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 114 North Devon Driving School

  • 115 Ten year old scrambler

  • 116 Service with a smile

  • 117 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 118 Torrington in 1967

  • 119 All for the love of a lady!

  • 120 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 121 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 122 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 123 Variety in summer weather

  • 124 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 125 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 126 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 127 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 128 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 129 A bird of their own!

  • 130 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 131 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 132 Cruising down the river

  • 133 Torrington's new amenity

  • 134

    Relatives all over the world
  • 135 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 136 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 137 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 138 New Post Office

  • 139 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 140 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 141 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 142 End of the line

  • 143 Last train from Torrington

  • 144

    Building works
  • 145 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 146 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 148 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 149 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 150 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 151 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 152 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 153 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 154 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 155 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 156 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 157 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 158 Just over a year old

  • 159 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 160 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 161

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 162 Sight of a lifetime

  • 163 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 164 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 165 Northam's almshouse

  • 166 Riverside mystery

  • 167 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 168 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 169 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 170 Bideford computer stars

  • 171 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 172 Bideford loses training ship

  • 173

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 174 He beat the floods

  • 175 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 176 Bridging the stream

  • 177 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 178 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 179 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 180 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 181 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 182

    Bidefordians
  • 183 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 184 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 185 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 186 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 187 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 188 Finished in 1876

  • 189 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 190 Revenge in style

  • 191 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 192 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 193 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 194 Hartland postman retires

  • 195 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 196 New addition to Quay front

  • 197 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 198 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 199 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 200 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 201 Filming at Hartland

  • 202 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 203

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 204 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 205 Over the bank together>
  • 206 Life begins at 80

  • 207 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 208 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 209 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 210 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 211 Emergency ferry services

  • 212 Circus comes to town

  • 213 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 214 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 215 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 216 The cab at the corner>
  • 217

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 218 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 219 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 220 Artisans' Club

  • 221 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

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

  • 223 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 224 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 225 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 226 When horses score over the tractor

  • 227 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

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

  • 229 New Lundy stamps

  • 230 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 231 Picking the pops

  • 232 Peter poses for TV film

  • 233 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 234 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 235 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 236 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 237 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 238 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 239 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 240

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 241 Private home for public pump

  • 242 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 243 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 244 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 245 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 246 Traditions and skills still there

  • 247 Puppet characters introduced

  • 248 Northam footballers of the future

  • 249 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 250 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 251 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 252 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 253 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 254 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 255 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 256 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 257 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 258 Happy Days!

  • 259 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 260 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 261 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 262 All aboard the ark

  • 263 Clovelly nightmare

  • 264 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 265

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 266 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 267 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 269 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 270 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 271 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 272 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 273 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 274 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 275 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 276 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 277 Torrington children build igloo
  • 278 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 279

    Exhibition of school work
  • 280 Jumble sale fever

  • 281 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 282 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 283

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 284 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 285 So this is the mainland!

  • 286 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 287 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 288 Simple Item 138
  • 289 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 290 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 291 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 292 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 293 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 294 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 295 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 296 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 297 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 298 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 299 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 300 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 301 Appledore's largest

  • 302 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 303 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 304 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 305 Out of puff!

  • 306 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 307 Penny for the guy

  • 308 Warmington's garage ad

  • 309 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 310 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 311 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 312 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 313 Weare Giffard potato

  • 314 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 315 Some mushroom!

  • 316 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 317 Centenary of Gazette

  • 318 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 319 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 320 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 321 Devil sent packing

  • 322 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 323 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 324 New look in the hayfields

  • 325 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 326 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 327 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

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

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

  • 330 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 331 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 332 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 333 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 334 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 335 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 336 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 337 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 338 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 339 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 340 From Bobby to Brian

  • 341

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 342 Picking the pops

  • 343 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 344 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 345 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 346 It really was the 'last time'

  • 347 A story to tell!

  • 348 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 349

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 350

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 351 A man and his wheel

  • 352 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 353 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 354 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 355 New civic medallions

  • 356 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 357 New art gallery opened

  • 358 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 359 Some 240 exhibits

  • 360 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 361 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 362 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 363 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 364

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 365 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 366

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 367 Burnard family reunion

  • 368 The art of the thatcher

  • 369 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 370 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 371

    First prize
  • 372 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 373 Six footed lamb

  • 374 No laughing matter

  • 375 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 376 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 377 113 years at Instow

  • 378 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 379 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 380 Hartland's invitation

  • 381 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 382 In their new robes and hats

  • 383 Littleham family's five generations

  • 384 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 385 First ship in 8 years

  • 386 New life for Hartland organ

  • 387 The Geneva marionettes

  • 388 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 389 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 390 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 391

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 392 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 393 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 394 Blanchards ad.>
  • 395 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 396 Pannier Market's future?

  • 397 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 398 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 399 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 400 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 401 Sweets derationing

  • 402 School crossing patrol begins

  • 403 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 404 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 405 No sale of Springfield House

  • 406

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 407 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 408 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 409 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 410 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 411 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 412 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 413 Decontrol of meat

  • 414 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 415 By pony and trap to market

  • 416 Twenty-one yachts

  • 417

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 418 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 419 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 420 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 421

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 422 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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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No – not Bideford’s answer to the Moon Rocket!

Fuel tank for scrap-yard

It’s just something for the scrap-yard. It is a 6½-ton fuel tank being loaded on to a railway waggon at Bideford Goods Yard. The tank is from the old Bideford Electricity Company’s works at East-the-Water and it is the last of three.

2 May 1958 No Not Bidefords answer to the moon rocket

As Mr Stanley Jones drove a diesel-powered lorry, carrying the tank to the goods station he recalled when, 25 years ago, his late father drove the horse-drawn waggon which transported the tank on delivery to Bideford electricity station.

And as Mr Jack Easterbrook, the goods yard supervisory foreman took charge of the loading of the tank onto the train he remembered how, 25 years ago, his late father, also as foreman, supervised the unloading of the tank at the yard.

Gazette article 2 May 1958

 

 

Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

Solitary cauliflower in Torrington field

In a field belonging to Mr George Copp, of South Street, Torrington, stands one solitary cauliflower. All the stalks have been ploughed up from what was a field full of these plants except for this one, underneath which is a thrush’s nest with four eggs inside it. The nest was found during the ploughing and at the time the thrush was sitting on the eggs. Not wanting to disturb it Mr Copp ploughed all around but left the one cauliflower.

25 April 1958 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

‘We will leave it as long as possible but before tilling will see if it can be moved without disturbing the bird too much,’ said Mrs George Copp. ‘This is the first time I have ever heard of a thrush building its nest on the ground,’ she added.

Gazette article 25 April 1958

 

Surgery in stone

Repairs to statue

Mr Charles Morris (right), a Bideford stonemason, repairs the broken finger on Charles Kingsley’s statue on the River Bank, assisted by Mr Ron Dymond. At the same time a new
nib was fitted to the statue’s quill pen.

18 April 1958 Surgery in stone

Gazette article 18 April 1958

 

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