• 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 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 2 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 3 Life begins at 80

  • 4 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 5

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 6 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 7

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 8 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 9 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 10 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 11 Off on a great adventure

  • 12 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 13 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 14 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 15 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 16 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 17 Loads of black and white

  • 18 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 19 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 20 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 21 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 22

    Was a missionary
  • 23 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 24 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 25 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 26 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 27 He beat the floods

  • 28 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 29 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 30 Decontrol of meat

  • 31 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 32 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

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

  • 34 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 35 All aboard the ark

  • 36

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 37

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 38 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 39 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 40 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 41 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 42 The Geneva marionettes

  • 43 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 44 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 45 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 46 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 47 A story to tell!

  • 48 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 49 Over the bank together>
  • 50 Penny for the guy

  • 51 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 52 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 53 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 54 Blanchards ad.>
  • 55 Revenge in style

  • 56 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 57 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 58 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 59 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 60 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 61 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 62 The art of the thatcher

  • 63 Beach search for mines takes longer

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

  • 65 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 66 Puppet characters introduced

  • 67 A roof-top view - where?

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

  • 69 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 70 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 71

    Bidefordians
  • 72 Bicycle now does donkey work

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

  • 74 Centenary of Gazette

  • 75 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 76 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 77 Private home for public pump

  • 78 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 79 Caught in the act>
  • 80 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 81 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 82 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 83 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 84 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 85 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 86 Appledore's largest

  • 87 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 88

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 89 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 91 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 92

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 93 Torrington's new amenity

  • 94 Jumble sale fever

  • 95 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 96 Parkham plan realised

  • 97

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 98 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 99 Clovelly custom

  • 100 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 101 Ships at Bideford

  • 102 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 103 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 104 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 105 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 106 A bird of their own!

  • 107 By pony and trap to market

  • 108 New civic medallions

  • 109

    Married in 1908
  • 110 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 111 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 112

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 113 Recognise this resort?

  • 114 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 115 Picking the pops

  • 116 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 117 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 118 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 119 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 120 Simple Item 138
  • 121

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 122 From Bobby to Brian

  • 123 Police station view of Bideford

  • 124 Mobile missionary

  • 125 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 126 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 127 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 128 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 129 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 130 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 131 Finished in 1876

  • 132 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 133 Hartland postman retires

  • 134 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 135 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 136 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 137

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 138 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 139 So this is the mainland!

  • 140 New choral society's growing response

  • 141

    Relatives all over the world
  • 142 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 143 Capers on the cobbles

  • 144 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 145 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 146 New art gallery opened

  • 147 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 148 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 149 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 150

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 151 It really was the 'last time'

  • 152 Bridging the stream

  • 153 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 154 All for the love of a lady!

  • 155 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 156 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 157 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 158 Bideford computer stars

  • 159 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 160 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 161 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 162 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 163 Burnard family reunion

  • 164 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 165 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 166 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 167 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 168 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 169 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 170 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 171 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 172 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 173 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 174 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 175 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 176 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 177 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 178 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 180 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 181 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 182 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 183 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 184 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 185 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 186 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 187 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 188

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 189

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 190 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 191 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 192 New Post Office

  • 193 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 194 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 195 Six footed lamb

  • 196 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 197 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 198 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 199 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 200 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 201 In their new robes and hats

  • 202 School crossing patrol begins

  • 203 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 204 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 205 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 206 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

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

  • 208 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 209 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 210 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 211

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 212 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 213 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 214 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 215 Traditions and skills still there

  • 216 Hartland Dancers
  • 217 Clovelly nightmare

  • 218 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 219 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 220 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 221 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 222 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 223 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 224 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 225

    Exhibition of school work
  • 226 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 227 Bideford's first woman councillor

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

  • 229 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 230 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 231 Riverside mystery

  • 232 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 233

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 234 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 235 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 236 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 237 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 238 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 239 Hartland's invitation

  • 240 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 241 For crying out loud!

  • 242

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 243 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 244 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 245 Torrington in 1967

  • 246 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 247 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 248

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 249 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 250 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 251 School's link with cargo ship

  • 252 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 253 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 254 No laughing matter

  • 255 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 256 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 257 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 258 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 259 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 260 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 261 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 262 North Devon Driving School

  • 263 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 264

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 265 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 266 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 267 Service with a smile

  • 268

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 269 New look in the hayfields

  • 270 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 271 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 272

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 273 Northam's almshouse

  • 274 Ten year old scrambler

  • 275 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 276

    Building works
  • 277

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 278 Bideford loses training ship

  • 279 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 280 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 281 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 282 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 283 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 284 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 285 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 286 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 287 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 288 Happy Days!

  • 289 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 290 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 291 Variety in summer weather

  • 292 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 293 Some 240 exhibits

  • 294 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 295 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 296 New shipyard on schedule

  • 297 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 298 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 299 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 300 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 301 Northam footballers of the future

  • 302 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 303 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 304 The cab at the corner>
  • 305 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 306 End of the line

  • 307 New addition to Quay front

  • 308 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 309

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 310 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 311 Devil sent packing

  • 312 New life for Hartland organ

  • 313 Artisans' Club

  • 314 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 315 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 316 Weare Giffard potato

  • 317 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 318 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 319 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 320 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 321 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 322 Littleham family's five generations

  • 323 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 324 Sweets derationing

  • 325 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 326 113 years at Instow

  • 327 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 328 Just over a year old

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

  • 330 A man and his wheel

  • 331 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 332 Some mushroom!

  • 333 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 334

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 335 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 336 Filming at Hartland

  • 337 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 338 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 339 Last train from Torrington

  • 340 New Lundy stamps

  • 341 Peter poses for TV film

  • 342 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 343 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 344 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 345 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 346 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 347 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 348 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 349 Circus comes to town

  • 350 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 351 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 352 Pannier Market's future?

  • 353

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 354 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 355 Picking the pops

  • 356 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

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

  • 358 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 359 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 360 First ship in 8 years

  • 361 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 362 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 363 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 364 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 365 Torrington children build igloo
  • 366 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 367 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 368

    First prize
  • 369 Emergency ferry services

  • 370 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 371 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 372 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 373 Modern living at Bideford

  • 374 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 375 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 376 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 377 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 378

    New gateway
  • 379 Warmington's garage ad

  • 380 Sight of a lifetime

  • 381 Waldon Triplets
  • 382 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 383 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 384 Out of puff!

  • 385 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 386 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 387 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 388 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

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

  • 390 Twenty-one yachts

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

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

  • 393 They are parted pro-tem

  • 394 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 395 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 396 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 397

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 398 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 399 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 400 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 401 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 402 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 403 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 404 What's the time?

  • 405 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 406 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 407 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 408 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 409 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 410 No sale of Springfield House

  • 411 Bideford regatta

  • 412 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 413 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 414 Cruising down the river

  • 415 When horses score over the tractor

  • 416 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 417 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 418 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 419 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 420 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 421 Can spring be far away?

  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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Picking the pops

Juke Box Jury at coffee bar

The ‘Juke Box Jury’ which at the ‘Cat’s whisker’ coffee bar, Bideford, held what is hoped to be the first of a series of sessions.

11 March 1960 Picking the pops

Left to right : Mr Reg Bennett (proprietor and chairman for the evening), and the jury – Ronald Burridge, Elizabeth King, Brian Osborne, Pearl Thomas and Brian Trick.

Gazette article 11 March 1960

 

 

Saving money, wear and tear

Delivery of Milk Marketing Board's cars

Mass production is a particular concern of the Milk Marketing Board’s cattle breeding centre at Torrington so it is not surprising to find them pioneering in this part of the country the mass delivery of cars, a method that has become common elsewhere.

4 March 1960 Saving wear and tear

Mr J.W. Martin, manager of the centre, said that in keeping with the modern trend of labour-saving it had been decided to try out this method whereby one man did a job that normally involved five. The Ministry’s distribution depot for this area is at Dorking so that cars delivered by transporter have clocked only about 25 miles when they reach Torrington, compared with 200-plus when they are driven here.

Gazette article 4 March 1960

 

Inscribed Bibles and crested silver spoons for babies

Gifts for babies born on same day as Prince Andrew

Pictured is the scene at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, when the Mayoress of Bideford, Miss Gladys Fulford, presented inscribed Bibles to the babies born on the same day as the Royal child.

4 March 1960 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons

‘Born on the same day as the Royal Prince’ read the inscriptions on the Bibles, which were presents from Miss Fulford’s father, the Mayor, Mr A.E. Fulford. As a personal gift the Mayoress gave the babies silver spoons bearing the crest of the Borough of Bideford.

Gazette article 4 March 1960

 

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