• 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 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 2 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 3 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 4 Can spring be far away?

  • 5 Cruising down the river

  • 6 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 7

    First prize
  • 8 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 9

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 10 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 11 Simple Item 138
  • 12 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 13 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 14 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 15 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 16 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 17 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 18 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 19 Bideford loses training ship

  • 20 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 21 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 22 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 23 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 24 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 25

    Was a missionary
  • 26 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 27 From Bobby to Brian

  • 28 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 29 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 30 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 31 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 32 Torrington's new amenity

  • 33 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 34 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 35 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 36 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 37 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 38 End of the line

  • 39 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 40 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 41

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 42 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 43 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 44 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 45 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 46 Appledore's largest

  • 47 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 48 New Lundy stamps

  • 49 Circus comes to town

  • 50 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 51 Clovelly nightmare

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

  • 53 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 54 Bideford computer stars

  • 55 Weare Giffard potato

  • 56 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 57 They are parted pro-tem

  • 58

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 59 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 60 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 62 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 63

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 64 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 65 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 66 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 67 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 68 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 69 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 70 Sight of a lifetime

  • 71 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 72 All for the love of a lady!

  • 73 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 74 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 75 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 76 A man and his wheel

  • 77 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 78 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 79 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 80 Sweets derationing

  • 81 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 82 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 83 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 84 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 85 For crying out loud!

  • 86 Service with a smile

  • 87 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 88 Northam footballers of the future

  • 89 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 90 Waldon Triplets
  • 91 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 92 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 93 Riverside mystery

  • 94 Penny for the guy

  • 95

    Relatives all over the world
  • 96 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 97 Centenary of Gazette

  • 98 Traditions and skills still there

  • 99 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 100 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 101 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 102 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 103 Puppet characters introduced

  • 104 In their new robes and hats

  • 105 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 106 The art of the thatcher

  • 107 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 108 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 109 New life for Hartland organ

  • 110 A story to tell!

  • 111 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 112 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 113 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 114 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 115

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 116 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 117 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 118

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 119 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 120

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 121 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 122 Just over a year old

  • 123 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 124 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 125 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 126 Bideford regatta

  • 127 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 128 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 129 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 130 Hartland's invitation

  • 131 North Devon Driving School

  • 132 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 133 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 134 Emergency ferry services

  • 135 Blanchards ad.>
  • 136 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 137 Jumble sale fever

  • 138 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 139 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 140 Littleham family's five generations

  • 141 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 142 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 143

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 144 Peter poses for TV film

  • 145 Artisans' Club

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

  • 147 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 148 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 149 New addition to Quay front

  • 150 Hartland Dancers
  • 151 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 152 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 153 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 154 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 155 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 156 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 157 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 158 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 159 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 160 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 161 New art gallery opened

  • 162 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 163 School's link with cargo ship

  • 164 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 165 Capers on the cobbles

  • 166 Torrington in 1967

  • 167 Revenge in style

  • 168 Picking the pops

  • 169 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 170 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 171 No laughing matter

  • 172 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 173 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 174 Caught in the act>
  • 175 Devil sent packing

  • 176 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 177 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 178 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 179 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 180 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 181 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 182 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 183 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 184 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 185

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 186 Burnard family reunion

  • 187 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 188 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 189 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 190 Filming at Hartland

  • 191 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 192 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 193 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 194 Warmington's garage ad

  • 195 When horses score over the tractor

  • 196 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 197 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 198 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 199 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 200 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 201 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 202 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 203

    Building works
  • 204 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 205 New shipyard on schedule

  • 206 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 207 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 208

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 209 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 210 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 211 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 212 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 213 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 214 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 215 Modern living at Bideford

  • 216 Private home for public pump

  • 217 Last train from Torrington

  • 218 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 219 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 220 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 221 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 222 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 223 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 224

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 225 Recognise this resort?

  • 226 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 227 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 228 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 229 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 230 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 231 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 232 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 233 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 234 Northam's almshouse

  • 235 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 236 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 237 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 239 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 240 Hartland postman retires

  • 241 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 242 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 243 Clovelly custom

  • 244

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 245 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 246 New civic medallions

  • 247 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 248 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 249 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 250 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 251 A bird of their own!

  • 252 So this is the mainland!

  • 253 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 254 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 255 Some mushroom!

  • 256 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 257 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 258 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 259 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 260 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 261 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 262 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 263 Some 240 exhibits

  • 264 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 265 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 266 School crossing patrol begins

  • 267 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 268 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 269 By pony and trap to market

  • 270 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 271 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 272 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 273 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 274 Ten year old scrambler

  • 275 First ship in 8 years

  • 276 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 277

    Exhibition of school work
  • 278

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 279 What's the time?

  • 280

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 281 Torrington children build igloo
  • 282 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 283 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 284 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 285 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 286

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 287 Picking the pops

  • 288

    Bidefordians
  • 289 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 290 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 291 Bridging the stream

  • 292 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 293 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 294 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 295 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 296 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 297 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 298 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 299 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 300 Finished in 1876

  • 301 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 302 113 years at Instow

  • 303 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 304 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 305 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 306

    New gateway
  • 307 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 308

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 309

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 310 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 311 Ships at Bideford

  • 312 Over the bank together>
  • 313 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 315 Off on a great adventure

  • 316 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 317 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 318 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 319 All aboard the ark

  • 320 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 321 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 322 New look in the hayfields

  • 323 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 324 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 325 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 327 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 328 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 329 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 330 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 331 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

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

  • 333 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 334 Happy Days!

  • 335 The cab at the corner>
  • 336 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 337 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 338 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 339 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 340 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 341 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 342 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 343 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 344 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 345 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 346 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 347 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 348 The Geneva marionettes

  • 349 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 350 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 351 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 352 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 354 Decontrol of meat

  • 355 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 356 Parkham plan realised

  • 357 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 358 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 359 Life begins at 80

  • 360 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 361 New Post Office

  • 362 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 363

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 364

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 365 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 366 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 367

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 368 He beat the floods

  • 369 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 370 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 371 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 372 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

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

  • 374

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 375 Six footed lamb

  • 376 It really was the 'last time'

  • 377 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 378 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 379 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 380 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 381 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 382 No sale of Springfield House

  • 383 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 384 Pannier Market's future?

  • 385 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 386 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 387 Twenty-one yachts

  • 388

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 389

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 390 Variety in summer weather

  • 391 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 392 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 393 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 394 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 395 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 396 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 397 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 398 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 399 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 400 Loads of black and white

  • 401 A roof-top view - where?

  • 402 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 403 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 404 New choral society's growing response

  • 405 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 406

    Married in 1908
  • 407

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 408 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 409 Mobile missionary

  • 410 Out of puff!

  • 411 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 412 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

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

  • 414 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 415 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 416

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 417 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 418 Police station view of Bideford

  • 419 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 420 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 421 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 422 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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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He beat the floods

Weare Giffard postman’s memories

As he recalled days when he had had to wade through floods to deliver the mail, Mr Albert Curis of 1 Downings Terrace, Weare Giffard, who retired on Friday as postman there, was able to look at a river Torridge reduced almost to a stream by the long dry spell and giving little indication of how rapidly it can rise, flooding meadows, roads and sometimes houses.

4 August 1961 He beat the floods

On Friday morning at 7 o’clock began his round as usual astride his bicycle. After delivering through the village he took the road to Gammaton, completed a circle and returning to Weare Giffard post office just after 12.30. ‘People told me I was as regular as a clock in my deliveries,’ Mr Curtis proudly claimed.

Gazette article 4 August 1961

 

Torrington’s new amenity

Welcome to Torrington signs

Two ‘Welcome to Torrington’ signs have been erected at the two main approaches to the town.

14 July 1961 Torringtons new amenity

On the Bideford road, one of the eight feet by four feet signs has been put on the cemetery wall and on the Exeter-Plymouth Road, the other has been placed on the left-hand side of the road about half-way up the hill between the town and Town Mills bridge.

The boards were made by Mr J.H. Long (formerly an alderman) and the lettering was done by his brother Mr Dick Long whose trade this was. Surmounting each board is the borough coat of arms.

Gazette article 14 July 1961

 

Hartland’s invitation

New sign at Hartland

A new ‘Welcome to Hartland’ sign, to be erected at the end of the approach roads from the new by-pass at Baxworthy, has been delivered this week.

Hartland traders consider that since the by-pass was constructed, an increasing number of visitors, who might otherwise have been glad to visit Hartland, seemed to be unaware of its existence. A 70 mph stretch of road meant that cars were flashing past, and, said one trader, even a traveller who had been visiting the district for 30 years had missed the turning.

7 July 1961 Hartlands invitation

The sign has a cream background, blue lettering and the crest is in blue, gold and silver. This is derived from the sixth-century crest of the Abbot of Hartland and incorporates a ram’s head and a cross, the latter signifying the link with the church.

Gazette article 7 July 1961

 

 

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