• 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 Artisans' Club

  • 2

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 3 New choral society's growing response

  • 4 Northam's almshouse

  • 5 Out of puff!

  • 6 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 7 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 8 School's link with cargo ship

  • 9 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 10 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 11 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 12 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 13 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 14 New Post Office

  • 15 Capers on the cobbles

  • 16 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 17 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 18 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

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

  • 20 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 21 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 22 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 23 Torrington children build igloo
  • 24 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 25 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 26 Bridging the stream

  • 27 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 28 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 29

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 30 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 31 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 32 Bideford computer stars

  • 33 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 34 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 35 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 36 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 37 Bideford regatta

  • 38 Appledore's largest

  • 39 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 40 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 41 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 42 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 43 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 44 No laughing matter

  • 45

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 46 Centenary of Gazette

  • 47 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 48 Warmington's garage ad

  • 49 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 50

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 51 New shipyard on schedule

  • 52 They are parted pro-tem

  • 53 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 54 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 55 The art of the thatcher

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

  • 57 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 58 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 59 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 60 Hartland's invitation

  • 61 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 62 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 63 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 64

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 65 Torrington's new amenity

  • 66 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 67 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 68

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 69 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 70 Loads of black and white

  • 71 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 72 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 73 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 74 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 75 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 76 Cruising down the river

  • 77 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 78 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 79 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 80 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 81 Caught in the act>
  • 82 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 83 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 84 New Lundy stamps

  • 85 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 86 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 87 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 88 All for the love of a lady!

  • 89 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 91 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 92 Police station view of Bideford

  • 93 Filming at Hartland

  • 94 Emergency ferry services

  • 95 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 96 A roof-top view - where?

  • 97 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 98 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 99 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 100 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 101 Revenge in style

  • 102 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 103 What's the time?

  • 104 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 106 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 107 Riverside mystery

  • 108 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 109 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 110 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 111 Clovelly custom

  • 112 In their new robes and hats

  • 113 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 114 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 115 No sale of Springfield House

  • 116

    Building works
  • 117 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 118 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 119 Peter poses for TV film

  • 120 The cab at the corner>
  • 121 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

  • 123 Mobile missionary

  • 124 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 125 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 126

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 127 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 128 New addition to Quay front

  • 129

    Bidefordians
  • 130 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 131 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 132 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 133

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 134 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 135 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 136 Variety in summer weather

  • 137 Recognise this resort?

  • 138 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 139 Ten year old scrambler

  • 140 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 141

    Married in 1908
  • 142 New art gallery opened

  • 143

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 144 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 145

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 146 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 147 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 148 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 149

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 150 Twenty-one yachts

  • 151 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 152 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 153 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 154 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 155 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 156 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 157 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 158 Pannier Market's future?

  • 159 Some 240 exhibits

  • 160

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 161 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 162 Private home for public pump

  • 163 Traditions and skills still there

  • 164 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 165 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 166 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 167 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 168 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 169 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 170 113 years at Instow

  • 171

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 172 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 173 A bird of their own!

  • 174 Six footed lamb

  • 175 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 176 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 177 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 178 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 179 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 180 Devil sent packing

  • 181 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 182 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 183 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 184 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 185 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 186 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 187 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 188 New civic medallions

  • 189 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 190 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 191 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 192 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 193 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 194 All aboard the ark

  • 195 A man and his wheel

  • 196

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 197 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 198 Picking the pops

  • 199 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 200 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 201 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 202 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 203 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 204 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 205 When horses score over the tractor

  • 206 Can spring be far away?

  • 207 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 208 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 209 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 210

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 211 From Bobby to Brian

  • 212 End of the line

  • 213 Northam footballers of the future

  • 214 By pony and trap to market

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

  • 216

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 217 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 218 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 219 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 220 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 221 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 222 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 223 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 224 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 225 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 226 Simple Item 138
  • 227 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 228 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 229 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 230 Sight of a lifetime

  • 231

    Exhibition of school work
  • 232 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 233 Service with a smile

  • 234 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 235 Happy Days!

  • 236 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 237 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 238 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 239 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 240 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 241 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 242 It really was the 'last time'

  • 243 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 244 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 245 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 246 Hartland postman retires

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

  • 248 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 249 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 250 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 251 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 252 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 253 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 254 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 255 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 256 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 257 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 258 Ships at Bideford

  • 259 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 260 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 261 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 262 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 263 Penny for the guy

  • 264 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 265 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 266 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 267 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 268 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 269 Last train from Torrington

  • 270 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 271 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 272 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 273 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 274 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 275

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 276 Littleham family's five generations

  • 277 Off on a great adventure

  • 278 Circus comes to town

  • 279 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 280 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 281 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 282 Some mushroom!

  • 283 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 284 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 285

    Relatives all over the world
  • 286 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 287 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 288 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 289 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 290 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 291 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 292 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 293 New life for Hartland organ

  • 294 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 295 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 296 Bideford loses training ship

  • 297 Parkham plan realised

  • 298 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 299 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 300 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 301 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 302 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 303

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 304 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 305 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 306 Just over a year old

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

  • 308 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 309 Modern living at Bideford

  • 310 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 311 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 312 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 313 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 314 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 316 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 317 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 318

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 319 First ship in 8 years

  • 320 Burnard family reunion

  • 321 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 322 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 323 Torrington in 1967

  • 324 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 325

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 326 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 327 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 328

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 329 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 330 Jumble sale fever

  • 331 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 332 Sweets derationing

  • 333 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 334 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 335 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 336 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 337 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 338 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 339

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 340 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 341 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 342 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 343 Waldon Triplets
  • 344 Blanchards ad.>
  • 345 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 346 Decontrol of meat

  • 347 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 348 New look in the hayfields

  • 349 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 351 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 352

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 353 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 354 The Geneva marionettes

  • 355 Puppet characters introduced

  • 356 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 357 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 358 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 359 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 360 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 361 Finished in 1876

  • 362 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 363 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 364 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 365 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 366 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 367 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 368 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 369 Weare Giffard potato

  • 370 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 371 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 373 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 374 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 375 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 376 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 377 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 378 Bringing shopping home by goat

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

  • 380 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 381 So this is the mainland!

  • 382 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 383 A story to tell!

  • 384 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 385 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 386 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 387 Over the bank together>
  • 388

    New gateway
  • 389 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 390 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 391 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 392 Clovelly nightmare

  • 393 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 394 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 395 Picking the pops

  • 396 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 397

    Was a missionary
  • 398 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 399 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 400 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 401 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 402 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 403 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 404 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 405 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 406 For crying out loud!

  • 407 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 408 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 409

    First prize
  • 410 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 411

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 412 Hartland Dancers
  • 413 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 414 He beat the floods

  • 415 North Devon Driving School

  • 416 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 417

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 418 Life begins at 80

  • 419 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 420 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 421 School crossing patrol begins

  • 422 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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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  • 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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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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Emergency ferry services

Ferry services quickly improvised

Amphibious vehicle ferry services were quickly improvised by the RCT Army unit at Fremington when Bideford bridge became unusable. Except for a period immediately before and after high tide, this involved vehicles and passengers negotiating extensive stretches of very clinging mud, particularly at the East-the-Water slipway near the school, where the photograph was taken.

19 January 1968 Emergency ferry services

A temporary jetty was therefore built out from the former goods station yard over the mud to the firmer sand and enabled crossings to be made at any state of the tide. On the west side landing and departure were at the steps opposite Bridgeland Street.

Gazette article 19 January 1968

 

Happy days!

Children enjoying new play field

A group of youngsters sampling the joys of the new play field and equipment at the former Old Town Cemetery, Bideford, pose on the climbing frame for the photographer.

7 April 1961 Happy Days

The opening of the play field in time for the Easter holidays has been welcomed by parents of young children living in the vicinity which is a long way across busy roads from other open spaces.

Gazette article 7 April 1961

 

The end of the line

The end of Bideford railway station

Demolition is in full swing, which must be a blow to those who have harboured a hope that a passenger rail service would again be operated – possibly by local councils.

20 September 1968 End of the line

 

Gazette article 20 September 1968

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