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

  • 2 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 3 Circus comes to town

  • 4 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 5 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 6 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 7 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 8 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 9 Capers on the cobbles

  • 10 All aboard the ark

  • 11 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 12 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 13 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 14 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 15 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 16 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 17 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 18 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 19 Clovelly custom

  • 20 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 21 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 22 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 23 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 24 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 25 Mobile missionary

  • 26 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 27 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 28 Some mushroom!

  • 29

    Building works
  • 30 North Devon Driving School

  • 31 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 32 Cruising down the river

  • 33 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 34 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 35 Blanchards ad.>
  • 36 Police station view of Bideford

  • 37 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 38 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 39 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 40 New look in the hayfields

  • 41

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 42 Littleham family's five generations

  • 43 Weare Giffard potato

  • 44 Happy Days!

  • 45 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 46 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 47 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 48 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 49 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 50 Parkham plan realised

  • 51 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 52 Penny for the guy

  • 53 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 54 Jumble sale fever

  • 55 Bideford computer stars

  • 56 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 57 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 58 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 59 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 60 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 61 Simple Item 138
  • 62

    New gateway
  • 63 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 64 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 65 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 66 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 67 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 68

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 69 Hartland Dancers
  • 70

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 71 It really was the 'last time'

  • 72 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 73 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 74 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 75 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 76 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 77 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 78 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 79 Torrington children build igloo
  • 80 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 81 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 82 Hartland's invitation

  • 83 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 84 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 85 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 86 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 87 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 88 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 89 Traditions and skills still there

  • 90 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 91 The art of the thatcher

  • 92 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 93 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 94 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 95

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 96 School's link with cargo ship

  • 97 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 98 The cab at the corner>
  • 99 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 100 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 101 Clovelly nightmare

  • 102 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 103 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 104 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 105 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

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

  • 107 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 108

    Married in 1908
  • 109 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 110 Twenty-one yachts

  • 111 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 112 Peter poses for TV film

  • 113

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 114 Hartland postman retires

  • 115 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 116 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 117 The Geneva marionettes

  • 118 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 119 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 120 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 121 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 122 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 123 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 124

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 125 Some 240 exhibits

  • 126 New civic medallions

  • 127 Appledore's largest

  • 128 Can spring be far away?

  • 129 Service with a smile

  • 130 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 131 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 132 Waldon Triplets
  • 133

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 134 For crying out loud!

  • 135 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 136 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 137 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 138 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 139 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 140 Finished in 1876

  • 141 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 142 He beat the floods

  • 143 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 144 Bideford regatta

  • 145 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 146 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 147

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 148 A roof-top view - where?

  • 149 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 150

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 151 Centenary of Gazette

  • 152 No laughing matter

  • 153 Sight of a lifetime

  • 154 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 155 No sale of Springfield House

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

  • 157 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 158 Emergency ferry services

  • 159 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 160 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 161 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 162 A story to tell!

  • 163 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 164 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 165 Buckland goes to County Show

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

  • 167 From Bobby to Brian

  • 168 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 169 Ships at Bideford

  • 170 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 171 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 172 Warmington's garage ad

  • 173 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 174 Variety in summer weather

  • 175 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 176 First ship in 8 years

  • 177

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 178 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 179 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 180 'Les Girls' of Hartland

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

  • 182 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 183 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 184 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 185 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 186 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 187 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 188 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 189

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 190 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 191 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 192 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 193 New Post Office

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

  • 195 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 196 Puppet characters introduced

  • 197 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 198 New life for Hartland organ

  • 199 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 200 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 201 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 202 They are parted pro-tem

  • 203 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 204 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 205 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 206 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 207 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 208 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 209 Modern living at Bideford

  • 210 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 211 In their new robes and hats

  • 212 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 213 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 214 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 215 School crossing patrol begins

  • 216 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 217 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 218

    Bidefordians
  • 219 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 220 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 221 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 222 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 223 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 224 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 225

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 226 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 227 Bideford loses training ship

  • 228 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 229 Picking the pops

  • 230 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 231 New art gallery opened

  • 232 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 233 Pannier Market's future?

  • 234 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 235 New choral society's growing response

  • 236 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 237 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 238 What's the time?

  • 239 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 240 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 241 Burnard family reunion

  • 242 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 243 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 244 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 245 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 246 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 247 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 248 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 249 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 250 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 251

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 252 Caught in the act>
  • 253 Riverside mystery

  • 254 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 255

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 256

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 257 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 258 Off on a great adventure

  • 259 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 260 Dismantling of wireless mast

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

  • 262 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 263 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 264 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 265 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 266 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 267 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 268 Private home for public pump

  • 269 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 270

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 271 Northam footballers of the future

  • 272 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 273 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 274 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 275 Life begins at 80

  • 276

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 277 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 278 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 279 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 280 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 281 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 282 End of the line

  • 283 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 285 Northam's almshouse

  • 286 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 287 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 288 New shipyard on schedule

  • 289 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 290 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 291 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 292 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 293 Recognise this resort?

  • 294 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 295 Bridging the stream

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

  • 297 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 298

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 299 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 300 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 302

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 303 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 304 New addition to Quay front

  • 305 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 306 Just over a year old

  • 307 Six footed lamb

  • 308 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 309 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 310 Devil sent packing

  • 311 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 312

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 313 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 314 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 315 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 316 A man and his wheel

  • 317

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 318 Loads of black and white

  • 319 Ten year old scrambler

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

  • 321 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 322 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

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

  • 324 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 325 Last train from Torrington

  • 326 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 327 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 328 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 329 So this is the mainland!

  • 330 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 331

    Relatives all over the world
  • 332 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 333 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 334 Torrington in 1967

  • 335 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 336 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 337 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 338 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 339 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 340

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 341 Picking the pops

  • 342 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 343 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 344

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 345 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 346 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 347 By pony and trap to market

  • 348 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 349 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 350 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 351 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 352 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 353 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 354 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 355 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 356 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 357 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 358 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 359

    Exhibition of school work
  • 360 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 361 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 362 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 363

    Was a missionary
  • 364 Filming at Hartland

  • 365 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 366 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 367 Out of puff!

  • 368 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 369 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 370 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 371 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 372 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 373 When horses score over the tractor

  • 374 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 375 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 376

    First prize
  • 377 Revenge in style

  • 378 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 379 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 380 113 years at Instow

  • 381 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 382 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 383 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 384 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 385 A bird of their own!

  • 386 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 387 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 388 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 389 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 390 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 391 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 392 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 393 New Lundy stamps

  • 394 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 395 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 396 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 397 Sweets derationing

  • 398 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 399 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 400 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 401 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 402 All for the love of a lady!

  • 403 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 404 Artisans' Club

  • 405 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 406 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 407 Decontrol of meat

  • 408 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 409 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 410 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 411 Torrington's new amenity

  • 412

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 413 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 414 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 415 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 416 Over the bank together>
  • 417 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 418 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 419 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 420 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 421 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 422

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

Surfing season has no end

Cutting winter winds sweep across the beach at Westward Ho! and the sea is icy – but across the sand any weekend when the surf is up the black-clad figures of surfers can be seen hurtling beachwards on the walls of the Atlantic rollers. These are the Malibu boys.

For the Malibou enthusiasts the surfing season has no end – the arrival of winter only means the arrival of the bigger surf with better and more exciting rides.

22 March 1968 Malibou boys are all the year round surfers

Seen carrying their boards back up the beach after a two hour session at the weekend are (left to right): Bert Gorrell of Northam; Mike Pett of Orchard Hill, Northam; Terry Lloyd of Bideford; and Pete Griffey of Cross Street, Northam.

Gazette article 22 March 1968

 

Private home for public pump

Pump at Orchard Hill

This survival of a bygone age, the disused public pump at Orchard Hill, is to be preserved.

15 March 1968 Private home for public pump

Northam Urban Council have told Mr B.D. Hughes of ‘Kitty Bassett’s Cottage,’ Fore Street, Northam, that he can have it subject to his paying the cost of removal and agreeing that he will not sell it.

Gazette article 15 March 1968

 

Reed threshing ‘putting the clock back’ at Weare Giffard

Reed-threshing at Weare Giffard

The last time reed-threshing was seen in the village of Weare Giffard was about 30 years ago and it could be another 30 years before it is seen again.

Mr John Moore of Riversdale, Weare Giffard, heard of a sudden demand for thatch to re-roof some of the several remaining thatched buildings in the area. As it was proving difficult to obtain, Mr Moore decided to put the clock back temporarily to when reed-threshing was commonplace and hired a ‘reed comber’ (the machine which threshes the wheat seen in the photo) from Messrs. Murch of Little Torrington and set to work with a dozen or so helpers.

1 December 1967 Reed threshing at Weare Giffard

Four men were all ‘reed-threshing’ veterans, starting when in their early teens and all expect this to be the last time they will do the operation. Two, Messrs. Bill and Charlie Marshall, used to follow the ‘reed comber’ around the local countryside as it was hired out to the various farms.

Gazette article 1 December 1967

 

 

 

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