• 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 look in the hayfields

  • 2 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 3 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 4 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 5 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 6 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 7 First ship in 8 years

  • 8 Burnard family reunion

  • 9 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 10 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 11

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 12 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 13 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 14 Emergency ferry services

  • 15 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 16 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 17 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 18

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 19 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 20 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 21 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 22 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

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

  • 24 Bideford computer stars

  • 25 From Bobby to Brian

  • 26 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 27 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 28 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 29 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 30 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 31 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 32 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 33 A story to tell!

  • 34 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 35 New choral society's growing response

  • 36

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 37 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 38 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 39 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 40 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 41 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 42 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 43 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 44 Filming at Hartland

  • 45 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 46 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 47 Weare Giffard potato

  • 48 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 49 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 50 Northam footballers of the future

  • 51 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 53 Warmington's garage ad

  • 54 First tankers arrive at new depot

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

  • 56 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 57 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 58 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 59 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 60

    Relatives all over the world
  • 61 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 62 Can spring be far away?

  • 63 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 64 New life for Hartland organ

  • 65 Pannier Market's future?

  • 66 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 67 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 68 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 69 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 70 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 71 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 72 Cruising down the river

  • 73 Picking the pops

  • 74 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 75 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 76 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

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

  • 78 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 79 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 80 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 81 Capers on the cobbles

  • 82 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 83 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 84 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 85 No laughing matter

  • 86 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 87 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 88 Picking the pops

  • 89 Northam's almshouse

  • 90 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 91 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 92 They are parted pro-tem

  • 93 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 94 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 95 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 96 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 97 Centenary of Gazette

  • 98 Bridging the stream

  • 99

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 100 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 101 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 102 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 103 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 104 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 105 Appledore's largest

  • 106 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 107 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 108 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 109 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 110 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 111 Clovelly custom

  • 112 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 113 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 114 School's link with cargo ship

  • 115 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 116 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 117 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 118 Sight of a lifetime

  • 119 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 120 113 years at Instow

  • 121 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 122 Jumble sale fever

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

  • 124 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 125 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 126 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 127 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 128 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 129 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 130 A roof-top view - where?

  • 131 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 132 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 133 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

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

  • 135

    Married in 1908
  • 136

    Bidefordians
  • 137 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 138

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 139 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 140 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 141 Private home for public pump

  • 142 Penny for the guy

  • 143 Clovelly nightmare

  • 144 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 145 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 146 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 147 Some mushroom!

  • 148 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 149 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 150

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 151

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 152 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 153 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 154

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 155 Peter poses for TV film

  • 156 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 157 Puppet characters introduced

  • 158 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 159 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 160 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 161 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 162 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 163 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 164 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 165 Last train from Torrington

  • 166 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 167 Happy Days!

  • 168

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 169 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 170 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 171 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 172 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 173 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 174 Revenge in style

  • 175 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 176 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

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

  • 178 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 179 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 180 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 181 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 182 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 183 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 184 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 185 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 186 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 187 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 188 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 189 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 190 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 191 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 192 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 193 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 194 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 195 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 196 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 197 By pony and trap to market

  • 198 So this is the mainland!

  • 199 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 200 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 201 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 202

    New gateway
  • 203 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 204 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 205 Sweets derationing

  • 206 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 207

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 208 Loads of black and white

  • 209 Riverside mystery

  • 210 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 211 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 212 North Devon Driving School

  • 213 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 214 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 215

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 216

    Building works
  • 217 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 218 Bideford loses training ship

  • 219 The art of the thatcher

  • 220 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 221 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 222

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 223 Variety in summer weather

  • 224 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 225 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 226 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 227 Six footed lamb

  • 228 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 229 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 230 Circus comes to town

  • 231 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 232

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 233 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 234 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 235 All for the love of a lady!

  • 236 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 237 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 238 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 239 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 240 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 241 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 242 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 243 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 244 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 245 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 246 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 247 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 248 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 249 Torrington children build igloo
  • 250 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 251 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 252 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 253 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 254

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 255 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 256 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 257 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 258 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 259 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 260 Modern living at Bideford

  • 261 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 262 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 263 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 264 New Lundy stamps

  • 265 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 266 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 267 Waldon Triplets
  • 268

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 269 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 270 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 271 Littleham family's five generations

  • 272 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 273 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 274 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 275 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 276 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 277 The Geneva marionettes

  • 278 School crossing patrol begins

  • 279 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 280 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 281 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 282

    Exhibition of school work
  • 283 Blanchards ad.>
  • 284 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 285 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 286 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 287 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 288 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 289 It really was the 'last time'

  • 290 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 291 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 292 New civic medallions

  • 293 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 294 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 295 Police station view of Bideford

  • 296 The cab at the corner>
  • 297 Ships at Bideford

  • 298 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 299 Artisans' Club

  • 300

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 301 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 302 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 303 Hartland postman retires

  • 304 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 305 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 306 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 307 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 308 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 309 Torrington in 1967

  • 310 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 311 Hartland's invitation

  • 312

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 313 Some 240 exhibits

  • 314 Parkham plan realised

  • 315 Twenty-one yachts

  • 316 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 317 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 318 New Post Office

  • 319 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 320 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 321 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 322

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 323 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 324 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 325 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 326 Over the bank together>
  • 327 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 328 End of the line

  • 329 Ten year old scrambler

  • 330 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 331 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 332

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 333 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 334 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 335 He beat the floods

  • 336 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 337 In their new robes and hats

  • 338 Decontrol of meat

  • 339

    Was a missionary
  • 340 Simple Item 138
  • 341 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 342 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 343 Caught in the act>
  • 344 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 345 Life begins at 80

  • 346 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 347 Devil sent packing

  • 348

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 349 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 350 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 351 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 352 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 353 Service with a smile

  • 354 Recognise this resort?

  • 355 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 356 No sale of Springfield House

  • 357 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 358 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 359 All aboard the ark

  • 360 Just over a year old

  • 361 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 362

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 363 When horses score over the tractor

  • 364 What's the time?

  • 365 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 366 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 367 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 368 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 369

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 370 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 371

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 372 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 373 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 374 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 375

    First prize
  • 376 Hartland Dancers
  • 377 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 378 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 379 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 380 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 381 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 382 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 383 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 384 New shipyard on schedule

  • 385 New art gallery opened

  • 386 Torrington's new amenity

  • 387 Bideford regatta

  • 388 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 389 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 390 For crying out loud!

  • 391 Finished in 1876

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

  • 393 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 394 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 395 New addition to Quay front

  • 396

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 397 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 398 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 399 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 400 Mobile missionary

  • 401 A bird of their own!

  • 402 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 403 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 404 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 405 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 406 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 407 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 408 Traditions and skills still there

  • 409 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 410 Off on a great adventure

  • 411 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 412 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 414 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 415

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 416 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 417 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 418 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 419 A man and his wheel

  • 420 Out of puff!

  • 421 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 422 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

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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Bideford’s gift to Sir Francis

Presentation to Sir Francis Chichester

Bideford’s gift to Sir Francis Chichester, a locally made harvest-style pottery jug bearing references to his historic voyage was presented by the Mayor (Mr Harold Blackmore) during last week’s ceremonies in honour of Sir Francis at Barnstaple. In the centre of the photograph is the Mayor of Barnstaple (Mr Jim Rayner).

20 October 1967 Bidefords gift to Sir Francis

Born at Shirwell, North Devon, Sir Francis had his introduction to sailing on the River Torridge.

The commemorative jug was the work of a local potter, Mr Harry Juniper, now living at Monkleigh.

Gazette article 20 October 1967

 

Two kinds of Hovercraft at Bideford

Army hovercraft visit

Bideford’s waterfront this week has been more than usually interesting with a visit by the Army hovercraft on three weeks of exercises in the Bristol Channel area.

13 October 1967 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

Our photograph shows its first visit with one of the helicopters of RAF Chivenor hovering overhead. This is the first time an Army hovercraft has operated in the Bristol Channel and exercises will extend across to South Wales.

Gazette article 13 October 1967

 

 

Move for oldest boatyard on the Torridge

Hinks' shipyard hoping to move

It is not only the larger shipyards on the River Torridge that are booming. The oldest on the river, that of Messrs. J. Hinks and Son of Appledore which has been in Irsha Street since the business was founded more than a century ago, hopes to move to a site near the old gas works.

23 June 1967 Move for oldest boatyard on the Torridge

It will now be possible to build larger craft but there will not be the problems of getting them away. Now they have to be partially dismantled. One of the yard’s latest products is seen in the picture, photographed as it travelled through Bideford en route to Bournemouth. A 32 ft. fishing boat it has been fitted out mostly for crabbing purposes.

Gazette article 23 June 1967

 

 

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