• 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 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

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

  • 3 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 4 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 5 Simple Item 138
  • 6

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 7 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 8 New look in the hayfields

  • 9 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 10

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 11 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 12 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 13 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 14 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 15 Northam's almshouse

  • 16 Artisans' Club

  • 17 Symbol of Lundy independence

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

  • 19 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 20

    Was a missionary
  • 21 A roof-top view - where?

  • 22 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 23 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 24

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 25 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 27 Sight of a lifetime

  • 28 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 29 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 30 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 31 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 32 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 33 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 34 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 35 Revenge in style

  • 36 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 37 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 38

    Building works
  • 39 Littleham family's five generations

  • 40 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 41 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 42 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 43 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 44 Private home for public pump

  • 45 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 46 For crying out loud!

  • 47 School's link with cargo ship

  • 48 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 49 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 50 It really was the 'last time'

  • 51 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 52 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 53 Picking the pops

  • 54 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 55 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 56 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 57 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 58 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 59 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 60 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 61 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 62 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 63 All for the love of a lady!

  • 64 A man and his wheel

  • 65 By pony and trap to market

  • 66 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 67 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 68 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 69 Finished in 1876

  • 70 No laughing matter

  • 71 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 72 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 73 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 74 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 75 End of the line

  • 76

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 77 New Lundy stamps

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

  • 79 Appledore's largest

  • 80 So this is the mainland!

  • 81 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 82 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 83 Variety in summer weather

  • 84

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 85 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 86 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 87 Picking the pops

  • 88 Life begins at 80

  • 89 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 90 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 91 Bideford regatta

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

  • 93 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 94

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 95 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 96 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 97 Warmington's garage ad

  • 98 Traditions and skills still there

  • 99

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 100 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 101 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 102 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 103 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 104 Ten year old scrambler

  • 105 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 106 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 107 A bird of their own!

  • 108 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 109

    New gateway
  • 110 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 111 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 112 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 113 New Post Office

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

  • 115 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 116 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 117 School crossing patrol begins

  • 118 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 119 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 120 In their new robes and hats

  • 121 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 122 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 123 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 124 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 125 Decontrol of meat

  • 126 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 127 Penny for the guy

  • 128 The Geneva marionettes

  • 129 Bridging the stream

  • 130 Pannier Market's future?

  • 131 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 132 Last train from Torrington

  • 133 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 134 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 135 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 136 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 137 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 138 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 139 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 140 Circus comes to town

  • 141 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 142 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 143 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 144

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 145 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 146

    Bidefordians
  • 147 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 148 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 149 Some mushroom!

  • 150

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 151 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 152 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 153 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 154 New civic medallions

  • 155 Cruising down the river

  • 156 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 157 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 158 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 159

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 160 North Devon Driving School

  • 161 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 162 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 163 Torrington children build igloo
  • 164 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 165 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 166 All aboard the ark

  • 167 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 168 He beat the floods

  • 169 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 170 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 171

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 172 Over the bank together>
  • 173 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 174 Capers on the cobbles

  • 175 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 176 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 177 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

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

  • 179 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 180 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 181 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 182 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 183 New art gallery opened

  • 184 New life for Hartland organ

  • 185 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 186 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 187 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 188 Puppet characters introduced

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

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

  • 191 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 192 Off on a great adventure

  • 193

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 194 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 195 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 196 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 197 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 198 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 199 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 200 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 201 Centenary of Gazette

  • 202 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 203 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 204 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 205 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 206 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 207 Police station view of Bideford

  • 208

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 209 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 210 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 211 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 212 Loads of black and white

  • 213 What's the time?

  • 214 Weare Giffard potato

  • 215

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 216 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 217 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 218 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 219 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 220 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 221 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 222 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 223 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 224 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 225

    Relatives all over the world
  • 226 Out of puff!

  • 227 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 228 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 229 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 230 Six footed lamb

  • 231 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 232 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 233 Hartland's invitation

  • 234 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 235 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 236 Filming at Hartland

  • 237 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 238 New shipyard on schedule

  • 239 Clovelly custom

  • 240 When horses score over the tractor

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

  • 242 113 years at Instow

  • 243 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 244 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 245 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 246 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 247 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 248 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 249 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 250 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 251 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 252 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 253 Waldon Triplets
  • 254 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 255 New addition to Quay front

  • 256

    Exhibition of school work
  • 257 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 258

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 259 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 260 Can spring be far away?

  • 261 Ships at Bideford

  • 262 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 263 New choral society's growing response

  • 264 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 265 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 266

    First prize
  • 267 Pretty pennies at Beaford

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

  • 269 Riverside mystery

  • 270

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 271 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 272 Parkham plan realised

  • 273 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 274 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 275 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 276 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 277 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 278 Hartland Dancers
  • 279

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 280 Torrington's new amenity

  • 281 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 282 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 283 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 284

    Married in 1908
  • 285 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 286 Bideford loses training ship

  • 287 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 288 Some 240 exhibits

  • 289 A story to tell!

  • 290 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 291 Northam footballers of the future

  • 292 Bideford computer stars

  • 293 From Bobby to Brian

  • 294 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 295 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 296 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 297 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 298 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 299 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 300 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 301 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 302 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 303 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 304 Hartland postman retires

  • 305 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 306 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 307 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 308 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 309 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 310 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 311 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 312 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 313 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 314 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 315 Happy Days!

  • 316 Peter poses for TV film

  • 317 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 318 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 319 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 320 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 321 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 322 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 323 Blanchards ad.>
  • 324

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 325 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 326 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 327

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 328 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 329 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 330 Jumble sale fever

  • 331 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 332 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 333 Emergency ferry services

  • 334 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 335 Sweets derationing

  • 336 Service with a smile

  • 337 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 338 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 339 No sale of Springfield House

  • 340 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 341

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 342 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 343

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

  • 345 Recognise this resort?

  • 346 First ship in 8 years

  • 347 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 348 Mobile missionary

  • 349 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 350 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 351 Modern living at Bideford

  • 352 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 353 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 354 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 355 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 356 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 357 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 358 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 359 Clovelly nightmare

  • 360 The art of the thatcher

  • 361 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 362 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 363 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 364 Devil sent packing

  • 365

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 366 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 367 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 368 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 369 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 370 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 371 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 372 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 373 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 374 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 375 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 376 Torrington in 1967

  • 377 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 378 Torridge wins on time schedule

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

  • 380 Just over a year old

  • 381 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 382

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 383 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 384 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 385 They are parted pro-tem

  • 386 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 387 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 388 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 389 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 390 The cab at the corner>
  • 391 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 392 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 393 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 394 Caught in the act>
  • 395 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 396 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 397 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 398 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 399 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 400 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 401 Twenty-one yachts

  • 402 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 403 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 404 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 405 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 406 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 407

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 408 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 409 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 410 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 411 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 412 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 413

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 414 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 415 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 416 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

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

  • 418 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 419 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 420 Burnard family reunion

  • 421 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 422 New look for Torrington Lane

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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New fire and ambulance stations

Bideford's new fire and ambulance stations

Bideford now has a brand new fire and ambulance station side by side on the site in Old Town which they formerly occupied but with old and inconvenient premises.

5 November 1965 New fire and ambulance stations

Total cost of the fire station is £22,000 and includes a watch room, drill tower, recreation-cum-lecture room and bay accommodation for three appliances.

There is accommodation for two ambulances and the usual staff facilities. In addition to three full-time men there, services of St John Ambulance volunteers are available.

Gazette article 5 November 1965

 

Weare Giffard potato

Rabbit in Weare Giffard

Weare Giffard is famous for its strawberries and, it would seem, for its potatoes too. Here is an intriguing ‘spud’ shaped like a rabbit and grown by Mr and Mrs Walter Hedden of The Barton, Weare Giffard. Their nephew, 16 year old Michael, son of Mr and Mrs Penn, 2 Honestone Street, Bideford, thought it worth noting by Weare Giffard’s local paper!

29 October 1965 Weare Giffard potato

Gazette article 29 October 1965

 

Photo of town’s first car wins prize

Bideford's first motor car

This was Bideford’s first motor car. A belt-driven Benz of 4½ horse power made in 1902. It belonged to the late Dr E.J. Toye. When first driven through the streets by Dr Toye’s chauffeur, Mr W. Jewell, it caused quite a stir.

Newsagent Mr Dick Keates, now 75, remembers how, as a young boy, he and his pals would run from swimming on the sand banks of the river to push the car up Barnstaple hill, for which they would receive a penny.

22 October 1965 Photo of towns first car wins prize

The picture above, of Mr Jewell in the car, belongs to Mr Jewell’s daughter Mrs W. McCarthy, now of Cardiff. Recently it gained second prize out of over 200 entries in a photographic competition for veteran and vintage cars.

Gazette article 22 October 1965

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