• 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 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 2

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 3 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 4 All aboard the ark

  • 5 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 6 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 7 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 8 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 9 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 10 Puppet characters introduced

  • 11 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 12 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 13 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 14 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 15 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 16 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 17 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 18 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 19 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 20 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 21 Off on a great adventure

  • 22 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 23 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 24 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 25

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 26 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 27 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 28 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 29 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 30 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 31 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 32 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 33 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 34 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 35 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 36 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 37 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 38 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 39 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 40 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 41 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 42 Revenge in style

  • 43 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 44 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 45 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 46 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 47 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 48 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 49 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 50 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 51 School crossing patrol begins

  • 52 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 53

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 54 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 55 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 56 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 57 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 58 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 59 Hartland postman retires

  • 60

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 61 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 62 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 63 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 64 Centenary of Gazette

  • 65 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 66 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 67 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

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

  • 69 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 70 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 71 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 72 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 73 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 74 Traditions and skills still there

  • 75

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 76 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 77 Parkham plan realised

  • 78 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 79 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 80 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 81

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 82 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 83 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 84 So this is the mainland!

  • 85 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 86 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 87 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 88 By pony and trap to market

  • 89

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 90 Cruising down the river

  • 91 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 92 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 93 The cab at the corner>
  • 94 Peter poses for TV film

  • 95 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 96 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 97 Bideford computer stars

  • 98 Torrington in 1967

  • 99 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 100

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 101 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 102 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 103

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 104 Picking the pops

  • 105 In their new robes and hats

  • 106 Out of puff!

  • 107 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 108 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 109

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 110 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 111 Devil sent packing

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

  • 113 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 114 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 115 Northam footballers of the future

  • 116 Warmington's garage ad

  • 117 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 118 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 119 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 120 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 121 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 122 A roof-top view - where?

  • 123 Picking the pops

  • 124

    Bidefordians
  • 125 Mobile missionary

  • 126 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 127 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 128 First ship in 8 years

  • 129 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 130 When horses score over the tractor

  • 131 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 133 Decontrol of meat

  • 134 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 135 Modern living at Bideford

  • 136 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 137 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 138 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 139 It really was the 'last time'

  • 140 New Lundy stamps

  • 141 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 142 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 143 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 144 Twenty-one yachts

  • 145 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 146 Life begins at 80

  • 147 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 148 The art of the thatcher

  • 149 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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

  • 151 Can spring be far away?

  • 152 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 153 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 154 Simple Item 138
  • 155 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 156 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 157 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 158 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 159 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 160 Riverside mystery

  • 161 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 162 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 164 Bridging the stream

  • 165 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 166 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 167 Clovelly nightmare

  • 168 North Devon Driving School

  • 169

    New gateway
  • 170 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 171 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 172 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 173 New look in the hayfields

  • 174 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 175 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 176 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 177 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 178 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 179 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 180 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 181 Appledore's largest

  • 182 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 183 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 184 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 185 No sale of Springfield House

  • 186 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 187 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 188 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 190 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 191 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 192 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 194 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 196 All for the love of a lady!

  • 197 Recognise this resort?

  • 198 Weare Giffard potato

  • 199 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 200 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 201 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 202

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 203 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 204 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 205 Artisans' Club

  • 206 Hartland's invitation

  • 207 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 208 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 209 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 210 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 211 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 212 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 213

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 214 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 215 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 216

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 217 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 218 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 219

    Exhibition of school work
  • 220 Bideford loses training ship

  • 221 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 222 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 223 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 224 Emergency ferry services

  • 225 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 227 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 228 New shipyard on schedule

  • 229 New choral society's growing response

  • 230 Torrington children build igloo
  • 231 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 232 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 233 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 235 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 236 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 237 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 238 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 239 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 240 For crying out loud!

  • 241 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 242 Pannier Market's future?

  • 243 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 244

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 245 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 246 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 247 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 248 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 249 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 250 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 251 New addition to Quay front

  • 252 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 253 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 254 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 256 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 258 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 259 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 260 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 261

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 262 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 263 A story to tell!

  • 264

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 265

    First prize
  • 266 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 267 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 268 No laughing matter

  • 269 Private home for public pump

  • 270

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 271 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 272 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 273 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 274 School's link with cargo ship

  • 275 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 276 Happy Days!

  • 277 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 278 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 279 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 280 Circus comes to town

  • 281 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 282 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 283 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 284 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 285 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 286 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 287 What's the time?

  • 288 Jumble sale fever

  • 289 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 290 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 291 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 292 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 293 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 294

    Was a missionary
  • 295 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 296 The Geneva marionettes

  • 297 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 298 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 299 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 300 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 301 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 302 Waldon Triplets
  • 303 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 304 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 305 Penny for the guy

  • 306 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 307 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 308 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 309 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 310 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 311 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 312 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 313 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 314 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 315 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 316 Some mushroom!

  • 317 Blanchards ad.>
  • 318 Service with a smile

  • 319 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 320 Ships at Bideford

  • 321 Torrington's new amenity

  • 322 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 323 Loads of black and white

  • 324 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 325 He beat the floods

  • 326 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 327 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 328 Variety in summer weather

  • 329 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 330 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 331 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 332 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 333 Over the bank together>
  • 334 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 335 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 336 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 337 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 338 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 339 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 340 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 341 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 342

    Building works
  • 343 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 344 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 345

    Married in 1908
  • 346 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 347 Hartland Dancers
  • 348 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 349 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 350 Capers on the cobbles

  • 351 113 years at Instow

  • 352 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 353

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 354

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 355 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 356 Filming at Hartland

  • 357

    Relatives all over the world
  • 358 A bird of their own!

  • 359 Clovelly custom

  • 360 Sight of a lifetime

  • 361

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 362 Police station view of Bideford

  • 363

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 364 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 365 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 366 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 367 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 368 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 369 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 370 New life for Hartland organ

  • 371 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 372 Six footed lamb

  • 373 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 374 They are parted pro-tem

  • 375 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 376 New Post Office

  • 377 A man and his wheel

  • 378 Sweets derationing

  • 379 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 380 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 381 Caught in the act>
  • 382 From Bobby to Brian

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

  • 384 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 385 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 386 Some 240 exhibits

  • 387 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 388 Last train from Torrington

  • 389 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 390 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 391 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 392 Burnard family reunion

  • 393 Just over a year old

  • 394 Finished in 1876

  • 395 New civic medallions

  • 396 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 397 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 398

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 399 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 400 End of the line

  • 401 Ten year old scrambler

  • 402 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 403 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 404 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 405 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 406 Bideford regatta

  • 407 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 408

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 409 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 410 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 411 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 412

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 413 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 414 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 415 Northam's almshouse

  • 416 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 417 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 418 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 419 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 420 New art gallery opened

  • 421

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 422 'Les Girls' of Hartland

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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Farewell to passenger trains

Last passenger train to Barnstaple

There was a civic farewell at Bideford railway station on Saturday evening for the last regular passenger train on the up line to Barnstaple.

The Mayor (Mrs Ethelwynne Brown) escorted by the Stationmaster (Mr H.J. Mock) went into the signal box where, under the supervision of the signal man, Mr Fred Harvey, she pulled the lever to signal the train to Bideford from Torrington. Before the arrival of the train, she thanked the railway staff past and present for their services to the public.

8 October 1965 Farewell to passenger trains

On the return journey from Barnstaple a few farewell detonators were exploded by the train and an effigy of Dr Beeching made its appearance.

Gazette article 8 October 1965

 

 

Death – and birth – of a telephone exchange

Subscriber trunk dialling comes to Bideford

For a few minutes next Wednesday every G.P.O. telephone in Bideford and Northam will be dead. Thereafter never again will local subscribers be asked by Bideford Exchange ‘Number please’.

The changeover to subscriber trunk dialling is scheduled for 1.30 p.m.

9 July 1965 Death and birth of a telephone exchange

The new service will be officially inaugurated by the Mayor (Mrs E.J. Brown) at about 6 p.m. that day. At a reception at the Town Hall she will dial the London number of an official of the London-Bidefordian Society. Amplifiers will enable all at the reception to hear the conversation.

Gazette article 9 July 1965

 

 

School’s link with cargo ship

Bideford school 'adopts' ship

A cargo ship steaming across the Pacific Ocean is in contact with a Bideford school. The ship is the 10,000-ton Amalric which plies between New Zealand and the West Indies. Her master, Capt. Richmond, keeps the children of Westcroft Primary School who have ‘adopted’ the ship, well informed about her voyages.

4 June 1965 Schools link with cargo ship

Capt. Richmond corresponds with the school, sending details of cargoes, routes, photographs, colour slides and other items of interest, as well as answering written questions from the children. Our picture shows four children looking at some of the things sent by Capt. Richmond.

Gazette article 4 June 1965

 

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