• 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 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 2 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 3 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 4 Parkham plan realised

  • 5 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 6 Centenary of Gazette

  • 7 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 8 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 9 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 10 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 11 Cruising down the river

  • 12 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 13 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 14 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 15 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 16 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 17 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 18 A roof-top view - where?

  • 19 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 20 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 21 Devil sent packing

  • 22 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 23 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 24 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 25 Last train from Torrington

  • 26 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 27 Circus comes to town

  • 28

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 29 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 30

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 31 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 32 Allhalland Street - then and now

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

  • 34 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 35 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 36 Twenty-one yachts

  • 37 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 38 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 39 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 40 Blanchards ad.>
  • 41 New shipyard on schedule

  • 42 No sale of Springfield House

  • 43 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 44 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 45 A man and his wheel

  • 46 Traditions and skills still there

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

  • 48

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 49 Revenge in style

  • 50 Loads of black and white

  • 51 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 52 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 53 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 54 Finished in 1876

  • 55

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 56 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 57 Sight of a lifetime

  • 58 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 59 They are parted pro-tem

  • 60 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 61 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 62 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 63 Sweets derationing

  • 64 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 65 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 66 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 67 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 68 What's the time?

  • 69 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 70 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 71 A story to tell!

  • 72 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 73 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 74 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 75 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 76 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 77 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 78 Torrington children build igloo
  • 79 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 80

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 81 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 82 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 83 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 84 School's link with cargo ship

  • 85 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 86 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 87 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 88 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 89 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 90 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 91 A bird of their own!

  • 92

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 93 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 94 Torridge wins on time schedule

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

  • 96 All aboard the ark

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

  • 98 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 99 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 100 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 101 Six footed lamb

  • 102 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 103 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 104 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 105 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 106 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 107 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 108 Hartland postman retires

  • 109 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 110 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 111 Northam footballers of the future

  • 112 New civic medallions

  • 113 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 114 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 115 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 116

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 117 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 118 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 119 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 120 Peter poses for TV film

  • 121 Simple Item 138
  • 122 So this is the mainland!

  • 123 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 124 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 125

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 126 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 127

    Married in 1908
  • 128 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 129 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 130 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 131 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 132 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 134 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 135 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 136 Emergency ferry services

  • 137 Bideford loses training ship

  • 138 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

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

  • 140 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 141 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 142 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 143 Can spring be far away?

  • 144 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 145 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 146 Mobile missionary

  • 147 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 148 Off on a great adventure

  • 149 Clovelly custom

  • 150 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 151 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 152 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 153 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 154

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 155 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 156 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 157 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 158 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 159 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 160 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 161 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 162 Weare Giffard potato

  • 163 Calligrapher extraordinary

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

  • 165 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 166 Penny for the guy

  • 167 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 168 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 169 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 170 The Geneva marionettes

  • 171 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 172 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 173 Caught in the act>
  • 174 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 175 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 176 No laughing matter

  • 177 Riverside mystery

  • 178 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 179 From Bobby to Brian

  • 180 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 181 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 182 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 183 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 184 All for the love of a lady!

  • 185 Life begins at 80

  • 186 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 187 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 188 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 189 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 190 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 191 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

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

  • 193 Recognise this resort?

  • 194 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 195 It really was the 'last time'

  • 196 New choral society's growing response

  • 197

    Relatives all over the world
  • 198 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 199 First ship in 8 years

  • 200 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 201 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 202 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 203 When horses score over the tractor

  • 204

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 205 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 206

    Exhibition of school work
  • 207 Some mushroom!

  • 208 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 209 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 210 Picking the pops

  • 211 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 212 Torrington in 1967

  • 213 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 214 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 215 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 216 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 217 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 218 Waldon Triplets
  • 219 Police station view of Bideford

  • 220 Filming at Hartland

  • 221 Burnard family reunion

  • 222 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 223 Some 240 exhibits

  • 224 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 225 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 226 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 227 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 228 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 229 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 230 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 231

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 232

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 233 Capers on the cobbles

  • 234 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 235 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 236 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 237 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 238 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 239 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 240 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 241 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 242 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 243 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

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

  • 245 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 246 The art of the thatcher

  • 247 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 248

    New gateway
  • 249 End of the line

  • 250 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 251 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 252 Modern living at Bideford

  • 253 Appledore's largest

  • 254 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 255 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 256 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 257 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 258 Warmington's garage ad

  • 259 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 260 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 261 Bridging the stream

  • 262 New art gallery opened

  • 263 Bideford computer stars

  • 264 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 265 Ships at Bideford

  • 266 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 267 Private home for public pump

  • 268 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 269 Northam's almshouse

  • 270 New life for Hartland organ

  • 271 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 272 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 273 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 274 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 275 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 276 He beat the floods

  • 277 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 278 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 279 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 280 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 281 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 282 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 283 North Devon Driving School

  • 284 Puppet characters introduced

  • 285 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 286

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 287 New look in the hayfields

  • 288 New addition to Quay front

  • 289 Just over a year old

  • 290 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 291 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 292 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 293 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 294 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 295

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 296 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 297 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 298 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 299 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 300 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 301 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 302 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 303 New Lundy stamps

  • 304 School crossing patrol begins

  • 305 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 306 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 307 By pony and trap to market

  • 308 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 309 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 310 Happy Days!

  • 311 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 312 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 313 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 314 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 315 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 316

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 317 Artisans' Club

  • 318 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 319 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 320 For crying out loud!

  • 321 Littleham family's five generations

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

  • 323

    Was a missionary
  • 324 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 325 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 326 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 327 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 328

    Building works
  • 329 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 330 The cab at the corner>
  • 331 113 years at Instow

  • 332 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 333

    Bidefordians
  • 334 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 335 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 336 Decontrol of meat

  • 337 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 338 Picking the pops

  • 339 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 340 New Post Office

  • 341

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 342 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 343 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 344 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 345 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 346 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 347 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 348 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 349 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 350 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 351 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 352 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 353

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 354 Out of puff!

  • 355 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 356 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 357 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 358 Torrington's new amenity

  • 359

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 360 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 361 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 362 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 363 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 364 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 365 Clovelly nightmare

  • 366 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 367

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 368 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 369 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 370 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 371 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 372 Service with a smile

  • 373 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 374 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 375 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 376 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 378 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 379 Pannier Market's future?

  • 380 In their new robes and hats

  • 381

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 382 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 383 Over the bank together>
  • 384 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 385 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 386 Hartland's invitation

  • 387 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 388 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 389 Bideford regatta

  • 390

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 391

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 392 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 393 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 394 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 395 Jumble sale fever

  • 396 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 397 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 398 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 399 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 400 Hartland Dancers
  • 401 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 402 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 403 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 404 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 405 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 406

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 407 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 408 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 409 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 410

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 411 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 412 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 413 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 414 Variety in summer weather

  • 415 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 416 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 417

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 418

    First prize
  • 419 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 420 Ten year old scrambler

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

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

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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  • 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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  • 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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Train returns to Westleigh straight

Special train chartered

Years ago the sight of a passenger train thundering along the Westleigh straight between Instow and Bideford was such a common one that it hardly rated a second glance. Except for a period of temporary service after Bideford Bridge collapsed, nine years have elapsed since passengers last travelled along a stretch which, when the tide is full, can have few pictorial equals in the Westcountry.

Train returns to Westleigh straight

Last weekend the line between Barnstaple and Torrington again experienced passenger travel as a train specially chartered by the Bristol Railway Correspondents and Travel Society made a nostalgic journey alongside Taw and Torridge. Passengers met friends of the North Devon Preservation Society who are hooping to re-open the branch line between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, provided sufficient capital can be raised.

Gazette article 26 April 1974

 

 

Jumble sale fever

Inflation has made

jumble sales among the most popular occasions – no fewer than half-a-dozen were advertised in last week’s Gazette.

Jumble sale fever

Seen concentrating with an intensity more usually seen at a bingo session are bargain-seekers at a sale organised by Bideford Buccaneers.

Gazette article 11 April 1974

 

Gloves fit for a king!

Largest pair of gloves ever made in Torrington

What is believed to be the largest pair of gloves ever made by a local firm has been supplied by Sudbury’s Gloves Ltd. to the King of Tonga in the South Pacific. Made in grey nylon fabric for use on formal occasions, they measured 6 inches across the palm. The average man’s palm measures 3½ to 3¾ inches.

King Taufa’ abau the Fourth of Tonga stands about six feet five inches tall and weighs some 25 stone. He succeeded his mother, the late Queen Salote who won so much affection from the British people when she attended the Queen’s coronation.

Gloves fit for a king

Because of their exceptional size, the gloves had to be hand-cut at Sudbury’s Torrington factory by Mrs Sylvia Gilbert (above) one of their most experienced workers as their set of knives could not be used to do so.

Gazette article 1 March 1974

 

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