• 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

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 2 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 3 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 4 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 5

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 6 Picking the pops

  • 7

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 8 All for the love of a lady!

  • 9 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 10 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 11 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 12 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 13 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

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

  • 15 Mobile missionary

  • 16 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 17 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 18

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 19 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 20 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 21 Bideford computer stars

  • 22 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 23 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 24 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 25

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 26 Torrington's new amenity

  • 27 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 28 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 29 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 30 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 31 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 32 New shipyard on schedule

  • 33 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 34 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 35 Waldon Triplets
  • 36 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 37 Circus comes to town

  • 38 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 39 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 40 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 41 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 42 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 43 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 44 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 45 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 46 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 47 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 48 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 49 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 50 Twenty-one yachts

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

  • 52 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 53 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 54 First ship in 8 years

  • 55 Blanchards ad.>
  • 56 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 57 Bideford loses training ship

  • 58 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 59 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 60 They are parted pro-tem

  • 61 Clovelly custom

  • 62 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 63 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 64 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 65 Simple Item 138
  • 66 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 67 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 68 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 69 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 70 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 71 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 72 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 73 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 74 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 75 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 77 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 78

    Relatives all over the world
  • 79 Riverside mystery

  • 80 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 81 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 82 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 83

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 84 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 85 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 86 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 87 Ships at Bideford

  • 88 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 89 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 90 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 91 No laughing matter

  • 92 What's the time?

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

  • 94 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 95 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 96 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 97 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 98 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 99 Over the bank together>
  • 100

    New gateway
  • 101 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 102 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 103

    Building works
  • 104 Filming at Hartland

  • 105 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 106 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 107 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

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

  • 109 Hartland postman retires

  • 110

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 111 Centenary of Gazette

  • 112 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 113 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 114 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 115 Sweets derationing

  • 116 Hartland Dancers
  • 117 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 118 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 119 113 years at Instow

  • 120 Out of puff!

  • 121 Variety in summer weather

  • 122 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 123 He beat the floods

  • 124 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 125 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 126

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 127 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 128 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 129 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 130 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 131 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 132 Devil sent packing

  • 133 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 134 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 136 Can spring be far away?

  • 137 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 138 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 139 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 140 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 141 Last train from Torrington

  • 142 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 143 The Geneva marionettes

  • 144 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 145 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 146

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 147 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 148 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 149 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 150 Clovelly nightmare

  • 151 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 152 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 153 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 154 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 155 A bird of their own!

  • 156 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 157 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 158

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 159 Six footed lamb

  • 160

    Was a missionary
  • 161 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 162 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 163 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 164 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 165 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 166 Torrington in 1967

  • 167 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 168 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 169

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 170 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 171 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 172 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 173

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 174 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 175 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 176 Recognise this resort?

  • 177 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 178 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 179 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 180 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 181 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 182 Hartland's invitation

  • 183 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 184 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 185 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 186 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 187 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 188 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 189 Puppet characters introduced

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

  • 191 The cab at the corner>
  • 192 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 193 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 194 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 195 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 196 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 197 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 198 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 199 Finished in 1876

  • 200 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 201

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 202 Littleham family's five generations

  • 203 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 204 Appledore's largest

  • 205 Artisans' Club

  • 206 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 207 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 208 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 209 School's link with cargo ship

  • 210 A man and his wheel

  • 211 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 212 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 213

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 214 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 215

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 216 Life begins at 80

  • 217 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 218 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 219 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 220 Modern living at Bideford

  • 221 New choral society's growing response

  • 222 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 223 Picking the pops

  • 224 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 225 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 226 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 227 Traditions and skills still there

  • 228 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 229 Sight of a lifetime

  • 230 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 231 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 232

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 233 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 234 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 235 Peter poses for TV film

  • 236 North Devon Driving School

  • 237 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 238 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 239 Bideford regatta

  • 240 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 241 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 242 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 243 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 245 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 246 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 247 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 248 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 249 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 250 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 251 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 252 In their new robes and hats

  • 253 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 254 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 255 Cruising down the river

  • 256 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 257 No sale of Springfield House

  • 258 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 259 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 260 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 261 Ten year old scrambler

  • 262 Some mushroom!

  • 263 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 264 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 265 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 266 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 267 Caught in the act>
  • 268 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 269 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 270 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 271 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 272 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 273 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 274 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 275

    First prize
  • 276 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 277 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 278 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 279 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 280 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 281 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 282 When horses score over the tractor

  • 283 Off on a great adventure

  • 284 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 285 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 286 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 287 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 288 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 289 It really was the 'last time'

  • 290 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 291 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 292

    Bidefordians
  • 293 New Lundy stamps

  • 294 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 295 A roof-top view - where?

  • 296

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 297 Jumble sale fever

  • 298

    Exhibition of school work
  • 299

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 300 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 301 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 302 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 303 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 304 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 305 Northam's almshouse

  • 306 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 307

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 308 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 309 From Bobby to Brian

  • 310

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 311 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 312 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 313 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 314 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 315 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 316 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 317 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 318 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 319 Penny for the guy

  • 320 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 321 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 322 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 323 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 324 Torrington children build igloo
  • 325 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 326 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 327 Pannier Market's future?

  • 328 Warmington's garage ad

  • 329 New Post Office

  • 330 Police station view of Bideford

  • 331 Just over a year old

  • 332

    Married in 1908
  • 333 New life for Hartland organ

  • 334 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 335 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 336 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 337 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 338 Private home for public pump

  • 339 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

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

  • 341 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 342

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 343 School crossing patrol begins

  • 344 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 345 New civic medallions

  • 346 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 347 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 348 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 349 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 350 Revenge in style

  • 351 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 352 New addition to Quay front

  • 353 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 354

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 355 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 356 New art gallery opened

  • 357 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 358 Happy Days!

  • 359 Capers on the cobbles

  • 360 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 361 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 362 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 363 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 364 For crying out loud!

  • 365 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 366 Burnard family reunion

  • 367 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 368 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 369 All aboard the ark

  • 370 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 371 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 372 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 373 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 374 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 375 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 376 New look in the hayfields

  • 377 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 378 Bridging the stream

  • 379

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 380 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 381 End of the line

  • 382 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 383 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 384 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 385 By pony and trap to market

  • 386 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 387 Northam footballers of the future

  • 388 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 389 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 390 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 391 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 392 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 393 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 394 So this is the mainland!

  • 395 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 396 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 397 Service with a smile

  • 398 Parkham plan realised

  • 399 Weare Giffard potato

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

  • 401 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 402 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 403 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 404 A story to tell!

  • 405 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 406 The art of the thatcher

  • 407 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 408 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 409 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 410 Loads of black and white

  • 411 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 412 Emergency ferry services

  • 413 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 414 Decontrol of meat

  • 415

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 416 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 417 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 418 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 419 Some 240 exhibits

  • 420 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 421 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 422

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
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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Royal Prince visits Torridge-side

Playing field opened

Scenes of tremendous enthusiasm welcomed HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on his visit to Bideford to open the King George’s Field extension to the Victoria Park. The Duke arrived in Bideford at noon and the great cheer of greeting at the borough boundary ceremony was repeated as, accompanied by the Mayor (Cllr. Mrs E.M. Cox) he came through the town.

31 October 1952 Royal prince visits Torridge side

The Duke and the Mayor each planted a tree at the conclusion of the opening ceremony and after a brief inspection of the playing field and plan, the Duke left by car for Tanton’s Hotel for a lunch and then left by car for Plymouth, travelling via Torrington (photograph).

Gazette article 31 October 1952

 

Council agree to demolition of Chanter’s Folly

In dangerous state and no funds available

Northam Council made a fateful decision last week concerning the future of Chanter’s Folly, the well-known landmark standing on the high promontory at Appledore. The tower commands wide sweeps of North Devon, the estuary and towards Bideford and on one side it stands at the edge of a sheer quarry face of about 100 feet.

17 October 1952 Council agree to demolition of Chanters Folly

The most likely story of its origin is that Mr Chanter, a Bideford merchant, erected the tower so that an employee living there might signal the arrival of one of his ships in the Bay. The signal could easily be seen from Bideford Quay and steps taken the provide labour at the quayside for the arrival of the vessel.

Gazette article 17 October 1952

 

 

Police station view of Bideford

Policing in byegone days

Is it to be wondered at that Bideford is always favoured with a courteous, happy-tempered body of policemen? Facing them from their office windows is the charming view of the famous old bridge with a foreground of tree tops that, in spring, are a mass of bloom.

3 October 1952 Police station view of Bideford

From their Inspector downwards, Bideford’s police realise that one of Bideford’s chief functions is to welcome visitors and shoppers and within their strategic limits they exercise their discretion and good temper to the fullest extent.

Gazette article 3 October 1952

 

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