• 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 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 2 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 3 New civic medallions

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

  • 5 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 6 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 7 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 8 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 9 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 10 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 11 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 12 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 13 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 14 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

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

  • 16 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 17 When horses score over the tractor

  • 18 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 19 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 20 Twenty-one yachts

  • 21

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 22

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 23 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 24 Revenge in style

  • 25 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 26

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 27 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 28 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 29

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 30 Bideford regatta

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

  • 32 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 33 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 34 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 35 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 36 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 37 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 38 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 39

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 40 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 41 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 42 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 43

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 44 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 45

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 46 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 47 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 48 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 49 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 50 Bideford computer stars

  • 51 Picking the pops

  • 52 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 53 Sweets derationing

  • 54 A story to tell!

  • 55 Warmington's garage ad

  • 56 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 57 No laughing matter

  • 58 Some mushroom!

  • 59 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 60 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 61 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 62 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 63 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 64 Last train from Torrington

  • 65 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 66 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 67 Waldon Triplets
  • 68 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 69 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 70 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 71 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 72 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 73 Over the bank together>
  • 74 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 75 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 76 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 77 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 78 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 79 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 80 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 81 Out of puff!

  • 82

    Exhibition of school work
  • 83 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 84 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 85 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 86 The cab at the corner>
  • 87 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 88 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 89 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 90 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 91 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 92 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 93

    Relatives all over the world
  • 94 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 95

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 96 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 97 Variety in summer weather

  • 98 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 99

    New gateway
  • 100

    Married in 1908
  • 101 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 102 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 103 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 104 Burnard family reunion

  • 105 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 106 Peter poses for TV film

  • 107 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 108 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 109 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 110

    Bidefordians
  • 111 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 112 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 113 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 114 In their new robes and hats

  • 115 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 116 New addition to Quay front

  • 117 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 118 By pony and trap to market

  • 119 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 120 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 121 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 122 Modern living at Bideford

  • 123

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 124 From Bobby to Brian

  • 125 Finished in 1876

  • 126 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 127 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 128 The art of the thatcher

  • 129 School crossing patrol begins

  • 130 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 131 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 132 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 133 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 134 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 135 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 136 Torrington children build igloo
  • 137 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 139 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 140 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 141 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 142 They are parted pro-tem

  • 143 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 144 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 145 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 146 New Lundy stamps

  • 147 All for the love of a lady!

  • 148 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 149 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 150 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 151 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 152 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 153 Sight of a lifetime

  • 154 113 years at Instow

  • 155 Torrington's new amenity

  • 156 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 157 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 159 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 160 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 161 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 162 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 163

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 164

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 165 Northam's almshouse

  • 166 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 167 Mobile missionary

  • 168 It really was the 'last time'

  • 169 Ten year old scrambler

  • 170 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 171 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 172 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 173 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 174 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 175 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 176 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 177 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 178 Riverside mystery

  • 179 Capers on the cobbles

  • 180 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 181 Caught in the act>
  • 182 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 183 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 184 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 185 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 186 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 187 New choral society's growing response

  • 188 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 189 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 190 Cruising down the river

  • 191 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 192 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 193 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 194 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 195 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 196 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 197 Off on a great adventure

  • 198 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 199 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 200 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 201

    First prize
  • 202 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 203 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 204 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 205

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 206 Centenary of Gazette

  • 207 For crying out loud!

  • 208 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 209 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 210 He beat the floods

  • 211

    Was a missionary
  • 212 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 213 North Devon Driving School

  • 214 New shipyard on schedule

  • 215 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 216 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 217 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 218 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 219 Devil sent packing

  • 220 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 221 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 222 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 223 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 224 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 225 Appledore's largest

  • 226 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 227 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 228 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 229 Hartland Dancers
  • 230 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 231 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 232 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 233 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 234 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 235 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 236 A roof-top view - where?

  • 237 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 238 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 239 A man and his wheel

  • 240 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 242 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 243 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 245 New life for Hartland organ

  • 246 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 247 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 248 Clovelly custom

  • 249 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 250 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 251 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 252 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 253 Just over a year old

  • 254 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 255 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 256 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 257 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 258 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 259 Ships at Bideford

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

  • 261 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 262 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 263 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 264 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 265 Blanchards ad.>
  • 266 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 267 New art gallery opened

  • 268 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 269 The Geneva marionettes

  • 270 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 271 New Post Office

  • 272 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 273 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

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

  • 275 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 276 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 277 Artisans' Club

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

  • 279 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 280 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 281 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 282 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 283 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 284 End of the line

  • 285 Jumble sale fever

  • 286 Service with a smile

  • 287 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 288 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 289 Littleham family's five generations

  • 290 New look in the hayfields

  • 291 Police station view of Bideford

  • 292 All aboard the ark

  • 293 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 294 Pannier Market's future?

  • 295 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 296 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 297 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 298 Circus comes to town

  • 299 No sale of Springfield House

  • 300 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 301 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 302 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 303 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 304 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 305 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 306 Hartland postman retires

  • 307 Calf thinks of mare as mum

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

  • 309 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 310

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 311 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 312 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 313 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 314 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 315 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 316 Simple Item 138
  • 317 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 318 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 319 Bridging the stream

  • 320 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 321 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 322 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 323

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 324 Life begins at 80

  • 325 Penny for the guy

  • 326 Parkham plan realised

  • 327 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 328 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 329

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 330 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 331 Six footed lamb

  • 332 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 333 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 334 First ship in 8 years

  • 335 What's the time?

  • 336 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 337 Puppet characters introduced

  • 338 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 339 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 340

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 341

    Building works
  • 342 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 343 Decontrol of meat

  • 344 Emergency ferry services

  • 345 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 346 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 347 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 348 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 349 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 350 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 351 Picking the pops

  • 352 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 353 Private home for public pump

  • 354 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 356 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 357 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 358 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 359

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 360 Happy Days!

  • 361 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 362 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 363 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 364 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 365 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 366 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 367 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 368 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 369 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 370 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 371 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 372 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

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

  • 374 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 375 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 376 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 377 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 378

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 379 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 380 Bideford loses training ship

  • 381 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 382 School's link with cargo ship

  • 383 A bird of their own!

  • 384 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 385 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 386 Clovelly nightmare

  • 387 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 388 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 389 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 390 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 391 Traditions and skills still there

  • 392 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 393 Filming at Hartland

  • 394 Some 240 exhibits

  • 395 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 396 Can spring be far away?

  • 397 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 398 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 399 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 400 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 401 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 402 Northam footballers of the future

  • 403

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 404

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 405

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 406 Recognise this resort?

  • 407 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 408 Loads of black and white

  • 409

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 410

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 411 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 412

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 413 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 414

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 415 Torrington in 1967

  • 416 Hartland's invitation

  • 417 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 418 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 419 So this is the mainland!

  • 420 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 421 Weare Giffard potato

  • 422 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Making way for the double-deckers

Road widening in Northam

During the past week, work has been progressing on the widening of the corner at the junction of Burrough road with Castle street, Northam, so as to make it easier for double-decked omnibuses to use the Lenard road route on the way to Appledore and so by-pass narrow Cross Street.

27 June 1952 Making way for the double deckers

When the work is complete the buses will return to this alternative route on the run from Bideford to Appledore. Buses returning from Appledore to Bideford will continue to use the Cross Street route.

Gazette article 27 June 1952

 

 

New look in the hayfields

Harvest at Westward Ho!

Hayfields in the district are being given a ‘new look’ when the Vendeuvre hay baling machine gets to work, rectangular bales taking the place of the familiar rounded pokes of hay. After the hay has been cut, dried and raked into rows stretching the length of the field, the Vendeuvre is brought in and picks up the hay, feeds it into the machine where a number of arms pummel the hay into tightly-packed rectangular bales which are then tied twice with cord and deposited on the ground.

27 June 1952 New look in the hayfields

This photograph was taken in a three-acre field at Westward Ho! which yielded nearly 400 bales of hay.

Gazette article 27 June 1952

 

The art of the thatcher

New roof for New Inn Abbotsham

One of the dwindling band of rural craftsmen, the thatcher is still to be seen occasionally around the district practising the art which, in many cases, has been handed down from generation to generation in one family.

27 June 1952 The art of the thatcher

A few days ago Mr Gwyn Parkhouse of High Bullen, Torrington, was putting the finishing touches to the roof of the New Inn at Abbotsham which he has completely re-thatched. Mr Parkhouse’s father and grandfather were thatchers before him and a brother is a thatcher in the Torquay district.

Gazette article 27 June 1952

 

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