• 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 The art of the thatcher

  • 2 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 3 Penny for the guy

  • 4 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 5 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 6 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 7 First ship in 8 years

  • 8 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 9 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 10 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 11 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 12 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 13 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 14 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 15 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 16 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 17 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 18 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 19 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 20 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 21 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 22 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 23 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 24 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 25 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 26 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 27 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 28 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 29 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 30 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 31 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 32 North Devon Driving School

  • 33 Clovelly custom

  • 34 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 35 New Post Office

  • 36 Off on a great adventure

  • 37 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 38 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 39 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 40 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

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

  • 42 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 43 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 44 Over the bank together>
  • 45 New addition to Quay front

  • 46 By pony and trap to market

  • 47 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 48 End of the line

  • 49 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 50 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 51 Picking the pops

  • 52

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 53

    Exhibition of school work
  • 54 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 55 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 56 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 57 Hartland Dancers
  • 58 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 59 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 60

    Was a missionary
  • 61

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 62 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 63 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 64 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 65 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 66 Traditions and skills still there

  • 67 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 68 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 69 It really was the 'last time'

  • 70 Revenge in style

  • 71 Bideford regatta

  • 72 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 73 Northam footballers of the future

  • 74 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 75 Just over a year old

  • 76 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 77 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 78 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 79 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 80 What's the time?

  • 81 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 82 Bideford country dancers on TV

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

  • 84 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 85 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 86 Circus comes to town

  • 87 Appledore's largest

  • 88 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 89 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 90 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 91 Hartland's invitation

  • 92 Sight of a lifetime

  • 93 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 94 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 95 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 96 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 97 Pannier Market's future?

  • 98 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 99 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

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

  • 101 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 102 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 103 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 104 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 105 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 106 Jumble sale fever

  • 107 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 108 He beat the floods

  • 109 School crossing patrol begins

  • 110

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 111 Torrington in 1967

  • 112 In their new robes and hats

  • 113 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 114 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 115 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 116 A man and his wheel

  • 117 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 118 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 119 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 120 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 121

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 122 Mobile missionary

  • 123 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 124 Centenary of Gazette

  • 125 Burnard family reunion

  • 126 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 127 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 128 113 years at Instow

  • 129 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 130 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 131 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 132 Caught in the act>
  • 133 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 134 New look in the hayfields

  • 135

    Building works
  • 136

    Relatives all over the world
  • 137 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 138 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 139 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 140

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 141 Bringing shopping home by goat

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

  • 143 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 144 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 145 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 146 Can spring be far away?

  • 147 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 148 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 149 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 150 A story to tell!

  • 151 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 152 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 153 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 154 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 155 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 156 Cruising down the river

  • 157

    Married in 1908
  • 158 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 159

    First prize
  • 160 Bridging the stream

  • 161 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 162 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 163 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 164 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 165 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 166 Devil sent packing

  • 167

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 168 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 169 New choral society's growing response

  • 170 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 171 Emergency ferry services

  • 172 Waldon Triplets
  • 173 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 174 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 175

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 176 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 177 Hartland postman retires

  • 178 Blanchards ad.>
  • 179 Some mushroom!

  • 180 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 181 School's link with cargo ship

  • 182 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 183 New Lundy stamps

  • 184 Decontrol of meat

  • 185 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 186 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 187 Police station view of Bideford

  • 188 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 189 New civic medallions

  • 190 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 191 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 192 Finished in 1876

  • 193 Capers on the cobbles

  • 194 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 195 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

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

  • 197 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 198 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 199 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 200 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 201 Life begins at 80

  • 202 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 203 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 204 From Bobby to Brian

  • 205 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 206 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 207 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 208 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 209 So this is the mainland!

  • 210

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 211 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 212 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 213

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 214 Last train from Torrington

  • 215 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 216 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 217 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 218 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 219 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 220 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 221 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 222 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 223 Peter poses for TV film

  • 224 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 225 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 226 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 227 Variety in summer weather

  • 228 Torrington's new amenity

  • 229

    Bidefordians
  • 230 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 231 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 232 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 233 For crying out loud!

  • 234

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 235 A bird of their own!

  • 236 Modern living at Bideford

  • 237 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 238 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 239 Out of puff!

  • 240 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 241 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 242 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 243 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 244 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 245 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 246 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 247 Littleham family's five generations

  • 248 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 249

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 250 Loads of black and white

  • 251 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 252

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 253 Recognise this resort?

  • 254 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 255 Second Monte Carlo Rally

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

  • 257 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 258 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 259 Twenty-one yachts

  • 260 All for the love of a lady!

  • 261 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 262 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 263 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 264 Ten year old scrambler

  • 265 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 266 When horses score over the tractor

  • 267 Bideford computer stars

  • 268

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 269 Service with a smile

  • 270 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 271 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 272 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 273 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 274 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 275 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 276 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 277 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 278 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 279 Torrington Church's new organ

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

  • 281 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 282 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 283 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 284 Gloves fit for a king!

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

  • 286 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 287 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 288 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 289 Weare Giffard potato

  • 290

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 291 All aboard the ark

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

  • 293 Clovelly nightmare

  • 294 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 295 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 296 They are parted pro-tem

  • 297 The Geneva marionettes

  • 298 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 299 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 300 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 301 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 302 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 303 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 304

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 305

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 306 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 307 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 308 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 309 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 310 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 311 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 312 No laughing matter

  • 313

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 314 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 315 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 316 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 317 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 318 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 319 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 320 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 321 Some 240 exhibits

  • 322 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 323 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 324 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 325 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 326 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 327 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 328 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 329 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 330 Picking the pops

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

  • 332 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 333 Six footed lamb

  • 334 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 335 Torrington children build igloo
  • 336 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 337 Ships at Bideford

  • 338 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 339

    New gateway
  • 340 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 341 Bideford loses training ship

  • 342 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 343 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 344 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 345 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 346

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 347 Warmington's garage ad

  • 348 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 349 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 350 Happy Days!

  • 351 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 352 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 353 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 354 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

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

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

  • 357

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 358 No sale of Springfield House

  • 359

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 360 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 361 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 362 Puppet characters introduced

  • 363 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 364 New art gallery opened

  • 365 New life for Hartland organ

  • 366 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 367 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 368

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 369 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 370 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 371 Northam's almshouse

  • 372 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 373 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 374 Riverside mystery

  • 375 Simple Item 138
  • 376 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 377 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 378 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 379

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 380 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 382 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 383

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 384 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 385 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 386 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 387 Filming at Hartland

  • 388 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 389 A roof-top view - where?

  • 390 Private home for public pump

  • 391 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 392 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 393 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 394 Parkham plan realised

  • 395 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 396 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 397

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 398 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 399 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 400 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 401 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 402 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 403 The cab at the corner>
  • 404 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 405 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 406 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 407 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 408

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 409 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 410 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 411 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 412 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 413 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 414 Artisans' Club

  • 415 New shipyard on schedule

  • 416 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 417 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 418 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 419 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 420 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 421 Sweets derationing

  • 422 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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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Spring-cleaning the Ridge

Tons of tar removed

Although there was a somewhat poor response last week to Northam Council’s appeal for voluntary help in the task of cleaning tar from Westward Ho! pebbleridge, some seven tons of tar, tarred seaweed and pebbles were collected.

25 April 1954 Spring cleaning the Ridge

The ‘popular’ part of the ridge from the Slipway to Sandymere is now almost completely clear of tar.

Gazette article 25 April 1952

 

A lost Bideford ‘island’

Old houses in Bideford

The shop and two houses in the photograph were demolished about 60 years ago and used to stand at the top of High Street just in front of the Rectory Wall and face towards Providence Row.

10 April 1952 A lost Bideford island

The group of buildings were colloquially known as ‘The Island’. Their actual position can be seen by the lamp post which stands on the same spot as the present post which is on a small island in the middle of the roadway between the top of Pitt Lane and High Street.

Gazette article 10 April 1952

 

Recognise this resort?

Westward Ho! in the past

Believe it or not, it is Westward Ho! a venue for town planners past and present.

4 April 1952 Recognise this resort

The artist who made the drawing reproduced above, has apparently used a considerable amount of licence, but one or two of the buildings can be definitely identified. The large building on the right is the then Royal Hotel (now the Golden Bay) and next to it is the Church and the small building beyond is Manorville.

Gazette article 4 April 1952

 

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