• 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 Filming at Hartland

  • 2 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 3 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 4 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 5 First ship in 8 years

  • 6 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 7 A bird of their own!

  • 8 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 9 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 10

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 11 New civic medallions

  • 12 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 13 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 14 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 15 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 16 Torrington children build igloo
  • 17 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 18

    Married in 1908
  • 19 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 20 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 21 Clovelly nightmare

  • 22 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 23 New Post Office

  • 24 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 25 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 26 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 27 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 28 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 29 School's link with cargo ship

  • 30 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 31 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 32 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 34 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 35 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 36 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 37 Bideford loses training ship

  • 38 It really was the 'last time'

  • 39 Bideford computer stars

  • 40 New art gallery opened

  • 41 Ships at Bideford

  • 42

    Building works
  • 43 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 44 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 45 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 46 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 47 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 48 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 49 In their new robes and hats

  • 50 Cruising down the river

  • 51 Hartland postman retires

  • 52 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 53 Circus comes to town

  • 54 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 55

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 56 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 57 Some 240 exhibits

  • 58 Hartland's invitation

  • 59 Modern living at Bideford

  • 60 New Lundy stamps

  • 61 New shipyard on schedule

  • 62 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 63 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 64 Caught in the act>
  • 65 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 67 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 68 Blanchards ad.>
  • 69 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 70 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 71 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 72 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 73 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 74

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 75 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 76 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 77 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 78 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 79 Appledore's largest

  • 80 Off on a great adventure

  • 81

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 82 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 83 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 84 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 85 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 86 So this is the mainland!

  • 87 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 88 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 89 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

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

  • 91 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 92 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 93 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 94 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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

  • 96 Centenary of Gazette

  • 97 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 98 Out of puff!

  • 99 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 100 School crossing patrol begins

  • 101 Revenge in style

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

  • 103 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 104 Can spring be far away?

  • 105 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 106 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 107 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 108 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 109 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 110 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 111 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 112 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 113 Capers on the cobbles

  • 114 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 115 113 years at Instow

  • 116 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 117 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 118

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 119 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 120 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 121 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 122 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 123 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 124

    Bidefordians
  • 125 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 126 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 127 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 128

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 129 All aboard the ark

  • 130 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 131 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 132 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 133 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 134 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 135 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 136 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 137 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 138 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 139 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 140 Torrington in 1967

  • 141

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 142 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 143 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 144 A story to tell!

  • 145 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 146 Littleham family's five generations

  • 147 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 148 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 149 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 150

    First prize
  • 151 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 152 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 153 Happy Days!

  • 154 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 155 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 156 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 157 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 158 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 159 No laughing matter

  • 160 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 161 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 162 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 163 Torrington's new amenity

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

  • 165 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 166 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 167 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 168 Warmington's garage ad

  • 169 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 170 All for the love of a lady!

  • 171 Six footed lamb

  • 172 New look in the hayfields

  • 173 Recognise this resort?

  • 174 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 175 Loads of black and white

  • 176 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 177 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 178 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 179 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 180 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 181 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 182 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 183 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 184 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 185 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 186 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 187 Emergency ferry services

  • 188 Mobile missionary

  • 189 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 190 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 191 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 192 When horses score over the tractor

  • 193 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 194 From Bobby to Brian

  • 195

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 196 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 197 Bridging the stream

  • 198 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 200 Jumble sale fever

  • 201 A roof-top view - where?

  • 202 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 203 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 204 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 205 What's the time?

  • 206 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 207 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 208 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 209 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 210 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 211 Bideford regatta

  • 212 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 213 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 214

    Relatives all over the world
  • 215

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 216 Just over a year old

  • 217 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 218 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 219 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 220 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 221 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 222 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 223 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 224

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 225

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 226 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 227 New choral society's growing response

  • 228 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 229 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 230

    New gateway
  • 231 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 232 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 233 The art of the thatcher

  • 234 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 235

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 236 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 237 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 238 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 239 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 240 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 241

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 242 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 243 They are parted pro-tem

  • 244 Burnard family reunion

  • 245 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 246 Penny for the guy

  • 247 New addition to Quay front

  • 248 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 249 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 250 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 251 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 252 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 253 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 254 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 255 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 256 Devil sent packing

  • 257 End of the line

  • 258 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 259 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 260

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 261 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 262

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 263 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 264 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 265 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 266 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 267 Weare Giffard potato

  • 268 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 269 Private home for public pump

  • 270 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 271 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 272 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 273

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 274 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 275 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 276 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 278 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 279 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 280 Last train from Torrington

  • 281 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 282 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 283 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 284 Clovelly custom

  • 285 New life for Hartland organ

  • 286 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 287 No sale of Springfield House

  • 288 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 289 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 290 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 291 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 292 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 293 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 294 The cab at the corner>
  • 295 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 296 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 297 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 298 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 299 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 300 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 301 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 302 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 303 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 304 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 305 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 306 He beat the floods

  • 307 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 308

    Was a missionary
  • 309 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 310 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 311

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 312 Finished in 1876

  • 313 Variety in summer weather

  • 314 A man and his wheel

  • 315

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 316 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 317 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 318 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 319 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 320 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 321 Traditions and skills still there

  • 322 Puppet characters introduced

  • 323 Over the bank together>
  • 324 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 325 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 326 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 327 Sight of a lifetime

  • 328 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 329 Northam footballers of the future

  • 330 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 331 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 332 North Devon Driving School

  • 333 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 334 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 335 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 336

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 337 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 338 The Geneva marionettes

  • 339 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 340 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 341 Twenty-one yachts

  • 342 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 343 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 344 Ten year old scrambler

  • 345 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 346 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 348 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 349 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 350 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 351 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 352 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 353 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 354

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 355 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 356 Northam's almshouse

  • 357 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 358

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 359 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 360 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 361 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 362 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 363 By pony and trap to market

  • 364

    Exhibition of school work
  • 365 Waldon Triplets
  • 366 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 367 Police station view of Bideford

  • 368 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 369 Pannier Market's future?

  • 370 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 371

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 372 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 373 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 374 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 375 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 376 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 377 Decontrol of meat

  • 378 Artisans' Club

  • 379 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 380 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 381 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 382

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 383 Some mushroom!

  • 384 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 385 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 386 Hartland Dancers
  • 387 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 388 Simple Item 138
  • 389 For crying out loud!

  • 390 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 392 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 393 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 394 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 395 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 396

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 397 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 398 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 399 Sweets derationing

  • 400 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 401 Parkham plan realised

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

  • 403 Picking the pops

  • 404 Life begins at 80

  • 405 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 406 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 407 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 408 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 409 Peter poses for TV film

  • 410 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 411 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 412 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 413 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 414 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 415 Riverside mystery

  • 416 Service with a smile

  • 417

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 418 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 419 Picking the pops

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

  • 421 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 422 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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She Calls Time at The Ship!

Many foreign tourists dream of finding the ‘Typical British Pub’

visualising it as old and cosy, gleaming with polished wood and brass, filled with good company and presided over by a genial landlord. But now that so many breweries are pursuing ‘modernisation’ policies that de-humanise their premises, visitors are more likely to encounter an atmosphere of clinical artificiality. But not so at one little house at East-the-Water, Bideford. Oh no! where a tradition of national hospitality rests safe in the hand of a licensee who has been in the business for 30 years.

April 1975 Bideford Ship on Launch Bond

Mrs Ella Bond took over ‘The Ship On Launch’ when her mother-in-law died, so an unusual sequence of female management had been sustained for 60 years. Mrs Bond junr became licensee when her late husband joined the RAF in World War II. When he returned home, she continued to take her full share of the work. Though ably supported by her daughter and son-in-law, who live on the premises, and by other helpers, Mrs Bond’s day starts at 7.30am and ‘it is always gone midnight before get to bed.’

As one would expect, Mrs Bond’s premises are spick and span – sparkling with rows of hanging glass tankards, and shining with copper and brass. There is parquet flooring underfoot, a high-backed settle here and there, and wood-topped Victorian tables with decorative cast-iron tables. Round beams support the low ceilings – obviously masts from the shipyard which used to be opposite, and from which the house derives its most unusual name.

April 1975 Bideford Ship on Launch Bond2

“I could write a book about my experiences” she smiled – but pressed for details, was too discreet to divulge any. “We hold a Harvest Festival service here when customers bring in produce that is later auctioned for the blind, and for the funds of St Peter’s Church. Then at Christmas time, the Rector of Bideford conducts carols in the bar.”

1975 is ‘European Heritage Year’ What could be more worthy of preservation, and more typical of our way of life, that the genuine family occupied, well-run, characteristic ‘local’ as exemplified by Mrs Bond and her fascinating ‘Ship On Launch.;

Gazette article dated April 1975

Mr Hobbs retires

Leaves Toy Works Ltd

Mr Bill Hobbs, who has retired after 30 years with Toy Works Ltd, of Handy Cross, Bideford, with the car radio presented to him by workmates, some of long standing and some comparatively new.

27.3.1975 Bideford Toy Works

He began to work for the father of the present chairman and managing director, Mr L Holzer, in Marlow at the end of World War II and after 20 years was one of the employees who opted to ‘go West’ when the company transferred to Bideford in 1965.

But in retirement he is returning ‘home.’

Gazette article April 1975

John Short Braddick

Guaranteed Absolutely Pure

Braddicks Meat Bideford

Under council news it was clear that the advert was the result of a petition to close the slaughterhouse due to bad smells.

Gazette advert dated 2 December 1913

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