• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 2 Puppet characters introduced

  • 3 Last train from Torrington

  • 4 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 5 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 6 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 7 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 8 New addition to Quay front

  • 9

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 10

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 11 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 12 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 13 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 14 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 15 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 16 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 17 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 18 Traditions and skills still there

  • 19 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 20 Decontrol of meat

  • 21 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 22 Clovelly nightmare

  • 23 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 24 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 25 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 26 Modern living at Bideford

  • 27 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 28 Torrington in 1967

  • 29 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 30

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 31 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 32 Penny for the guy

  • 33 New shipyard on schedule

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

  • 35 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 36 Warmington's garage ad

  • 37 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 39 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 40 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 41 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 42 Police station view of Bideford

  • 43 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 44 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 45 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 46 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 47 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 48

    Relatives all over the world
  • 49 Bideford computer stars

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

  • 51 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 52 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 53 Peter poses for TV film

  • 54 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 55 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 56 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 57 Twenty-one yachts

  • 58 North Devon Driving School

  • 59

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 60 Bideford regatta

  • 61 Out of puff!

  • 62 A roof-top view - where?

  • 63 New art gallery opened

  • 64 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 65 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 66 Sweets derationing

  • 67 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 68 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 69

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 70

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 71 Torrington's new amenity

  • 72

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 73 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 74 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 75 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 76 All aboard the ark

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

  • 78 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 79 When horses score over the tractor

  • 80 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 81 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 82 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 83 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 84

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 85 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 86 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 87 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 88 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 89 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 90 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 91 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 92 The art of the thatcher

  • 93 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 94 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 95 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 96 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 97 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 98 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 99 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 100 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 101 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 102 School crossing patrol begins

  • 103 End of the line

  • 104 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 105 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 106 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 107 Loads of black and white

  • 108

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 109 A bird of their own!

  • 110 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 111 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 112 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 113

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 114 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 115 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 116 Life begins at 80

  • 117 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 118 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 119 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 120 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 121 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 122 New civic medallions

  • 123 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

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

  • 125 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 126 Ten year old scrambler

  • 127 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 128 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 129 Some 240 exhibits

  • 130 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 131

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 132 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 133

    Bidefordians
  • 134 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 135 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 136 Centenary of Gazette

  • 137 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 138 Jumble sale fever

  • 139 New Lundy stamps

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

  • 141 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 142 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 143 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 144 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 145 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 146 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 147 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 148 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 149 Caught in the act>
  • 150 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 151 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 152 Mobile missionary

  • 153 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 154

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 155

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 156 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 157 Northam footballers of the future

  • 158 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 159 Blanchards ad.>
  • 160 Over the bank together>
  • 161 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 162 Bridging the stream

  • 163 New look in the hayfields

  • 164

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 165 No laughing matter

  • 166 From Bobby to Brian

  • 167 Hartland's invitation

  • 168 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 169 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 170 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 171 Simple Item 138
  • 172 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 173

    First prize
  • 174 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 175 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 176 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 177 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 178 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 179 Clovelly custom

  • 180 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 181 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 182 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 183 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 184 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 185 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 186 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 187 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 188 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 189 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 190 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 191 He beat the floods

  • 192 Happy Days!

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

  • 194 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 195 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 196 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 197 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 198 It really was the 'last time'

  • 199 For crying out loud!

  • 200 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 201 Artisans' Club

  • 202

    Was a missionary
  • 203 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 204 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 205 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 206 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 207 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 208 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

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

  • 210 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 211 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 212 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 213 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 214 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 215 Steep street of old Bideford

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

  • 217 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 218 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 219 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 220 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 221 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 222 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 223 Circus comes to town

  • 224 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 225 The Geneva marionettes

  • 226 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 227 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 228 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 229 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 230 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 231 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 232 Capers on the cobbles

  • 233 Can spring be far away?

  • 234 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 235

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 236 Six footed lamb

  • 237 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 238 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 239 Burnard family reunion

  • 240 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 241 Northam's almshouse

  • 242 They are parted pro-tem

  • 243 Some mushroom!

  • 244 Private home for public pump

  • 245 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 246 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 247 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 248

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 249 Bideford loses training ship

  • 250 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 251 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 252 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 253 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 254 School's link with cargo ship

  • 255

    Married in 1908
  • 256 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 257 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 258 Variety in summer weather

  • 259

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 260 Finished in 1876

  • 261 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 262 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 263 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 264 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 265 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 266 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 267

    New gateway
  • 268

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 269 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 270 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 271 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 272 Torrington children build igloo
  • 273 Picking the pops

  • 274 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 275 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 276 A story to tell!

  • 277 Service with a smile

  • 278 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 279 The cab at the corner>
  • 280 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 281 113 years at Instow

  • 282 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 283

    Building works
  • 284 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 285 No sale of Springfield House

  • 286 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 287

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 288 New Post Office

  • 289 Weare Giffard potato

  • 290 Recognise this resort?

  • 291 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 292 By pony and trap to market

  • 293 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 294 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 295 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

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

  • 297 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 298 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 299 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 300 Just over a year old

  • 301

    Exhibition of school work
  • 302 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 303 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 304 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 305 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 306 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 307 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 308 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 309

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 310 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 311 Waldon Triplets
  • 312 All for the love of a lady!

  • 313 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 314 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 315 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 316 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 317 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 318 Devil sent packing

  • 319 New choral society's growing response

  • 320 Hartland Dancers
  • 321 Parkham plan realised

  • 322 Picking the pops

  • 323 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 324 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 325 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 326 Appledore's largest

  • 327 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 328 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 329 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 330 So this is the mainland!

  • 331 Revenge in style

  • 332 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 333 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 334 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 335 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 336 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 337 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 338 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 339 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 340

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 341 A man and his wheel

  • 342 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 343 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 344 Off on a great adventure

  • 345

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 346 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 347 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 348 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 349 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 350 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 351 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 352 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 353 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 354 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 355 In their new robes and hats

  • 356 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 357 Riverside mystery

  • 358 Filming at Hartland

  • 359 New life for Hartland organ

  • 360 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 361 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 362 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 363 Pannier Market's future?

  • 364 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 365 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 366 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 367 Emergency ferry services

  • 368 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 369 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 370 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 371 Ships at Bideford

  • 372 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 373 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 374 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 375 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 376 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

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

  • 378 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 379 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 380 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 381 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 382 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 383 Littleham family's five generations

  • 384 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 385 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 386

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 387 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 388 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 389 First ship in 8 years

  • 390 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 391 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 392 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 393 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 394 Cruising down the river

  • 395 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 396 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 397

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 398 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 399 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 400 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 401 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 402 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 403 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 405 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 406 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 407 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 408

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 409 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 410 Space dominates Hartland carnival

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

  • 412 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 413 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 414 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 415 What's the time?

  • 416 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 417 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 418 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 419 Sight of a lifetime

  • 420 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

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

  • 422 Hartland postman retires

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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;

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

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

  • 1

Login Form