• 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 Parkham plan realised

  • 2 Puppet characters introduced

  • 3 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 4 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 5 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 6 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 7

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 8 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 9 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 10 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 11 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 12 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 13 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 14 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 15

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 16 Bideford computer stars

  • 17 Quads join a Langtree happy family

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

  • 19 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 20 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 21 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 22 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 23 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 24 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 25 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 26 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 27 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 28 New look in the hayfields

  • 29 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 30 Bideford regatta

  • 31 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 32 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 33

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 34 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 35 Northam footballers of the future

  • 36 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 37 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 38 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 39 The art of the thatcher

  • 40 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 41 Police station view of Bideford

  • 42 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 43 It really was the 'last time'

  • 44 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 45 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 46 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 47 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 48 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 49 Life begins at 80

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

  • 51 New Post Office

  • 52 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 53 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 54 Bridging the stream

  • 55 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 56 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 57 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 58 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 59 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 60 113 years at Instow

  • 61 Some mushroom!

  • 62 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 63 Twenty-one yachts

  • 64 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 65 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 66 Fleet of foot and fair of face

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

  • 68 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 69 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 70

    Building works
  • 71 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 72 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 73 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 74 Picking the pops

  • 75 Ten year old scrambler

  • 76 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 77 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 78

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 79 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 80 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

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

  • 82 Emergency ferry services

  • 83 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 84 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 85 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 86 Picking the pops

  • 87 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 88 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 89 Artisans' Club

  • 90 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 91 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 92 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 93 Weare Giffard potato

  • 94 Service with a smile

  • 95 Sight of a lifetime

  • 96 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 97 Waldon Triplets
  • 98 Northam's almshouse

  • 99 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 100 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 101 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 102 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 103 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 104 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 105 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 106 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 107 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 108 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 109

    New gateway
  • 110 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 111 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 112 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 113 Clovelly custom

  • 114 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 115 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 116 Happy Days!

  • 117 School crossing patrol begins

  • 118 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 119 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 120 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 121 When horses score over the tractor

  • 122 All aboard the ark

  • 123 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 124 New fire and ambulance stations

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

  • 126 Torrington children build igloo
  • 127 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 128 The cab at the corner>
  • 129 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

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

  • 131 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 132 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 133 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 134 Off on a great adventure

  • 135

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 136 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 137 They are parted pro-tem

  • 138 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 139 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 140

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 141 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 142 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 143 New Lundy stamps

  • 144 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 145 New life for Hartland organ

  • 146 Traditions and skills still there

  • 147 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 148 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 149 Warmington's garage ad

  • 150 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 151 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 152 From Bobby to Brian

  • 153

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 154 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 155

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 156 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 157 New shipyard on schedule

  • 158 Pannier Market's future?

  • 159 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 160 He beat the floods

  • 161

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

  • 163

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 164 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 165 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 166 Caught in the act>
  • 167

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 168 Appledore's largest

  • 169 A bird of their own!

  • 170 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

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

  • 172 Mobile missionary

  • 173 A man and his wheel

  • 174 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 175 Out of puff!

  • 176 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 177 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 178 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 179 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 180 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 181 School's link with cargo ship

  • 182

    Was a missionary
  • 183 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 184 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 185 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 186 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 187 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 188

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 189 Jumble sale fever

  • 190 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 191 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 192 Cruising down the river

  • 193 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 194 Filming at Hartland

  • 195 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 196 First ship in 8 years

  • 197 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 198 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 199 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 200 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 201

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 202 New addition to Quay front

  • 203 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 204 Private home for public pump

  • 205 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 206 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 207 Hartland's invitation

  • 208 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 209 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 210 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 211 Riverside mystery

  • 212 Recognise this resort?

  • 213 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 214 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 215 Devil sent packing

  • 216 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 217 Modern living at Bideford

  • 218 By pony and trap to market

  • 219 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 220 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 221 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 222 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 223 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 224 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 225 No sale of Springfield House

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

  • 227 Some 240 exhibits

  • 228

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 229 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 230 Just over a year old

  • 231 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 232 For crying out loud!

  • 233 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 234

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 235 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 236 End of the line

  • 237 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 238 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 239 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 240 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 241 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 242 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 243 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 244 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 245 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 246 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 247

    Married in 1908
  • 248 New art gallery opened

  • 249 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 250 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 251 What's the time?

  • 252 Clovelly nightmare

  • 253 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 254 No laughing matter

  • 255 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 256 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 257 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 258 Revenge in style

  • 259 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 260 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 261 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 262 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 263 Torrington in 1967

  • 264 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 265 Peter poses for TV film

  • 266 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 267 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 268 All for the love of a lady!

  • 269 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 270 Loads of black and white

  • 271 Hartland Dancers
  • 272 So this is the mainland!

  • 273

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 274 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 275 Finished in 1876

  • 276

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 277 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 278 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 279 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 280 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 281 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 282 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 283 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 284 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 285 Last train from Torrington

  • 286

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 287 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 288 Simple Item 138
  • 289 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 290 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 291 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 292 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 293 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 294 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 295 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 296 Ships at Bideford

  • 297 The Geneva marionettes

  • 298 Over the bank together>
  • 299 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 300 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 301 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 302 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 303 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 304

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 305 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 306 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 307 New civic medallions

  • 308 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 309 Sweets derationing

  • 310 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 311 Littleham family's five generations

  • 312 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 313 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 314

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 315 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 316 A story to tell!

  • 317 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 318 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 319 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 320 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 321 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 322 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 323 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 324 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 325 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 326 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 327 Circus comes to town

  • 328

    Exhibition of school work
  • 329 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 330 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 332

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 333 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 334 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 335

    Bidefordians
  • 336 North Devon Driving School

  • 337 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 338 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 339 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 340 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 341

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 342 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 343 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 344 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 345 Decontrol of meat

  • 346 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 347 Capers on the cobbles

  • 348

    Relatives all over the world
  • 349 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 350 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 351 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 352 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 353 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 354

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 355 New choral society's growing response

  • 356 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 357 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 358 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 359 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 360 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 361 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 362 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 363 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 364 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 365 A roof-top view - where?

  • 366

    First prize
  • 367 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 368 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 369 Penny for the guy

  • 370 Six footed lamb

  • 371 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 372 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 373 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 374 Burnard family reunion

  • 375 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 376 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 377 Centenary of Gazette

  • 378 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 379 In their new robes and hats

  • 380 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 381 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 382 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 383 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 384 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

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

  • 386 Torrington's new amenity

  • 387 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 388 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 389 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 390 Variety in summer weather

  • 391 Blanchards ad.>
  • 392 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 393 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 394

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 395 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 396 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 397 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 398 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 399 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 400 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 401 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 402 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 403 Can spring be far away?

  • 404 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 405 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 406 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 407 Bideford loses training ship

  • 408 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 409 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 410

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 411 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 412 Hartland postman retires

  • 413 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 414 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 415 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 416 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 417 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 418 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 419 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 420 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 421 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 422 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

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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Yeoldon House

Durrant Lane, Northam

13.1.1978 Yeoldon House Northam

Enjoy CORDON BLEU CUISINE
and FINE WINES in Quiet Comfort overlooking the River
On Sunday Night help yourself to our Candlelit Smorgasbord
Also Sunday Lunches

For bookings Tel Bideford 4400

Gazette article dated 13 January 1978

Elizabethan Club

WESTWARD HO!

13.1.1978 Elizabethan Club WHo

Sat, Jan 14

Freeway

Dancing from 8pm

Sun, Jan 15

Ronnie Wallis Trio

MEMBERS FREE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Guests (Saturday) 50p, Sunday Members only

 

Gazette dated 13 January 1978

The Penney's returning to Australia

Winkleigh Old-World ‘Pub’ As Prize?


8.6.1956 Winkleigh pub
It is understood that a leading London newspaper company with interests in commercial television are interested in the purchase of the old-world thatched public house, the Ring O’ Bells, Winkleigh, as a competition prize.

The present owner, Mr Bill Penney, told the Bideford Gazette he could not confirm or deny the rumours at the moment, although he mentioned that newspaper and television men had been there.

In recent weeks, a Derby race-horse, ‘Affiliation Order’ was given away as a prize in a newspaper sponsored competition.

The Ring o’ Bells, described by a resident as a ‘very comfortable little place to have a drink’ is one of those ‘pubs’ that novelists always feel bound to describe in Devonshire settings – with white-washed walls, thatched roof and oak-beamed bar, decorated with brasses, where the local brew of cider is still sold. In addition the Ring o’ Bells has around the bar walls aboriginal boomerangs and shields that give a clue to mine host, Mr Bill Penney, long before one hears his Australian accent.

Mr and Mrs Bill Penney met in this country when Mr Penney was over here with the Australian forces during the war. When the war ended they went to Australia and ran a large ‘Returned Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia’ Club in Sydney. The next six and a half years they spent at Papua in New Guinea, managing another club there for the first two years and then opening a native trade store. By 1954, when they decided to sell everything and leave New Guinea because of the heat and general conditions there, they had two stores and had built their own house in Papua. Mr and Mrs Penney came back to this country with the express intention of buying a ‘pub’ in Devon, Mrs Penney having fallen in love with what little she had seen of the country before going abroad.

Mrs Penney had visions of oak beams and brasses and at the Ring o’ Bells, Winkleigh, which is built adjoining the gateway to the parish church, she and her husband had the false ceiling stripped to reveal the original oak beams hidden underneath and made quite a number of other improvements although, of course, the brasses decorating the war and the old oak settle retained.

Mr and Mrs Penney are planning to return to Australia and are hoping to sail for Sydney next March.

Article dated 8 June 1956

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