• Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

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  • 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 Fundraising trip for RNLI

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

  • 3 Burnard family reunion

  • 4 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 5 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 6 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 7

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 8 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 9 Penny for the guy

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

  • 11 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 12 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 13 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 14 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 15 Picking the pops

  • 16 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 17 Finished in 1876

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

  • 19 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 20 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 21 Torrington children build igloo
  • 22 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 23 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 24 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 25 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 26

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 27 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 28 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 29

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 30 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 31 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 32 Clovelly nightmare

  • 33

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 34 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 35 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 36 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 37 Simple Item 138
  • 38 It really was the 'last time'

  • 39

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 40 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 41 Weare Giffard potato

  • 42 A bird of their own!

  • 43 Can spring be far away?

  • 44 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

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

  • 46 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 47 Puppet characters introduced

  • 48 Waldon Triplets
  • 49 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 50

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 51 Traditions and skills still there

  • 52

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 53 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 54 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 55

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 56 Over the bank together>
  • 57 By pony and trap to market

  • 58 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 59 Torrington Church's new organ

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

  • 61 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 62 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

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

  • 64 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 65 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 66 Some 240 exhibits

  • 67

    First prize
  • 68 Hartland postman retires

  • 69 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 70 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 71 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 72 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 73 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 74

    Married in 1908
  • 75 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 76 Cruising down the river

  • 77 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 78 A man and his wheel

  • 79 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 80

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 81 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 82 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 83 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 84 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 85 Northam's almshouse

  • 86 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 87 The cab at the corner>
  • 88 Twenty-one yachts

  • 89 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 90 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 91 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 92 Six footed lamb

  • 93 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 94 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 95 Picking the pops

  • 96 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 97 Sight of a lifetime

  • 98 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 99 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 100 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 101 Just over a year old

  • 102 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 103

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 104 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 105 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 106 Devil sent packing

  • 107 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 108 Appledore's largest

  • 109 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 110 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 111 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 112 New Post Office

  • 113 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 114 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 115 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

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

  • 117 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 118 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 119 What's the time?

  • 120 Capers on the cobbles

  • 121 New look in the hayfields

  • 122 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 123 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 124 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 125 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 126 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 127 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 128

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 129 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 130 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 131 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 132 When horses score over the tractor

  • 133 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 134

    Was a missionary
  • 135 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 136 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 137 First ship in 8 years

  • 138 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 139 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 140 New Lundy stamps

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

  • 142 Bideford computer stars

  • 143 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 144

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 145 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 146 Ship-in-bottle world record

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

  • 148 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 149 A roof-top view - where?

  • 150 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 151 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 152

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 153 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 154 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 155 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 156 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 157 Torrington's new amenity

  • 158 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 159 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 160 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 161 Emergency ferry services

  • 162 Clovelly custom

  • 163

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 164 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 165 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 166 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 167 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 168 From Bobby to Brian

  • 169 Mobile missionary

  • 170 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 171 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 172 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 173 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 174 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 175 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 176 New art gallery opened

  • 177 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 178 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 179 New Estate's view of estuary activities

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

  • 181 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 182 North Devon Driving School

  • 183 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 184 New shipyard on schedule

  • 185 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 186 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 187 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 188 Sweets derationing

  • 189 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 190 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 191 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 192 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 193 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 194 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 195 Hartland Dancers
  • 196 Police station view of Bideford

  • 197

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 198 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 199 Peter poses for TV film

  • 200 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 201 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 202 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 203 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 204 Bridging the stream

  • 205 The art of the thatcher

  • 206 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 207 Pannier Market's future?

  • 208 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 209 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 210 Ships at Bideford

  • 211 Parkham plan realised

  • 212 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 213

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 214 New civic medallions

  • 215 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 216 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 217 No sale of Springfield House

  • 218 Warmington's garage ad

  • 219 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 220 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 221 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 222 They are parted pro-tem

  • 223 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 224 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 225 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 226 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 227

    Exhibition of school work
  • 228 Circus comes to town

  • 229 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 230 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 231 Off on a great adventure

  • 232

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 233 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 234 Jumble sale fever

  • 235 Revenge in style

  • 236 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 237 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 238 New life for Hartland organ

  • 239 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 240

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 241 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 242 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 243 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 244 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 245 Blanchards ad.>
  • 246 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 247 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 248 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 249 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 250 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 251 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 252 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 253 Some mushroom!

  • 254 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 255 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 256 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 257 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 258

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 259

    Relatives all over the world
  • 260 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 261 Variety in summer weather

  • 262 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 263 Centenary of Gazette

  • 264 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 265 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 266 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 267

    New gateway
  • 268 Service with a smile

  • 269 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 270 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 271

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 272 Last train from Torrington

  • 273 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 274 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 275 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 276 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 277 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 278 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 279 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 280 New addition to Quay front

  • 281 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 282 Ten year old scrambler

  • 283 School's link with cargo ship

  • 284 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 285 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 286 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 287 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 288 The Geneva marionettes

  • 289 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 290 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 291 All for the love of a lady!

  • 292 So this is the mainland!

  • 293

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 294 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 295 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 296 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 297 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 298 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 299 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 300 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 301 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 302 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 303 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 304 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 305 Artisans' Club

  • 306 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 307 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 308 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 309 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 310 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 311 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 312 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 313 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 314 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 315 Out of puff!

  • 316 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 317 Life begins at 80

  • 318 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 319 Torrington in 1967

  • 320 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 321 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 322 Northam footballers of the future

  • 323 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 324

    Building works
  • 325 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 326 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 327 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 328 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 329 Record pebble-throwing day

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

  • 331 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 332 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 333 Private home for public pump

  • 334 Littleham family's five generations

  • 335 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 336 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 337 No laughing matter

  • 338 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 339 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 340 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 342 Caught in the act>
  • 343

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 344 Bideford loses training ship

  • 345 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 346 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 347 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 348 School crossing patrol begins

  • 349 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 350 Filming at Hartland

  • 351 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 352 113 years at Instow

  • 353 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 354 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 355

    Bidefordians
  • 356 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 357 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 358 New choral society's growing response

  • 359 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 360 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 361 Riverside mystery

  • 362 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 363 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 364 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 365 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 366 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 367 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 368 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 369 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 370 Hartland's invitation

  • 371 Decontrol of meat

  • 372 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 373 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 374 Bideford regatta

  • 375 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 376 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 377 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 378 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 379 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 380 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 381 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 382 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 383 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 384 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 385 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 386 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 387 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 388 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 389 End of the line

  • 390 Recognise this resort?

  • 391 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 392 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 393

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 394 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 395 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 396 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 397 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 398

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 399

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 400 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 401 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 402 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 403 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 404 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 405 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 406 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 407 For crying out loud!

  • 408 In their new robes and hats

  • 409 He beat the floods

  • 410 A story to tell!

  • 411 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 412 All aboard the ark

  • 413 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 414 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 415 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 416 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 417 Loads of black and white

  • 418 Modern living at Bideford

  • 419 Happy Days!

  • 420 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 421 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 422 Success to Festival of the Arts

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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  • 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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  • 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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Confirmation in school gym 21st February 1964

Confirmation in school gym 21st February 1964

confirmation in school gymTwo of 52 boys of Grenville College who were confirmed on Sunday morning kneel before the Bishop of Crediton (Right Rev. Wilfred Westall) who officiated at this, the first such service to be held at the college.  The Bishop was assisted by the school chaplain (Rev. D R Jones) and during the Communion, which over 200 took, two other priests assisted.  One of these was a great uncle of one of the candidates and the other, the Rev E G  Bevan (Vicar of Abbotsham), who is a member of the school's teaching staff.

The boys were presented to the Bishop by Mr J R Crabbe (headmaster).

Death of Mr Sidney G Rendle

38 Years with Gazette

1964 Rendle

Mr Sidney G Rendle, of 14 Coldharbour, Bideford whose death occurred on Sunday in Bideford Hospital, retired in February of this year after 38 years as billposter and storeman with the Bideford Gazette.
Aged 65 and a member of a well known Northam family, he volunteered for the Army in the First World War at the age of 16, joining the Devonshire Regiment. In four and a half years, he served in Mesopotamia, India, Salonika and Italy. After the war he was for four years engaged on the construction of Bideford Sports Ground and as a groundsman there, where he came into touch with Mr Frederick Lee, then editor of Bideford Gazette.
He leaves a widow and married daughter, Mrs Olive Patt.

Making a splash in Torrington Pool in 1978

Proving a popular attraction at Torrington swimming pool is a new springboard, recently installed at a cost of £600.

1978 Torrington pool

Much of the money for the board, which is designed to fold back when the pool is too crowded for its use, was raised by pool superintendent Mr John Langmead and his wife.

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