• 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 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 2 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 3 Circus comes to town

  • 4 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 5 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 6 Off on a great adventure

  • 7 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 8 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 9 School's link with cargo ship

  • 10 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 11 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 12 He beat the floods

  • 13 North Devon Driving School

  • 14 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 15 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 16 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 17 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 18 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 19 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 20 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 21 New choral society's growing response

  • 22 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 23 Bridging the stream

  • 24 School crossing patrol begins

  • 25 Variety in summer weather

  • 26 Torrington in 1967

  • 27

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 28 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 29 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 30 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 31 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 32 No laughing matter

  • 33 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 34 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 35 Caught in the act>
  • 36 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 37 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 38 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 39 Modern living at Bideford

  • 40 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 41 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 42 Some 240 exhibits

  • 43 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 44 Service with a smile

  • 45 113 years at Instow

  • 46 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 47 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 48

    New gateway
  • 49 Mobile missionary

  • 50 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 51 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 52 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 53 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 54 New art gallery opened

  • 55 A roof-top view - where?

  • 56 In their new robes and hats

  • 57 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 58 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 59 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 60 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 61 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 62 Riverside mystery

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

  • 64 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

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

  • 66 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 67 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 68 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 69 Simple Item 138
  • 70 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 71 Bideford regatta

  • 72 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 73 Blanchards ad.>
  • 74 New Post Office

  • 75 Waldon Triplets
  • 76 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 77 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 78 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 79

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 80 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 81 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 82 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 83 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 84 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 85 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 86 Burnard family reunion

  • 87 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 88 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 89 Artisans' Club

  • 90 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 91 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 92

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 93 New addition to Quay front

  • 94 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 95 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 96 A story to tell!

  • 97

    First prize
  • 98 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 100 All aboard the ark

  • 101 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 102 When horses score over the tractor

  • 103 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 104 Capers on the cobbles

  • 105 Peter poses for TV film

  • 106 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 107 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 108 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 109 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 110 First ship in 8 years

  • 111 Ships at Bideford

  • 112 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 113 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 114 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 115 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 116 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 118 It really was the 'last time'

  • 119 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 120 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 121 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 122 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 123 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 124 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 125 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 126 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 127 Appledore's largest

  • 128 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 129 End of the line

  • 130 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 131 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 132 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 133 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 134

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 135 Pannier Market's future?

  • 136 What's the time?

  • 137 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 138

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 139

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 140 Life begins at 80

  • 141 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 142 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 143

    Was a missionary
  • 144 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 145 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 146 New Lundy stamps

  • 147

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 148 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 149 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 150 Jumble sale fever

  • 151 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 152 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 153 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 154 Weare Giffard potato

  • 155 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 156 All for the love of a lady!

  • 157 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 158 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 159 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 160

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 161 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 162 Can spring be far away?

  • 163 New look in the hayfields

  • 164 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 165 Revenge in style

  • 166 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 167 Sight of a lifetime

  • 168 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 169 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 170 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 171 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 172 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 173 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 174 Over the bank together>
  • 175 Bideford computer stars

  • 176 Sweets derationing

  • 177 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 178 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 179 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 180 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 181 Bicycle now does donkey work

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

  • 183 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 184 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 185 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 186 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 187

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 188 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 189 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 190 No sale of Springfield House

  • 191 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 192 Hartland's invitation

  • 193 Sailing to victory at Appledore

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

  • 195 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 196 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 197 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 198 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 199 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 200 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 201 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 202 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 203 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 204 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 205 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 206 The cab at the corner>
  • 207 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 208 Littleham family's five generations

  • 209 Torrington's new amenity

  • 210 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 211 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 212 Traditions and skills still there

  • 213 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 214 Out of puff!

  • 215 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 216 Warmington's garage ad

  • 217 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 218 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 219 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 220 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 221 The Geneva marionettes

  • 222 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 223 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 224 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 225 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 226 Emergency ferry services

  • 227 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 228 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

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

  • 230 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 231 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 232 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 233 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 234 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 235 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 236

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 237 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 238 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 239 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 240 Devil sent packing

  • 241 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 242

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 243 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 244 Six footed lamb

  • 245 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 246 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 247 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 248 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 249 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 250 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 251 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 252 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 253 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 254 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 255 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 256 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 257 Ten year old scrambler

  • 258 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 259 Finished in 1876

  • 260 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 261 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 262 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 263 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 264

    Bidefordians
  • 265 Happy Days!

  • 266

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 267 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 268 Hartland postman retires

  • 269

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 270 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 271 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 272 Recognise this resort?

  • 273 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 274 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 275 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 276 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 277 Just over a year old

  • 278 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 279 Picking the pops

  • 280 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 281

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 282 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 283 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 284 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 285 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 286 Centenary of Gazette

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

  • 288 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 289 The art of the thatcher

  • 290 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 291 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

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

  • 293

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 294 Picking the pops

  • 295 New shipyard on schedule

  • 296 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 297 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 298

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 299 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 300 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 301 Penny for the guy

  • 302 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 303 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 304 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 305 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 306 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 307 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 308 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 309 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 310 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 311 Northam footballers of the future

  • 312

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 313 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 314 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 315 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 316 Last train from Torrington

  • 317 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 318 Puppet characters introduced

  • 319 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 320 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 321 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

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

  • 323 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 324 Loads of black and white

  • 325 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 326 A man and his wheel

  • 327

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 328 From Bobby to Brian

  • 329 Private home for public pump

  • 330 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 331 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 332 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 333 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 334 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 335 Cruising down the river

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

  • 337 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 338

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 339 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 340 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 341 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 342

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 343 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 344 Police station view of Bideford

  • 345 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 346 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 347 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 348 Clovelly nightmare

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

  • 350 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 351 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 352 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 353 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 354 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 355 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 356 New civic medallions

  • 357 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 358

    Exhibition of school work
  • 359 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 360 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 361 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 362 Torrington children build igloo
  • 363

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

  • 365 Twenty-one yachts

  • 366 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 367 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 368 For crying out loud!

  • 369 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 370 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 371 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 372 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 373 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 374 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 375 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 376 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 377 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 378 Northam's almshouse

  • 379 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 380 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 381

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 382 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 383 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 385 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 386

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 387 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 388 Parkham plan realised

  • 389

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 390

    Relatives all over the world
  • 391 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 392 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 393 By pony and trap to market

  • 394

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 395 So this is the mainland!

  • 396 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 397 New life for Hartland organ

  • 398 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 399 Getting up steam for tomorrow

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

  • 401

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 402 They are parted pro-tem

  • 403 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 404 Clovelly custom

  • 405 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 406 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 407 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 408 Hartland Dancers
  • 409 A bird of their own!

  • 410 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 411

    Building works
  • 412 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 413 Filming at Hartland

  • 414 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 415 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 416 Decontrol of meat

  • 417 Some mushroom!

  • 418 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 419 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 420 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 421 Bideford loses training ship

  • 422 Photo mural in Bideford bank

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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Alwington collection

A collection has been made in the parish towards sending a parcel to each man from Alwington who is now serving in His Majesty's Army and Navy, as a token of remembrance from the parish.

2.3.1918 Alwington collection

Miss A Lott collected £15 17s. 8d., Mr G Bailey £6 7s., Mr R Pennington £4 4s. 6d.; Proceeds of entertainment, £6 - total amount £32 9s. 2d. A committee has been appointed to select the parcels and forward to each man.
Gazette article dated 2 March 1918

Commemorative

Coronation Letter From the Mayor

Coronation Letter From the Mayor - 1911

1911 Coronation Letter from Mayor
 

To the Editor of the "Bideford Weekly Gazette"
Dear Sir,
I am sending you herewith for publication a Balance Sheet giving the amounts received by me, the payments made through the Committee, and showing a credit balance of £5.
It is my intention very shortly to call a public meeting with a view of suggesting the desirability of providing iron gates and railings for the Victoria Park as a permanent memorial, and if this idea is adopted the above balance could be applied to a special fund to be raised for this purpose.
The proceedings on Coronation Day passed off I think, as all will admit, most satisfactorily, and on behalf of the Committee I desire to thank all those who assisted either with their own personal services or by lending labour and materials in making the day such a successful one.
I should like to say how much also the consideration of the Licensed Victuallers in closing their houses during the time of the Church services was appreciated.
Yours truly,
J U Fulford,
Mayor

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