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

  • 2 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 3 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 4 Last train from Torrington

  • 5 Decontrol of meat

  • 6 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 7 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 8 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 9

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 10 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 11 Finished in 1876

  • 12 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 13 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 14 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 15 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 16 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 17 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 18 New shipyard on schedule

  • 19 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 20

    Married in 1908
  • 21 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 22 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 23 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 24 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 25 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 26 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 27 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 28 End of the line

  • 29 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 30 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 31 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 32 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 33 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 34 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 35 Some 240 exhibits

  • 36 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 37 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 38

    Relatives all over the world
  • 39 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 40 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 41 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 42 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 43 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 44

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 45 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 46 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 47 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 48 Capers on the cobbles

  • 49

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 50 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 51 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 52 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 53 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 54 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 55 No laughing matter

  • 56 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 57 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 58 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 59 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 60 Torrington children build igloo
  • 61 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 62 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 63 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 64 Northam's almshouse

  • 65 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 66 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 67 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 68 So this is the mainland!

  • 69 No sale of Springfield House

  • 70 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 71

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 72

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 73 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 74 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 75 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 76 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 77 Parkham plan realised

  • 78 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 79 For crying out loud!

  • 80 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 81 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 82 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 83 Simple Item 138
  • 84 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 85 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 86 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 87 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 88 Penny for the guy

  • 89 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 90 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

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

  • 92 A story to tell!

  • 93 Picking the pops

  • 94 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 95

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 96 Torrington in 1967

  • 97 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 98 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 99 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 100

    First prize
  • 101 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 102 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 104 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 105 Bideford loses training ship

  • 106 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 107 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 108

    Exhibition of school work
  • 109 Hartland postman retires

  • 110 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 111

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 112 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 113 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 114 Blanchards ad.>
  • 115 He beat the floods

  • 116 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 117 Life begins at 80

  • 118 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 119 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 120 Just over a year old

  • 121 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 122 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 123 When horses score over the tractor

  • 124 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 125 Waldon Triplets
  • 126 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 127

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 128 North Devon Driving School

  • 129 Riverside mystery

  • 130 School crossing patrol begins

  • 131 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 132 From Bobby to Brian

  • 133 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 134 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 135 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 136 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 137 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 138 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 139 Centenary of Gazette

  • 140 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 141 Circus comes to town

  • 142 Modern living at Bideford

  • 143 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 144 Bridging the stream

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

  • 146 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 147 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 149 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 150 Service with a smile

  • 151 Ships at Bideford

  • 152 Littleham family's five generations

  • 153 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 154 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 155 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 156

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 157 New choral society's growing response

  • 158 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 159 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 160 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 161 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 162 Sight of a lifetime

  • 163 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 164 Northam footballers of the future

  • 165 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 166 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 167 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 168

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 169 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 170 Caught in the act>
  • 171 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 172 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 174 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 175 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 176 New Lundy stamps

  • 177 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 178 They are parted pro-tem

  • 179 Mobile missionary

  • 180 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 181 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 182 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 183 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 184 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 185 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 186 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 187 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 188

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 189 School's link with cargo ship

  • 190 By pony and trap to market

  • 191 Emergency ferry services

  • 192 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 193 Jumble sale fever

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

  • 195 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 196 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 197 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 198 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 199 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 200 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 201 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 202 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 203 Peter poses for TV film

  • 204 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 205 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 206 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 207 Clovelly custom

  • 208 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 209 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 210 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 211 Weare Giffard potato

  • 212 Revenge in style

  • 213

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 214 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 215 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 216 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 217 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 218 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 219 Out of puff!

  • 220 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 221 Devil sent packing

  • 222 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 223 Loads of black and white

  • 224 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 225 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 226 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 227 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 228 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 229 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 230 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 231 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 232

    New gateway
  • 233

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 234 Police station view of Bideford

  • 235 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 236 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 237 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 238 What's the time?

  • 239 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 240 Warmington's garage ad

  • 241

    Bidefordians
  • 242 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 243 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 244 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

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

  • 246 Can spring be far away?

  • 247 New Post Office

  • 248 Appledore's largest

  • 249

    Was a missionary
  • 250

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 251 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 252 Bideford computer stars

  • 253 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 254

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 255

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 256 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 257 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 258 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 259 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 260 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 261 In their new robes and hats

  • 262 Picking the pops

  • 263 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 264 Off on a great adventure

  • 265 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 266 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 267 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 268 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 269 Bideford regatta

  • 270 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 271 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 272 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 273 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 274 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 275 Twenty-one yachts

  • 276 Happy Days!

  • 277 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 278 Puppet characters introduced

  • 279 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 280 Hartland's invitation

  • 281 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 282 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 283 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 284 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 285 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 286 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 287 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 288 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 289 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 290 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 291 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 292 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 293 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 294

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 295 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 296 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 297

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 298

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 299 First ship in 8 years

  • 300 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 301 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 302 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 303 Variety in summer weather

  • 304 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 305 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 306 A bird of their own!

  • 307 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 308 Burnard family reunion

  • 309 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 310 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 312 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 313

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 314 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 315 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 316

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 317 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 318 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 319 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 320 The cab at the corner>
  • 321 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 322 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 323 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 324 Hartland Dancers
  • 325 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 326 Torrington's new amenity

  • 327 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 328 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 329 Recognise this resort?

  • 330 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 331 Pannier Market's future?

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

  • 333 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 334 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 335 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 336 Unique holiday adventure!

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

  • 338 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 339 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 340 Entente cordiale in Bideford

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

  • 342 All aboard the ark

  • 343 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 344 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 345 Over the bank together>
  • 346 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 347 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 348 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 349 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 350 Ten year old scrambler

  • 351 113 years at Instow

  • 352 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 353 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 354 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 355 New life for Hartland organ

  • 356 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 357 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 358 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 359 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 360 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 361 The art of the thatcher

  • 362 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 363 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 364

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 365 New art gallery opened

  • 366 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 367 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 368 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 369 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 370 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 371 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 372

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 373 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 374 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 375 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 376

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 377 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 378 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 379 New civic medallions

  • 380 All for the love of a lady!

  • 381 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 382 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 383 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 384 Clovelly nightmare

  • 385 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 386 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 387 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 388 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 389 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 390 Cruising down the river

  • 391 A man and his wheel

  • 392 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 393 Private home for public pump

  • 394

    Building works
  • 395 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 396 Artisans' Club

  • 397 It really was the 'last time'

  • 398 A roof-top view - where?

  • 399 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 400 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 401 The Geneva marionettes

  • 402 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 403 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 404 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 405 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 406 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 407 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 408 Some mushroom!

  • 409 New addition to Quay front

  • 410 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 411

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 412 Six footed lamb

  • 413 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 414 Filming at Hartland

  • 415 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 416 New look in the hayfields

  • 417 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 418 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 419 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 420 Traditions and skills still there

  • 421 Sweets derationing

  • 422 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

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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World War 1

Littleham Wedding

Pickard-Heywood

17.9.1918 Littleham wedding

A pretty wedding was solemnized on Sept 11th at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Littleham, specifically licensed for the occasion, the contracting parties being Mr Percy Pickard of Littlehampton, Sussex (third son of Mr and Mrs W B Pickard, Queen Anne’s, Bideford) and Louisa Matilda Heywood (second daughter of Mr A J Heywood, and the late Mrs Heywood, of Littleham Court).
The officiating minister was the Rev J T Tyreman, Superintendent Minister of the Circuit. The bridesmaid was Miss Elizabeth Heywood and Mr Ralph Pickard, in the absence of his brother, Mr A Pickard, ERA, off active service, acted as ‘best man’.
A reception of immediate friends was held at Littleham Court after the wedding and later in the day the happy couple left for Exeter en route to Littllehampton, Sussex.
The bouquets were supplied by Mr R H Yeo, High Street, Bideford, and the carriages by Messrs R Blackmore and Son.
Gazette article dated 17 September 1918

 

World War 1

Bideford Innkeeper and His Lease

17.9.1918 Bideford innkeeper

At Bideford County Court on Wednesday the application was further considered of J T Arberry to determine the least of the Joiners’ Arms, Bideford, now held under Mrs C J Wiley. The case had been adjourned to see what could be done when applicant joined the Army, which was the reason of his application, he having no one to carry on, and being unable to obtain a tenant at the same rent.
It was reported that the furniture had been sold and the place closed down. Arberry was not represented, and his Honour Judge Lindley dismissed his application, the lease remaining in existence with Arberry liable for the rent.

Gazette article dated 17 September 1918

World War 1

Bideford Weekly Gazette
Tuesday September 10, 1918

10.9.1918 War weapons

Bideford and Districts’ very successful War Weapons Week, when it raised £40,500, exceeding the amount asked for by £5,500, has been officially recognised by letters of congratulation from the National War Savings Committee in London, and from the County Organising Secretary (Mr J E Holden) to Mr J H Osborn, the local Secretary, and to Mr F A Searle, temporary Secretary. “We warmly congratulate you and your co-workers upon the success achieved and would ask you to be good enough to convey to all concerned our hearty thanks for their co-operation” runs the letter from Headquarters.

 

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