• 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 childrens' cinema opens

  • 2 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 3 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 4 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 5 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 6 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 7 So this is the mainland!

  • 8 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 9 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 10 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 11 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 12 Variety in summer weather

  • 13 The Geneva marionettes

  • 14 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 15 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 16 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 17

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 18 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 19 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 20 New Post Office

  • 21 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

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

  • 23 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 24 Blanchards ad.>
  • 25 Northam's almshouse

  • 26 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 27 It really was the 'last time'

  • 28 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 29 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 30 Happy Days!

  • 31 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 32 No sale of Springfield House

  • 33 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 34 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 35 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 36 Devil sent packing

  • 37 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 38 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 39 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 40 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 41 Clovelly nightmare

  • 42 North Devon Driving School

  • 43 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 44

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 45 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 46 Ships at Bideford

  • 47 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 48 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 49 Recognise this resort?

  • 50 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 51 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 52 From Bobby to Brian

  • 53 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 54 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 55 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 56 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 57

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 58 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 59 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 60 Torrington children build igloo
  • 61 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 62 Some mushroom!

  • 63 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 64 Cruising down the river

  • 65

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 66 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 67 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 68 All aboard the ark

  • 69 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 70 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 71 Police station view of Bideford

  • 72 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 73 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 74

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 75 Riverside mystery

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

  • 77 Childrens' model of Torrington

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

  • 79 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 80 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 81 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 82 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 83 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 84 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 85

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 86

    Was a missionary
  • 87 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 88 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 89 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 90 Some 240 exhibits

  • 91 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 92 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 93 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 94 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 95 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 96 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 97 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 98 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 99 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 100 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 101 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 102 Modern living at Bideford

  • 103 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 104 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 105 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 106 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 107 A bird of their own!

  • 108 113 years at Instow

  • 109 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

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

  • 111 New Lundy stamps

  • 112 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 113 Parkham plan realised

  • 114

    Building works
  • 115 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 116

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 117 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 118 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 119 Hartland Dancers
  • 120 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 121 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 122 Emergency ferry services

  • 123 Bridging the stream

  • 124 New addition to Quay front

  • 125 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 126 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 127 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 128

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 129 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 130 Bideford regatta

  • 131 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 132 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 133 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 134 Circus comes to town

  • 135 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 136 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 137 Littleham family's five generations

  • 138 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 139 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 140

    First prize
  • 141 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 142 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 143 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 144 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 145 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 146 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 147 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 148 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 149 Puppet characters introduced

  • 150 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 151 What's the time?

  • 152 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 153 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 154 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 155 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 156 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 157 Last train from Torrington

  • 158 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 159 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 160 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 161 Bideford loses training ship

  • 162 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 163 A roof-top view - where?

  • 164 Picking the pops

  • 165 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 166 Picking the pops

  • 167 Artisans' Club

  • 168 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 169

    Exhibition of school work
  • 170 A man and his wheel

  • 171

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 172 Warmington's garage ad

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

  • 174 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 175 Decontrol of meat

  • 176 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 177 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 178 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 179 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 180 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 181 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 182 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 183 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 184

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 185

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 186 Penny for the guy

  • 187 All for the love of a lady!

  • 188 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 189 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 190 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 191 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 192 Filming at Hartland

  • 193 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 194 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 195 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 196

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 197 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 198 Six footed lamb

  • 199 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 200

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 201 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 202 For crying out loud!

  • 203 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 204 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 205 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 206 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 207

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 208 Just over a year old

  • 209

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 210 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 211

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 212 Torrington's new amenity

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

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

  • 215 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 216 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 217 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 218 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 219 Private home for public pump

  • 220 Burnard family reunion

  • 221 Off on a great adventure

  • 222 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 223 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 224 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 225 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 226 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 227 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 228 Peter poses for TV film

  • 229

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 230 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 231 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 232 Clovelly custom

  • 233 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 234 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 235 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 236 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 237 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 238 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 239 New choral society's growing response

  • 240 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 241 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 242 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 243 He beat the floods

  • 244 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 245 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 246 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 247 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 248 Torrington in 1967

  • 249 New shipyard on schedule

  • 250 School's link with cargo ship

  • 251 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 252 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 253 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 254 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 255 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 256 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 257 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 258 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 259 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 260 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 261 Loads of black and white

  • 262 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 263 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 264 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 265 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 266 Out of puff!

  • 267 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 268 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 269 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 270 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 271 Mobile missionary

  • 272 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 273 They are parted pro-tem

  • 274 Appledore's largest

  • 275 New civic medallions

  • 276 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 277 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 278 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 279 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 280 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 281 Centenary of Gazette

  • 282 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 283 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 284 Over the bank together>
  • 285

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 286 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 287

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 288 In their new robes and hats

  • 289 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 290 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 291 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 292 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 293 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 294 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 295 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 296 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 297 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 298 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 299 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 300

    Married in 1908
  • 301

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 302 Bideford computer stars

  • 303 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 304 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 305 Pannier Market's future?

  • 306

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 307 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 308 Ten year old scrambler

  • 309 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 310 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 311 School crossing patrol begins

  • 312 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 313 The art of the thatcher

  • 314

    Bidefordians
  • 315 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 316 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 317 Sweets derationing

  • 318 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 319 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 320

    New gateway
  • 321 New life for Hartland organ

  • 322 New look in the hayfields

  • 323 Waldon Triplets
  • 324 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 325 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 326 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 327 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 328 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 329 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 330 Can spring be far away?

  • 331 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 332 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 333 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 334 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 335 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 336 Finished in 1876

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

  • 338

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 339 Weare Giffard potato

  • 340 When horses score over the tractor

  • 341 Hartland's invitation

  • 342 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 343 End of the line

  • 344 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 345 Twenty-one yachts

  • 346 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 347 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 348 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 349 No laughing matter

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

  • 351 Northam footballers of the future

  • 352 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 353 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 354 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 355 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 356 First ship in 8 years

  • 357 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 358 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 359 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 360 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 361 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 362 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 363 Life begins at 80

  • 364 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 365 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 366 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 367 Traditions and skills still there

  • 368 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 369 Service with a smile

  • 370 New art gallery opened

  • 371 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 372 Caught in the act>
  • 373 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 374 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 375 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

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

  • 377

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 378 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 379 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 380 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 381

    Relatives all over the world
  • 382 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 383 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 384 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 385 Revenge in style

  • 386 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 387 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 388 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 389 Jumble sale fever

  • 390 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 391 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 392 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 393 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 394

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 395 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 396 Capers on the cobbles

  • 397 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 398 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 400 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 401 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 402 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 403 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 404 The cab at the corner>
  • 405 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 406 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 407 Landmark at Bradworthy

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

  • 409 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 410 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 411 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 412

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 413 By pony and trap to market

  • 414 Sight of a lifetime

  • 415 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 416 A story to tell!

  • 417 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 418 Hartland postman retires

  • 419 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 420 Simple Item 138
  • 421 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 422 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

World War 1

Eastleigh

10.9.1918 Eastleigh

At the Wesleyan Chapel harvest thanksgiving services, sermons were preached by Mr G Babb to large congregations, and on Wednesday last a tea was provided, of which a large number partook. A public meeting followed, presided over by Mr Hulmn, of London. Appropriate addresses were given by the Chairman, the Rev E B Crocker and Mr E Luxon. The report of the Church was presented by Mr W J Copp. The ladies helping at the tea were Mesdames Gear, Copp, Smale, Moule, Shaxton, and Miss Smith and Miss L Martin. At the close of the service the fruit and vegetables were sold and realised the record amount for the Thanksgiving services of £3.
Gazette article dated 10 September 1918

World War 1

Lost and Found

7.9.1918 lost and found

Will the Lady who took the wrong umbrella by mistake from the Quay Cafe, Bideford, on Tuesday last, kindly return it for her own.

Lost, August 24-25, from a field in the Abbotsham Road, a NOTT EWE SHEEP, dipped deep red, marked letter P, also green paint on head;
all reasonable expenses paid - Eastmans, Ltd., Butchers, Bideford

World War 1

Bideford Magistrates Warning

25.8.1918 Westward Ho Wise

At Bideford County Sessions on Tuesday, before Mr C S Carnegie, Col Bennett and Messrs J C T Heriz-Smith, A G Duncan, J Cock, W Harris and S Fulford, Olive Wise, daughter of a lodging-house keeper, of Kingsley Terrace, Westward Ho! was summoned for not obscuring a light visible from the sea on 2nd May. PC Ley spoke to seeing a very bright light coming from a window at 9.50pm. Defendant admitted having forgotten to draw the blind, and when he said he said he should report it she said there were things he ought to report but didn’t.
Her mother said if they were summoned they could afford to pay the fine, and shut the door in his face. The Chairman called defendant’s attention to the fact that considering the position of the coast it was a very serious offence.
The fine could be £100 but under the circumstances the Magistrates ordered the payment of one guinea.
Gazette article dated 25 August 1918

  • 1

Login Form