• 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 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 2 New addition to Quay front

  • 3 Off on a great adventure

  • 4 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 5 Recognise this resort?

  • 6 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 7

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 8 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 9 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 10 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 11 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 12 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 13 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 14 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 15 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 16 Sweets derationing

  • 17 When horses score over the tractor

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

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

  • 20 Bideford loses training ship

  • 21 Riverside mystery

  • 22 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 23 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 24 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 25 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 26 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 27 Life begins at 80

  • 28 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 29 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 30 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 31 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 32 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 33 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 34 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 35 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 36 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 37 Sight of a lifetime

  • 38

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 39 Waldon Triplets
  • 40 Out of puff!

  • 41 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 42 Blanchards ad.>
  • 43 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 44 Variety in summer weather

  • 45 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 46 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 47 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 48 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 49 Penny for the guy

  • 50 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 51 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 52 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 53 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 54 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 55 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 56 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 57 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 58 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 59 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 60 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 61 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 62 Torrington's new amenity

  • 63 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 64

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 65 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 66 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 67 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 68 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 69 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 70 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 71 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 72 The cab at the corner>
  • 73

    Building works
  • 74 Ships at Bideford

  • 75 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 76 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 77 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 78

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 79 A bird of their own!

  • 80 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 81 Just over a year old

  • 82

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 83 Mural in the whimsical fashion

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

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

  • 86 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 87 From Bobby to Brian

  • 88 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 89 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 90 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 91 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 92 Artisans' Club

  • 93 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 94 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 95 Northam footballers of the future

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

  • 97 Hartland postman retires

  • 98 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 99 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 100

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 101 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 102 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 103 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 104 Caught in the act>
  • 105 End of the line

  • 106 Twenty-one yachts

  • 107 Hartland's invitation

  • 108 New life for Hartland organ

  • 109 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 110 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 111 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 112 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 113 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 114

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 115 Centenary of Gazette

  • 116 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 117 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 118 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 119 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 120 By pony and trap to market

  • 121 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 122 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 123 Warmington's garage ad

  • 124 The Geneva marionettes

  • 125

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 126 Burnard family reunion

  • 127 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 128

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 129 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 130 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 131 Torrington Church's new organ

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

  • 133 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 134 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 135 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 136 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 137 First ship in 8 years

  • 138 Peter poses for TV film

  • 139 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 140

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 141 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 142 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 143 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 144 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 145 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 146 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 147 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 148 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 149 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 150 All for the love of a lady!

  • 151 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 152 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 153 Bridging the stream

  • 154

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 155 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 156 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 157 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 158 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 159 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 160 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 161 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 162 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 163 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 164

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 165 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 166 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 167 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 168 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 169 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 170 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 171 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 172 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 173 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 174 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 175 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 176 Parkham plan realised

  • 177

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 178

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 179 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 180 Loads of black and white

  • 181

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 182 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 183 He beat the floods

  • 184

    Exhibition of school work
  • 185 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 186 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 187 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 188 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 189 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 190 Police station view of Bideford

  • 191 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 192 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

  • 194 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 195

    Married in 1908
  • 196 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 197 Devil sent packing

  • 198 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 199 Service with a smile

  • 200 It really was the 'last time'

  • 201 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 202

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 203 Weare Giffard potato

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

  • 205 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 206 Pannier Market's future?

  • 207 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 208 In their new robes and hats

  • 209 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 210 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 211 School crossing patrol begins

  • 212 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 213 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 214 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 215 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 216 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 217 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 218 Traditions and skills still there

  • 219 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 220

    First prize
  • 221 Littleham family's five generations

  • 222 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 223 So this is the mainland!

  • 224 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 225 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 226 Last train from Torrington

  • 227 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 228 113 years at Instow

  • 229 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 230 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 231 New choral society's growing response

  • 232 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 233 Clovelly custom

  • 234 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 235 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 236 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 237 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 238 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 239 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 240 Northam's almshouse

  • 241 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 242 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 243 New art gallery opened

  • 244 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 245 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 246 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 247 Modern living at Bideford

  • 248 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 249 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 250 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 251 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 252 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 253 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 254 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 255 All aboard the ark

  • 256 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 257

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 258 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

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

  • 260

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 261 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 262 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 263 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 264

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 265 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 266 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 267 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 268

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 269 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 270 Revenge in style

  • 271 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 272 Circus comes to town

  • 273 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 274 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 275 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 276 A man and his wheel

  • 277 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 278 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 279 Torrington in 1967

  • 280 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 281 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 282 Emergency ferry services

  • 283 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 284 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 285 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 286 Some mushroom!

  • 287 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 288 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 289 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 290 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 291 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 292

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 293 New shipyard on schedule

  • 294 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 295 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 296 Can spring be far away?

  • 297 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 298 Filming at Hartland

  • 299 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 300 Puppet characters introduced

  • 301 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 302 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 303 Over the bank together>
  • 304

    New gateway
  • 305 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 306 Finished in 1876

  • 307 No laughing matter

  • 308 School's link with cargo ship

  • 309 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 310 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 311 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 312 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 313 They are parted pro-tem

  • 314 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 315 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 316 New Lundy stamps

  • 317 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 318 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 319 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 320 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 321 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 322 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 323 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 324 New Post Office

  • 325 Ten year old scrambler

  • 326 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 327 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 328 Decontrol of meat

  • 329 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 330 New civic medallions

  • 331 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 332 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 333 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 334 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 336 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 337 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 338 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 339 Bideford regatta

  • 340 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 341 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 342 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 343 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 344 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 345 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 346 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 348 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 349 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 350 Torrington children build igloo
  • 351 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 352 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 353 Picking the pops

  • 354 The art of the thatcher

  • 355 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 356 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 357 Some 240 exhibits

  • 358 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 359 A roof-top view - where?

  • 360 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 361

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 362 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 363 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 364 Simple Item 138
  • 365 Appledore's largest

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

  • 367 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 368

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 369 Jumble sale fever

  • 370 Capers on the cobbles

  • 371 Hartland Dancers
  • 372

    Was a missionary
  • 373 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 374 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 375 Private home for public pump

  • 376 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 377 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 378 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 379 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 380 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 381 Clovelly nightmare

  • 382

    Relatives all over the world
  • 383 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 384 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 385 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 386 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 387 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 388 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 389 New look in the hayfields

  • 390

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 391 For crying out loud!

  • 392 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 393 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 394 Mobile missionary

  • 395 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 396 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 397 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 398 What's the time?

  • 399 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 400 Cruising down the river

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

  • 402 No sale of Springfield House

  • 403 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 404 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 405 North Devon Driving School

  • 406 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 407 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 408 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 409 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 410

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 411 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 412 Happy Days!

  • 413 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 414 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 415 Six footed lamb

  • 416 Bideford computer stars

  • 417 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 418 A story to tell!

  • 419 Picking the pops

  • 420 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 421 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 422

    Bidefordians
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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Instow

20.8.1918 Instow

Corporal Edward Wm Yeo, RAMC, a son of Mr and Mrs H Yeo, of Instow, has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. The award is fully deserved, for not only is Corpl. Yeo a most efficient and painstaking non-com., but he has seen three years most arduous service. He went through the landing at Gallopoli and the subsequent operations on the peninsula, next took part in the retreat in Serbia, afterwards doing duty in Egypt, Macedonia and Palestine, being still in the latter country. Sergt Yeo has three brothers with the forces and a fourth is working on aircraft.
Gazette article dated 20 August 1918

World War 1

Hartland

20.8.1918 Hartland

Hospital Sunday was observed on August 11th.
Rev H John Christman conducted both services at the United Methodist Church. His subject in the afternoon was ‘God everywhere; and God knowing all about me’. The evening sermon was from Luke 8, 10, ‘Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God’.
Bideford Hospital receives £7 10s, which is nearly the same as last year.
Gazette article dated 20 August 1918

World War 1

Eastleigh

20.8.1918 Eastleigh

Sergt. G Alford (Devons), whose wife and child reside at Eastleigh has qualified as an Instructor of Musketry and the Lewis Machine Gun. He has also recently won a certificate for bombing.
Sergt Alford proceeded to India in January 1916 and afterwards to Mesopotamia, taking part in the advance for the relief of Knt. For the past eighteen months he has been in India on account of ill health.
Gazette article dated 20 August 1918

  • 1

Login Form