• 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 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 2 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 3 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 4 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 6 Warmington's garage ad

  • 7

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 8 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 9 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 10 New art gallery opened

  • 11 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 12 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 13 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 14 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 15

    First prize
  • 16 Hartland's invitation

  • 17 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 18 Traditions and skills still there

  • 19 North Devon Driving School

  • 20 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 21 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 22 What's the time?

  • 23 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 24 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 25 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 26 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 27 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 28 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 29 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 30 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 31 Capers on the cobbles

  • 32 No sale of Springfield House

  • 33 Bideford computer stars

  • 34 Burnard family reunion

  • 35 Ten year old scrambler

  • 36 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 37 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 38 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 39 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 40 Pannier Market's future?

  • 41 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 42 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 43 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

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

  • 45 Finished in 1876

  • 46

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 47 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 48 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 49 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 50 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 51 Torrington children build igloo
  • 52 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 53 Just over a year old

  • 54 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 55 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 56 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 57 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 58 Filming at Hartland

  • 59 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 60 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 61 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 62 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 63 Hartland Dancers
  • 64

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 65

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 66 He beat the floods

  • 67 Variety in summer weather

  • 68 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 69 Torrington in 1967

  • 70 Recognise this resort?

  • 71 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 72 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 73 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 74 Revenge in style

  • 75 It really was the 'last time'

  • 76 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 77 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 78 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 79 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 80 Last train from Torrington

  • 81 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 82

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 83 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 84 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 85 New Post Office

  • 86 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 87 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 88 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 89 Hartland postman retires

  • 90 New choral society's growing response

  • 91 First ship in 8 years

  • 92 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 93 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 94 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 95 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 96 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 97 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 98 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 99 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 100

    Was a missionary
  • 101 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 102 School's link with cargo ship

  • 103 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 104 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 105 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 106 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 107 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 108 Decontrol of meat

  • 109 Littleham family's five generations

  • 110 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 111 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 112 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 113 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 114 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 115 Caught in the act>
  • 116 Cruising down the river

  • 117 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 118 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 119 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 120 By pony and trap to market

  • 121 Jumble sale fever

  • 122 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 123 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 124 Life begins at 80

  • 125 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 126 Weare Giffard potato

  • 127 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 128 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 129 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 130 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 131 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 132 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 133

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 134 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 135 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 136 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 137 New civic medallions

  • 138 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 139 Some 240 exhibits

  • 140 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 141 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 142

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 143 Peter poses for TV film

  • 144 Torrington's new amenity

  • 145 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 146 Sailing to victory at Appledore

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

  • 148 Modern living at Bideford

  • 149 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 150

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 151 Service with a smile

  • 152 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 153 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 154 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 155 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 156 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

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

  • 158 Picking the pops

  • 159 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

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

  • 161 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 162 New look in the hayfields

  • 163 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 164 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 165 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 166 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 167 Clovelly nightmare

  • 168

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 169 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 170 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 171 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 172 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 173 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 174 Appledore's largest

  • 175 Bideford loses training ship

  • 176 Blanchards ad.>
  • 177 School crossing patrol begins

  • 178 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 179 New life for Hartland organ

  • 180 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 181 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 182 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 183 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 184 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 185 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 186 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 187 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 188 New Lundy stamps

  • 189 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 190 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 191

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 192 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 193 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 194 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 195 For crying out loud!

  • 196 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 197 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 198 Waldon Triplets
  • 199 Centenary of Gazette

  • 200 All aboard the ark

  • 201 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 202 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 203 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 204 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 205

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 206 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 207 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 208 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 209 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 210

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 211 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 212

    Married in 1908
  • 213 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 214 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 215

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 216 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 217 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 218 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 219 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 220 Police station view of Bideford

  • 221 In their new robes and hats

  • 222 Clovelly custom

  • 223 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 224

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 225 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 226 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 227 The Geneva marionettes

  • 228 So this is the mainland!

  • 229 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 230 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 231 Simple Item 138
  • 232 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 233 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 234 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 235 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 236 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 237 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 238 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 239 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 240 Some mushroom!

  • 241 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 242 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 243 Loads of black and white

  • 244 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 245 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 246

    Relatives all over the world
  • 247 Artisans' Club

  • 248 Can spring be far away?

  • 249 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 250 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 251 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 252 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 253 Emergency ferry services

  • 254 Television comes to Torridge District

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

  • 256 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 257 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 258 The art of the thatcher

  • 259 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 260 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 261 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 262 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 263

    Bidefordians
  • 264 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 265 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 266

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 267 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 268 When horses score over the tractor

  • 269 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 270 Off on a great adventure

  • 271 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 272 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 273 Riverside mystery

  • 274 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 275 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 276 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 277 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 278 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 279 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 280 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 281 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 282 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 283 Over the bank together>
  • 284 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 285 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 286

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 287 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 288 No laughing matter

  • 289 Chess - their bridge over the years

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

  • 291 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 292 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 293 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 294 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 295 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 296 Liked holidays here - so starts business

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

  • 298 Penny for the guy

  • 299 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 300 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 301 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 302

    Building works
  • 303 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 304 Picking the pops

  • 305 Northam footballers of the future

  • 306 The cab at the corner>
  • 307 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 308 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 309 New shipyard on schedule

  • 310 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 311 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 312 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 313 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 314 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 315 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 316 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 317 Bridging the stream

  • 318 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 319

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 320 New addition to Quay front

  • 321 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 322 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 323 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 324 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 325 Six footed lamb

  • 326 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 327 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 328 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 329 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 330 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 331 Sweets derationing

  • 332 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 333 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 334 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 335 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 336 Happy Days!

  • 337 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 338 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 339

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 340 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 341 Parkham plan realised

  • 342 113 years at Instow

  • 343

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 344 Mobile missionary

  • 345 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 346 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 347 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 348

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 349 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 350 Bideford regatta

  • 351 Sight of a lifetime

  • 352 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 353 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 354

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 355 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 356

    New gateway
  • 357 Northam's almshouse

  • 358 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 359 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 360 Ships at Bideford

  • 361 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 362 A bird of their own!

  • 363 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 364 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 365 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 366

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 367

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 368

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 369 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 370 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 371 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 372 A story to tell!

  • 373 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 374 From Bobby to Brian

  • 375 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 376 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 377 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 378 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 379 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 380 End of the line

  • 381 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 382 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 383 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 384 Circus comes to town

  • 385 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 386 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 387 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 388 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 389 A man and his wheel

  • 390 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 391 Twenty-one yachts

  • 392 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 393 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 394 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 395 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 396

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 397

    Exhibition of school work
  • 398 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 399 Private home for public pump

  • 400 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 401 They are parted pro-tem

  • 402 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 403 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 404 Puppet characters introduced

  • 405 Devil sent packing

  • 406 A roof-top view - where?

  • 407 Faints as she wins national competition

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

  • 409 All for the love of a lady!

  • 410 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 411 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 412 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 413 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 414 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 415 X-ray shoe fitting

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

  • 417 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 418 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 419 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 420 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 421 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 422 Out of puff!

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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  • 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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  • 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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Blending With The Countryside

Blending With The Countryside - 6th January 1948

6 January 1948 Airey type Council houses
 

These are the first 'Airy' type Council houses to be constructed in Bideford Rural District. They are also understood to be the first of their type in England to have colour-washed exteriors and tarred plinths to blend with the countryside.
These houses, which are at Monkleigh and have been named Lee Avenue as a tribute to Mr W G Lee (Monkleigh representative on the Rural District Council), have aroused the special interest of the Ministry of Health. Representatives of the Ministry are shortly to inspect them with a view to considering the adoption of the external finish technique elsewhere. It is expected the houses will be completed early in the New Year.

Mystery Fire Shuts Westward Ho! Cafe

Mystery Fire Shuts Westward Ho! Cafe - 4th June 1971

4.6.1971 Fire at WHo
 

The cause of a fire that did thousands of pounds of damage at the Malibu Restaurant in Westbourne Terrace, Westward Ho! at about 8am on Saturday remains a mystery. The alarm was given by staff members when the outbreak occurred in the kitchen and firemen from Appledore and Bideford (the latter with two appliances) had to wear breathing apparatus because of the smoke. It was thought that damage had largely been confined to that caused by smoke, but subsequent examination revealed that although this was so on the first floor, formica walls and ceilings downstairs were so badly affected that they have to be renewed. Mr and Mrs K C Tarrant, of Bognor Regis, took over the business from Mr J W Needs about a month ago. 'My wife and I had worked from early morning until late at night to set the place as we wanted it,' said Mr Tarrant. 'We had started trading, were doing well and everything was just right.' Even if things go well, it will be a month before the business reopens. The new centre of the cafe was a fish and chip range, which was destroyed, and the makers have given a delivery date in August. Mr and Mrs Tarrant, who do not live on the premises, have been overwhelmed by the kindness of fellow traders who had offered practical help, including equipment and stock. 'We are deeply grateful' said Mr Tarrant. 'Until this time we had felt outsiders. It has helped us to that extent.'

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