• 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 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 2 Weare Giffard potato

  • 3 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 4 Torrington's new amenity

  • 5 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 6 Centenary of Gazette

  • 7 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 8 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 9 When horses score over the tractor

  • 10 Finished in 1876

  • 11 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 12 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 13 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 14 Penny for the guy

  • 15 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 16 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 17 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 18 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 19 Devil sent packing

  • 20 Capers on the cobbles

  • 21 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 22 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 23 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 24 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 25 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 26 Some mushroom!

  • 27 Hartland's invitation

  • 28 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 29 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 30 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 31 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 32 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 33 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 34 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 35

    New gateway
  • 36 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 37 New civic medallions

  • 38 School crossing patrol begins

  • 39 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 40 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 41 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 42 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 43 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 44 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 45 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 46

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 47 New shipyard on schedule

  • 48 A man and his wheel

  • 49 What's the time?

  • 50 Bideford regatta

  • 51

    Married in 1908
  • 52 Recognise this resort?

  • 53 No laughing matter

  • 54 New Lundy stamps

  • 55 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 56 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 57 Picking the pops

  • 58 New choral society's growing response

  • 59 Can spring be far away?

  • 60 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 61 Cruising down the river

  • 62 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 63 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 64 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 65 Twenty-one yachts

  • 66 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 67 Puppet characters introduced

  • 68 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 69 Hartland Dancers
  • 70 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 71

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 72 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 73 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 74 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 75 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 76 Northam footballers of the future

  • 77 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 78 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 79 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 80 New life for Hartland organ

  • 81 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 82 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 83 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 84 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 85

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 86 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 87 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 88 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 89 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 90

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 91 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

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

  • 93 Sweets derationing

  • 94 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 95

    First prize
  • 96 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 97 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 98 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 99 From Bobby to Brian

  • 100 All for the love of a lady!

  • 101 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 102 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 103 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 104

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 105 Bideford computer stars

  • 106 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 107 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 108 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 109

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 110 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 111 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 112 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 113 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 114 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 115 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 116 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 117 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 118

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 119 Appledore's largest

  • 120 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 121 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 122 Torrington in 1967

  • 123 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 124 Six footed lamb

  • 125 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 126 End of the line

  • 127 A story to tell!

  • 128 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 129 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 130 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 131 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 132 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 133 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 134 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 135 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 136 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 137 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 138 Colour TV salesman at eight

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

  • 140 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 141 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 142 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 143

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 144 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 145 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 146 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 147 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 148 Traditions and skills still there

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

  • 150 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 151 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 152 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 153 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 154

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 155 Bideford loses training ship

  • 156 So this is the mainland!

  • 157

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 158 New art gallery opened

  • 159 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 160 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 161 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 162 Sight of a lifetime

  • 163 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 164 Police station view of Bideford

  • 165 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 166 Littleham family's five generations

  • 167 Ten year old scrambler

  • 168 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 169 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

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

  • 171 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 172 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 173 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 174 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 175 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 176 Out of puff!

  • 177 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 178 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 179 No sale of Springfield House

  • 180 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 181 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 182 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 183 Service with a smile

  • 184 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 185 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 186 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 187 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 188 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 189 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 190 Picking the pops

  • 191 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 192 113 years at Instow

  • 193 The cab at the corner>
  • 194 Bridging the stream

  • 195 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 196 The art of the thatcher

  • 197 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 198 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 199 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 200 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 201

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 202

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 203 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 204 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 205 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 206 The Geneva marionettes

  • 207 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 208 Burnard family reunion

  • 209 Peter poses for TV film

  • 210 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 211 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 212 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 213 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 214 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 215 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 216 Artisans' Club

  • 217

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 218 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 219

    Relatives all over the world
  • 220 Parkham plan realised

  • 221 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 222 Ships at Bideford

  • 223 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 224 He beat the floods

  • 225 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 226 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 227 Blanchards ad.>
  • 228 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 229 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 230 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

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

  • 232 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 233 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 234 Jumble sale fever

  • 235 All aboard the ark

  • 236 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 237 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 238 Private home for public pump

  • 239 Last train from Torrington

  • 240 Riverside mystery

  • 241 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 242 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 243 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 244

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 245 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 246

    Building works
  • 247 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 248 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 249

    Bidefordians
  • 250 They are parted pro-tem

  • 251 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 252 By pony and trap to market

  • 253 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 254 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 255 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 256 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 257 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 258 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 259 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 260 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 261 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 262 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 263 Loads of black and white

  • 264 Variety in summer weather

  • 265 In their new robes and hats

  • 266 New addition to Quay front

  • 267 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 268 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 269

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 270 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 271

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 272 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 273 For crying out loud!

  • 274 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 275

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 276 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 277 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 278 Hartland postman retires

  • 279 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 280 Caught in the act>
  • 281 Circus comes to town

  • 282 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 283 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 284 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 285

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 286 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 287 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

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

  • 289 Filming at Hartland

  • 290 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 291 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 292 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 293 Emergency ferry services

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

  • 295

    Exhibition of school work
  • 296 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 297 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 298 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 299 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 300 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 301 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 302 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 303 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 304 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 305 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 306 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 307 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 308 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 309 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 310 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 311 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 312 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 313 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 314 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 315 Torrington children build igloo
  • 316 Off on a great adventure

  • 317

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 318 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 319 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 320 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 321 Revenge in style

  • 322 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 323 Pannier Market's future?

  • 324 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 325 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 326 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 327 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 328 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 329 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 330 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 332 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 333 Clovelly nightmare

  • 334 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 335 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 336 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 337 New look in the hayfields

  • 338 Sooty is quick on the draw

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

  • 340 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 341 Happy Days!

  • 342 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 343 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 344 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 345 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 346

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 347 Mobile missionary

  • 348 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 349 New Post Office

  • 350

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 351 Simple Item 138
  • 352 Just over a year old

  • 353 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 354 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 355 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 356 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 357 Northam's almshouse

  • 358 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 359 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 360 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 361 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 362 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 363 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 364

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 365 Saving money, wear and tear

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

  • 367 First ship in 8 years

  • 368 Clovelly custom

  • 369 A bird of their own!

  • 370 North Devon Driving School

  • 371 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 372 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 373 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 374 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 375 A roof-top view - where?

  • 376 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 377 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 378 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 379 Over the bank together>
  • 380 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 381 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 382 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 383 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 384

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 385 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 386 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 387 It really was the 'last time'

  • 388 Waldon Triplets
  • 389 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 390 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 391

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 392 Modern living at Bideford

  • 393 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 394 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 395 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 396 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 397 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 398

    Was a missionary
  • 399 Life begins at 80

  • 400 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 401 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 402 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 403 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 404 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 405 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 406 Some 240 exhibits

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

  • 408 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 409 Decontrol of meat

  • 410 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 411 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 412 Warmington's garage ad

  • 413 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 414 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 415 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 416

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 417 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 418 School's link with cargo ship

  • 419 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 420 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 421 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 422 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Three Times Asked - Three Times Refused

Chips paper on pavement

Three times he had asked a fairground attendant to pick up a fish and chips bag the man had thrown onto the pavement in Allhalland Street and each time the request was refused,
Police Constable G Thrupp told Bideford magistrates on Tuesday.

13.9.1957 Hugh Henny fined

Before the court was Hugh Henny, whose address was given as c/o F Whitelegg's, The Fairground, Bideford, who pleaded 'guilty' to depositing litter on the highway in contravention of a Borough bye-law.

Henny, who told the magistrates he had nothing to say, was fined £2 with the alternative of 14 days' imprisonment. He said he earned £6 a week and was paid on Sundays. He was allowed until September 23rd to pay.

Gazette article dated 13 September 1957

Drove tractor at Parkham without licence

When a police officer stopped Gerald Braund

driving a tractor through Parkham village and asked him to produce his driving licence, he replied “I haven’t got one but I would like to learn to drive as soon as I know if I am being kept on in this job or not.”

Braund was told by the Chairman of the Bench, Mr R B Blackmore, “We do not want to jeopardise your work so we have decided not to disqualify you as we could have done or perhaps we should have done.”

He was fined £7.

16.5.1958 Parkham Braund

Full article dated 16 May 1958

Detective's Jump From Window

Chasing Bideford Shop Intruder

21.2.1958 Tamplin Bideford

Answering a call, Detective-Constable E J Tamplin went to the shop owned by Miss F Hicks. Someone was heard making escape through the building and into the garden and Detective-Constable Tamplin jumped from the bathroom window at the rear of the building to the ground, but the intruder managed to escape.

Police Inspector W Bond said "We are hoping that inquiries will lead to the matter being satisfactorily settled."

Full article dated 21 February 1958

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