• 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 Torrington in 1967

  • 2 Centenary of Gazette

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

  • 4 Capers on the cobbles

  • 5 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 6 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 7 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 8 Northam footballers of the future

  • 9 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 10 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 11 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 12 No sale of Springfield House

  • 13 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 14 New look in the hayfields

  • 15 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 16 New Post Office

  • 17 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 18 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 19 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 20 First ship in 8 years

  • 21

    Married in 1908
  • 22 It really was the 'last time'

  • 23 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 24 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 25 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 26 New shipyard on schedule

  • 27 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 28 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 29 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 30

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 31 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 32 Blanchards ad.>
  • 33 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 34 Over the bank together>
  • 35 Loads of black and white

  • 36 They never miss a game at Torrington

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

  • 38 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 39 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 40 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 41 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 42 End of the line

  • 43

    Exhibition of school work
  • 44 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 45 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 46 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 47 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 48 What's the time?

  • 49 Parkham plan realised

  • 50 Six footed lamb

  • 51 Warmington's garage ad

  • 52 Picking the pops

  • 53 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 54 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 55

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 56 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 57 All for the love of a lady!

  • 58 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 59 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 60 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 61 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 62 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 63 When horses score over the tractor

  • 64 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 65 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

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

  • 67 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 68 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 69 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 70 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 71 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 72

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 73 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 74 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 75 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 76 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 77

    New gateway
  • 78 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 79 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 80 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 81 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 82 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 83 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 84 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 85 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 86 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 87 Jumble sale fever

  • 88

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 89 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 90 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 91 Some mushroom!

  • 92

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 93 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 94 Private home for public pump

  • 95 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 96 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 97 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 98 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 99 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 100 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 101 Decontrol of meat

  • 102 From Bobby to Brian

  • 103 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 104 Hartland's invitation

  • 105

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 106 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 107 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 108 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 109 The Geneva marionettes

  • 110 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 111 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 112 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 113

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 114 Artisans' Club

  • 115 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 116 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 117 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 118 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 119 Happy Days!

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

  • 121 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 122 Hartland postman retires

  • 123 Waldon Triplets
  • 124

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 125 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 126 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 127 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 128 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 129

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 130 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 131 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 132 New art gallery opened

  • 133 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 134 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 135 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 136 School's link with cargo ship

  • 137 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 138 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 139 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 140 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 141 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 142 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 143 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 144

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 145 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 146 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 147 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 148 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 149 Revenge in style

  • 150 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 151 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 152 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 153 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 154 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 155

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 156

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 157 Pannier Market's future?

  • 158 Traditions and skills still there

  • 159 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 160 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 161 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 162 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 163 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 164 Northam's almshouse

  • 165 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 166 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 167 New addition to Quay front

  • 168 Off on a great adventure

  • 169 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 170 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 171 Modern living at Bideford

  • 172 School crossing patrol begins

  • 173

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 174 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 175 The art of the thatcher

  • 176 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 177

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 178 Mobile missionary

  • 179 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 180 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 181 Clovelly custom

  • 182 Ten year old scrambler

  • 183 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 184 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 185 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 186 Bideford computer stars

  • 187 Ships at Bideford

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

  • 189 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

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

  • 191 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 192 New life for Hartland organ

  • 193 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 194

    Was a missionary
  • 195 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 196 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 197 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 198 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 199 Some 240 exhibits

  • 200 So this is the mainland!

  • 201 He beat the floods

  • 202 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 203 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 204 Burnard family reunion

  • 205 Torrington children build igloo
  • 206 A bird of their own!

  • 207 Recognise this resort?

  • 208 New Lundy stamps

  • 209 Twenty-one yachts

  • 210 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 211 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 212 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 213 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 214 Last train from Torrington

  • 215 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 216 No laughing matter

  • 217 Finished in 1876

  • 218 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 219 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 220 Cruising down the river

  • 221 Life begins at 80

  • 222 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 223 Bideford loses training ship

  • 224 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 225 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 226 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 227 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 228 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 229 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 230 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 231 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 232 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 233 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 234

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 235 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 236 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 237 Peter poses for TV film

  • 238 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 239 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 240 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 241 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 242 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 243 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 244 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 246 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 247 A roof-top view - where?

  • 248 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 249 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 250 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 251 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 252 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 253 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 254 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 255 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 256 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 257 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 258 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 259

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 260 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 261 Littleham family's five generations

  • 262 Appledore's largest

  • 263 Service with a smile

  • 264 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 265 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 266 Just over a year old

  • 267 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 268 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 269 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 270 Riverside mystery

  • 271

    Building works
  • 272 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 273 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 274 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 275 Out of puff!

  • 276 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 277 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 278 Puppet characters introduced

  • 279 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 280 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 281 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 282 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 283 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 284 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 285 Filming at Hartland

  • 286 Police station view of Bideford

  • 287 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 288 Sight of a lifetime

  • 289 Clovelly nightmare

  • 290 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 291 Variety in summer weather

  • 292 Penny for the guy

  • 293 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 294 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 295

    Bidefordians
  • 296 North Devon Driving School

  • 297 All aboard the ark

  • 298 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 299 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 300 A story to tell!

  • 301 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 302 Simple Item 138
  • 303

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 304 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 305 Devil sent packing

  • 306

    Relatives all over the world
  • 307 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 308 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 309 Weare Giffard potato

  • 310 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 311 By pony and trap to market

  • 312

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 313

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 314 Caught in the act>
  • 315 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 316 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 317 Picking the pops

  • 318 Can spring be far away?

  • 319 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 320 Farewell to passenger trains

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

  • 322 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 323 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 324 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 325 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 326 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 327 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

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

  • 329 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 330 Hartland Dancers
  • 331 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 332 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 333 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 334 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 335 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 336 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 337 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 338 Bridging the stream

  • 339 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 340 A man and his wheel

  • 341 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 342 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 343 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 344 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 345 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 346 The cab at the corner>
  • 347 113 years at Instow

  • 348 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 349 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 350 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 351 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 352 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 353 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 354 Sweets derationing

  • 355 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 356

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 357 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 358 Circus comes to town

  • 359 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 360 Born 1883 - still going strong

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

  • 362

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 363 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 364

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 365

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 366 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 367 New choral society's growing response

  • 368 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 369 Up-to-date Bideford!

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

  • 371 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 372 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 373 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 374 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 375 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 376 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 377

    First prize
  • 378 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 379 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 380 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 381 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 382

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 383 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 384 Emergency ferry services

  • 385 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 386 In their new robes and hats

  • 387 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 388 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 389 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 390 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 391 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 392

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 393 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 394 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 395 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 396 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 397 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 398 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 399 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 400 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 401 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 402 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 403 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 404 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 405 New civic medallions

  • 406 For crying out loud!

  • 407 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 408 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 409 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 410 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 411 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 412 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 413 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 414 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 415 They are parted pro-tem

  • 416 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 417 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 418 Bideford regatta

  • 419 Torrington's new amenity

  • 420 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 421 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 422 Making way for the double-deckers

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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  • 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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  • 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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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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Fined £1

‘Nothing To Do With Me’

26.1.1951 Frithelstock Glover finedFor driving an agricultural tractor with thresher attached without lights at Landcross on December 18th, Merlin Glover, of Ebber Down, Frithelstock, was fined £1 by Bideford County Magistrates.

Police Inspector E H Turner said he overtook the tractor at 5.20pm on December 18th, forty-four minutes after lighting up time. There was a considerable amount of traffic on the road and the night was dark. When asked why he was driving without lights, Glover said ‘It’s nothing to do with me, you had better ask the boss.’

Glover told the magistrates the lights had failed to work.

Gazette article dated 26 January 1951

Bideford tops the crime polls

Bideford Top For Crime?

25.3.1977 crime Bideford

For a town of its size Bideford has one of the worst crime rates in the country, Woman Police Sergeant Rowe, of Barnstaple, told Bideford WI. She talked about her job as juvenile liaison officer and told how the police in conjunction with the Social Services deal with problem families and runaways and work to combat juvenile delinquency. Mrs Beaumont thanked her.

Mrs Poore reported on the inaugural meeting of a proposed Bideford Amenity Society.

The competition – decorated birthday cake – was won by Mrs Peake, with Mrs Leigh and Mrs Davies second and third. But as another entry was said by the judge to be the best sponge it was agreed that she should make the cake for competition at Bideford and Mrs Peake should ice it. A tablecloth made by Mrs Davies for the group meeting was on display. Mrs Lewis won a raffle.

Gazette article dated 25 March 1977

Langtree Man Fined At Torrington

A larch pole, six feet long, was carried into Torrington County Magistrates Court. Pleading ‘guilty’ to the larceny of the pole, Barnabas Box, of The Village, Langtree, was fined 10s with £1 4s 10d costs.

1950 Langtree

Police Inspector H Burrows explained that the owner’s (Mr Vanstone’s) property adjoined the defendant’s garden. On January 28th the larch pole was in the yard with other timber. A Mr William Johns saw defendant standing in his garden path. With a four-pronged dung fork he was putting the pole over the hedge into his own garden. Mr Johns reported the matter, and on going back found the pole was lying in defendant’s garden path. Johns recovered the pole.
Defendant, said the inspector, admitted taking the pole, saying he wanted some firing for the children.
Gazette article dated 24 February 1950

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