• 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 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 2 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 3 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 4 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 5 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 6 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 7 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 8 Last train from Torrington

  • 9 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 10 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 11 School crossing patrol begins

  • 12 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 13 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 14 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 15 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 16 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 17 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 18 Torrington's new amenity

  • 19 New Post Office

  • 20 Decontrol of meat

  • 21 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 22 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 23 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 24 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 25 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 26 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 27

    First prize
  • 28 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 29 New addition to Quay front

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

  • 31 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 32 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 33 Just over a year old

  • 34 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 35 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 36 Burnard family reunion

  • 37 Clovelly custom

  • 38 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 39 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 40 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 41

    Married in 1908
  • 42

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 43 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 44 New choral society's growing response

  • 45 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 46 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 47 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 48 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 49 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 50 Ships at Bideford

  • 51 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 52 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 53

    Relatives all over the world
  • 54 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 55 Centenary of Gazette

  • 56 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 57 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 58 Modern living at Bideford

  • 59

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 60 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 61 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 62 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 63

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 64 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 65 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 66 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 67 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 68 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 69 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 70 Torrington children build igloo
  • 71 End of the line

  • 72 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 73 Some 240 exhibits

  • 74 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 75 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 76 Artisans' Club

  • 77 He beat the floods

  • 78 Pannier Market's future?

  • 79 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 80 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 81 Sight of a lifetime

  • 82 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 83 Over the bank together>
  • 84 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 85 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 86 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 87 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 88 Down at the 'Donkey House'

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

  • 90 Hartland postman retires

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

  • 92 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 93 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 94 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 95 Cruising down the river

  • 96 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 97 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 98 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 99 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 100 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 101

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 102 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 103 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 104 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 105 The cab at the corner>
  • 106

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 107 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 108 North Devon Driving School

  • 109 Picking the pops

  • 110 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 111 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 112

    Building works
  • 113 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 114 So this is the mainland!

  • 115 Warmington's garage ad

  • 116 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 117 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 118 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 119 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 120 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 121

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 122 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 123 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 124 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 125 Littleham family's five generations

  • 126

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 127 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 128

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 129 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 130

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 131 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 132 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 133 In their new robes and hats

  • 134 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 135 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 136 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 137 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 138 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 139 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 140 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 141 Northam's almshouse

  • 142 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 144 Big develolpment at Calveford

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

  • 146 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 147 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 148 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 149 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 150 Filming at Hartland

  • 151 Revenge in style

  • 152 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 153 Devil sent packing

  • 154 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 155 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 156 The Geneva marionettes

  • 157 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 158 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 159 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 160 Picking the pops

  • 161 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 162 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 163 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 164 Bideford regatta

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

  • 166 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 167 For crying out loud!

  • 168 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 169 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 170 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 171 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 172 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 173 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 174 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 175 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 176 A man and his wheel

  • 177 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 178 Appledore schooner broadcast

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

  • 180 Bideford computer stars

  • 181 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 182 Alwington School closing after 120 years

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

  • 184 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 185 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 186 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 187 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 188 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 189 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 190 Recognise this resort?

  • 191 A story to tell!

  • 192 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 193 Out of puff!

  • 194 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 195 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 196 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 197 First ship in 8 years

  • 198 Riverside mystery

  • 199 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 200

    Was a missionary
  • 201 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 202 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 203 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 204 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 205 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 206 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 207 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 208 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 209 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 210 New Lundy stamps

  • 211 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 212 No laughing matter

  • 213 New life for Hartland organ

  • 214 All for the love of a lady!

  • 215 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 216 Peter poses for TV film

  • 217 Simple Item 138
  • 218 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 219 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 220 Penny for the guy

  • 221 A bird of their own!

  • 222 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 223 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 224 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 225 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 226 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 227 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 228 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 229 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 230 Northam footballers of the future

  • 231 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 232 Police station view of Bideford

  • 233 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 234

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 235 New art gallery opened

  • 236 Private home for public pump

  • 237 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 238 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 239 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 240

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 241

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 242 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 243 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 244 Life begins at 80

  • 245 By pony and trap to market

  • 246 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 247 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 248 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 249 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 250 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 251 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 252 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 253 Appledore's largest

  • 254 All aboard the ark

  • 255 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 256 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 257 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 258 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 259 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 260 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 261 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 262 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 263 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 264 Happy Days!

  • 265 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 266

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 267 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 268 Hartland Dancers
  • 269 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 270

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 271 Twenty-one yachts

  • 272 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 273 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 274 They are parted pro-tem

  • 275 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 276 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 277 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 278 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 279

    Exhibition of school work
  • 280 Parkham plan realised

  • 281 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 282 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 283

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 284 Variety in summer weather

  • 285 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 286 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 287 A roof-top view - where?

  • 288 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 289 Ten year old scrambler

  • 290 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 291 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 292 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 293 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 294 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 295

    Bidefordians
  • 296 Six footed lamb

  • 297

    New gateway
  • 298 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 299 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 300 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 301 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 302 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 303 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 304 No sale of Springfield House

  • 305 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 306 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 307 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 308 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 309

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 310 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 311 Torrington in 1967

  • 312 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 313 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 314 Traditions and skills still there

  • 315 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 316 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 317 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

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

  • 319 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 320 Caught in the act>
  • 321 From Bobby to Brian

  • 322 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 323 Sweets derationing

  • 324 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 325 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 326 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 327 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 328 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 329 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

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

  • 331 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 332 113 years at Instow

  • 333 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 334 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 335 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

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

  • 337 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 338 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 339 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 340 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 341 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 342 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 343 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

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

  • 345 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 346 New shipyard on schedule

  • 347 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 348 Bridging the stream

  • 349 Hartland's invitation

  • 350 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 351 Emergency ferry services

  • 352 Can spring be far away?

  • 353 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 354 The art of the thatcher

  • 355

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 356 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 357

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 358 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 359 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 360 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 361 Clovelly nightmare

  • 362 Circus comes to town

  • 363 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 364 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 365 Clovelly donkey film star

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

  • 367 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 368 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 369 Capers on the cobbles

  • 370 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 371 It really was the 'last time'

  • 372 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 373 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 374 Some mushroom!

  • 375 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 376 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 377 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 378 When horses score over the tractor

  • 379 Mobile missionary

  • 380 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 381 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 382 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 383 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 384 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 385

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 386

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 387 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 388 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 389 Puppet characters introduced

  • 390 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 391 Blanchards ad.>
  • 392 School's link with cargo ship

  • 393 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 394 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 395 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 396 Off on a great adventure

  • 397 Weare Giffard potato

  • 398 Waldon Triplets
  • 399

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 400

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 401 Loads of black and white

  • 402 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 403 What's the time?

  • 404 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 405 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 406

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 407 New look in the hayfields

  • 408 New civic medallions

  • 409 Service with a smile

  • 410 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 411 Finished in 1876

  • 412

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 413 Bideford loses training ship

  • 414 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 415 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 416 Jumble sale fever

  • 417

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 418 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 419 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 420 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

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

  • 422 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

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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  • 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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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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Green fingers at Pynes School

The small girl and the large daffodils

6.3.1964 Y Olins Pynes Infant School

made a picture that the photographer could not resist when he visited Bideford Pynes County Infants' School.

The children are encouraged to grow bulbs and obviously someone has green fingers.

The girl is Yasmin Olins, aged five, and for the horticulturists among our readers, the daffodils are 'Golden Harvest'.

Gazette article dated 6 March 1964

The Undefeated Torritonians

Early 1900s

31.8.1951 Torrington Blue Coat Church School football

Reproduced is a photograph of the football team of the Torrington Blue Coat Church School (Barley Grove) which played in the seasons 1900-01 and 1901-02 without losing a single match.

Standing at the rear is Mr B Watkins, the others are: L Blatchford, P Piper, H Wightman, J Barrow (USA), K Atwell, G Hartnoll (USA), J Bowden, W Hartnoll, J Pinkham, J Watkins, H Bell, W J Blatchford, R Bray, D Watkins, and P Bennett.

Gazette article dated 31 August 1951

Cross Country Championship For Torrington SM School

Torrington Secondary Modern School’s winning team:

29.3.1956 Schools Torrington

N Poole, M Kelland, C Jenkins, R Ball, A Smale, P Baker, P Reed and B Broad.

With two of their team finishing in the first three, Torrington Secondary Modern School, hosts to the competition this year, won the North Devon Schools cross-country championship on Monday.

First home was Alan Smale, who lives at Little Orchard, Goose Green, Torrington. Smale was the winner of his school’s second year pupils cross-country and on that occasion he put up a faster time than the winner of the senior event, Charles Jenkins, of Sunnycroft, Horns Cross, who finished third in the inter-schools event.

Ten schools competed and the eighty competitors were mass started by Mr R Mayo, sports master of Torrington Secondary Modern School. As the runners jostled together over the first hundred yards, three runners fell and Tony Marsh, the Bideford Grammar School cross-country winner, lost a shoe but, although he sacrificed a great deal of ground when he stopped to replace it, he finished 15th.

Final team placings were: Torrington Secondary Modern; Braunton SM; Bideford Grammar School; Barnstaple SM; Bideford SM; North Devon Technical School; Chulmleigh SM; Ilfracombe SM; Combe Martin SM; South Molton SM.

Article dated 29 March 1956

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