• 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 Finished in 1876

  • 2 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

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

  • 4 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 5 Ships at Bideford

  • 6 End of the line

  • 7

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 8 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 9 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 10 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 11 Peter poses for TV film

  • 12 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 13 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 14 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 15 No laughing matter

  • 16

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 17 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 18 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 19 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 20 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 21 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 22 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 23 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 24

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 25 When horses score over the tractor

  • 26 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 27 Hartland postman retires

  • 28 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 29 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 30 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 31 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 32 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 33 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 34 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 35 No sale of Springfield House

  • 36 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 37 Torrington's new amenity

  • 38 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 39 Pannier Market's future?

  • 40 They are parted pro-tem

  • 41 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 42 Riverside mystery

  • 43 Hartland Dancers
  • 44 He beat the floods

  • 45 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 46 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 47 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 48 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 49 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 50 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 51 Emergency ferry services

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

  • 53 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 54 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 55 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 56 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 57 School's link with cargo ship

  • 58 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 59 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 60 Ten year old scrambler

  • 61 All for the love of a lady!

  • 62 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 63 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 64 Torrington in 1967

  • 65 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 66 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 67 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

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

  • 69 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 70 Traditions and skills still there

  • 71 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 72

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 73

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 74 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 75 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 76 First ship in 8 years

  • 77 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 78 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 79 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 80

    Building works
  • 81 Last train from Torrington

  • 82 By pony and trap to market

  • 83 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 84 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 85

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 86 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 87 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 88 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 89 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 90 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 91 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 92 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 93 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 94 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 95 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 96 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 97 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 98 Burnard family reunion

  • 99

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 100 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 101 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 102 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 103 Parkham plan realised

  • 104 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 105 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 106 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 107 Sight of a lifetime

  • 108 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 109 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 110 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 111 Waldon Triplets
  • 112 New art gallery opened

  • 113 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 114 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 115 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 116 Last of Bideford factory chimney

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

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

  • 119 Private home for public pump

  • 120 Service with a smile

  • 121 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 122 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 123

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 124 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 125 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 126 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 127 From Bobby to Brian

  • 128 Simple Item 138
  • 129 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 130 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 131 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 132 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 133 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 134 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 135 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 136 Out of puff!

  • 137 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 138 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 139

    Bidefordians
  • 140 Picking the pops

  • 141 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 142 Blanchards ad.>
  • 143 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 144 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 145 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 146 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 147 Recognise this resort?

  • 148 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 149 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 150 Hartland's invitation

  • 151 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 152 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 153 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 154 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 155 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 156 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 157 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 158

    Relatives all over the world
  • 159 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 160 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 161 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 162 What's the time?

  • 163 Clovelly custom

  • 164 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 165 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 166 Clovelly nightmare

  • 167 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 168 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 169 Bideford computer stars

  • 170 Loads of black and white

  • 171 New Post Office

  • 172 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 173 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 174 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 175 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 176 Capers on the cobbles

  • 177 Life begins at 80

  • 178

    Exhibition of school work
  • 179 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 180 Happy Days!

  • 181 For crying out loud!

  • 182 Northam's almshouse

  • 183 Penny for the guy

  • 184 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 185 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 186

    Was a missionary
  • 187 Calf thinks of mare as mum

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

  • 189

    Married in 1908
  • 190 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 191 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 192 A bird of their own!

  • 193 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 194 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 195 In their new robes and hats

  • 196 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 197

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 198 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 199 Puppet characters introduced

  • 200 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 201 Can spring be far away?

  • 202 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 203 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 204 New addition to Quay front

  • 205 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 206 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 207 Northam footballers of the future

  • 208 A story to tell!

  • 209

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

  • 211 The Geneva marionettes

  • 212 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 213 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 214

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 215 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 216 Police station view of Bideford

  • 217 New life for Hartland organ

  • 218 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 219 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 220 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 221 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 222 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 223 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 224 All aboard the ark

  • 225 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 226

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 227 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 228 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 229 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 230 Bideford regatta

  • 231 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 232 Cruising down the river

  • 233 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 234 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 235

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 236 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 237 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 238 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 239 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 240 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 241 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 242 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 243 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 244 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 245 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 246 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 247 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 248 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 249 Caught in the act>
  • 250 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 251 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 252 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 253 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 254 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 255 New look in the hayfields

  • 256 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 257 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 258

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 259 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 260 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 261 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 262 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 263 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 264 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 265 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 266 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 267 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 268 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 269 New Lundy stamps

  • 270

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 271 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 272 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 273 Six footed lamb

  • 274 New civic medallions

  • 275 Just over a year old

  • 276 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 277 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 278 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 279 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 280 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 281 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 282 Centenary of Gazette

  • 283 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 284

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 285 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 286 Picking the pops

  • 287

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 288 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 289 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 290 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 291 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 292 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 293 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 294 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 295 Warmington's garage ad

  • 296 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 297 Record player of 80 years ago

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

  • 299 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 300 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 301 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 302 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 303 Devil sent packing

  • 304 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 305

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 306 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 307 New shipyard on schedule

  • 308 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 309 Twenty-one yachts

  • 310 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 311 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 312 Little 'Big Ben'

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

  • 314 Decontrol of meat

  • 315 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 316 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 317 So this is the mainland!

  • 318

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 319 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 320 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 321 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 322 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 323 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 324 Variety in summer weather

  • 325 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 326 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 327 Mobile missionary

  • 328 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 329 Off on a great adventure

  • 330 Bridging the stream

  • 331 Sooty is quick on the draw

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

  • 333 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 334 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 335 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 336 North Devon Driving School

  • 337 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 338 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 339 The cab at the corner>
  • 340

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 341 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 342 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 343 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 344 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 345 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 346

    First prize
  • 347 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 348 113 years at Instow

  • 349 Torrington children build igloo
  • 350 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 351 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 352 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 353 Weare Giffard potato

  • 354 Jumble sale fever

  • 355 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 356 New choral society's growing response

  • 357 Modern living at Bideford

  • 358

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 359 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 360 Appledore's largest

  • 361 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 362 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 363 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 364 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 365 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 366 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 367 Over the bank together>
  • 368 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 369 It really was the 'last time'

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

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

  • 372 A man and his wheel

  • 373 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 374 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 375 School crossing patrol begins

  • 376 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 377 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 378 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 379 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 380 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 381 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 382

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 383 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 384 Artisans' Club

  • 385

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 386 Littleham family's five generations

  • 387 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 388 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 389 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 390 Some 240 exhibits

  • 391 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 392 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 393

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 394 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 395 Circus comes to town

  • 396 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 397 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 398 Revenge in style

  • 399

    New gateway
  • 400

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 401 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 402 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 403 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 404 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 405 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 406 A roof-top view - where?

  • 407 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 408 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

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

  • 411 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 412 Filming at Hartland

  • 413 Future of Torrington almshouses

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

  • 415 Some mushroom!

  • 416 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 417 Sweets derationing

  • 418 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 419 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 420 The art of the thatcher

  • 421 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 422 Watch the dicky bird!

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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  • 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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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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No Rise For 20 Years

Bideford harbour master’s salary has not been increased for 20 years, Ald R D D Birdwood told the Town Council.

2 April 1971 Harbour Master salary

And because of harbour finances, no application had been made by the official. Job evaluation by the County Council management services unit was to be carried out in June, it was pointed out, and it was generally agreed that the case of the harbour master should not be dealt with in isolation. Other recommendations for review of gradings had bene deferred pending the Organisation and Methods report.The Council agreed to await the report. 

Gazette article published 2 April 1971

Stranded off Westward Ho!

Hundreds of people have been making a daily trek to Westward Ho! to look at the stranded C711, a former Admiralty auxiliary tender which went ashore on the sands near Sandymere after her anchor chain had snapped while waiting near the Fairway Buoy to go into Appledore.

stranded ship 1970


The Pebble Ridge has provided a natural grandstand for spectators to watch the efforts made to re-float the vessel, which has two men on board.

The tanker, Bideford, is too big for the Torridge

In the past, big outside shipping firms, including the Reardon-Smith Line, have registered large vessels at Bideford which have never had a hope of coming up the Torridge.

1959 Bideford tanker too big

Lloyds Register of Shipping for 1958 features the 40,900 ton tanker ‘Bideford’ built by Kockums MV at Malmo for the Bideford Tanker Co. Ltd and registered in London.
Messrs Fred Dessen and Co. Ltd, of London, who manage the Bideford Company are also managers of the Blandford Shipping Co. Ltd, owners of the Blandford and Bedford. The principals thought it fitting to name their company and first vessel after a port which has such well known traditions at sea.

1959 Bideford tanker too big

Gazette article 1959

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