• 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
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 2

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 3

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 4 Appledore's largest

  • 5 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 6 New life for Hartland organ

  • 7

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 8 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 9 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 10 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 11 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 12 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 13 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 14 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 15 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 16 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 17 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 18 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 19 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 20 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 21 Picking the pops

  • 22 Clovelly custom

  • 23

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 24 From Bobby to Brian

  • 25 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 26

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 27 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 28 A roof-top view - where?

  • 29 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 30 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 31 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 32 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 33 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 34 Devil sent packing

  • 35 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 36 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 37 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 38 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 39 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 40

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 41 Ships at Bideford

  • 42

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 43 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 44 Emergency ferry services

  • 45 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 46 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 47 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 48 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 49 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 50 Off on a great adventure

  • 51 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 52 All aboard the ark

  • 53 Cruising down the river

  • 54 Weare Giffard potato

  • 55 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 56 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 57

    First prize
  • 58 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 59 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 60 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 61 Torrington in 1967

  • 62 The art of the thatcher

  • 63

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 64 The Geneva marionettes

  • 65 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 66

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 67 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 68 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 69 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 70 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 71 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 72 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 73 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 74

    Building works
  • 75 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 76 School's link with cargo ship

  • 77 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 78 All for the love of a lady!

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

  • 80 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 81 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 82 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 83 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 84 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 85 Penny for the guy

  • 86 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 87 Ten year old scrambler

  • 88 Modern living at Bideford

  • 89 So this is the mainland!

  • 90 When horses score over the tractor

  • 91 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 92 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 93 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 94 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 95 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 96 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 97 Littleham family's five generations

  • 98 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 99 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 100 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 101 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 102 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 103 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 104 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 105 Revenge in style

  • 106 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 107 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 108 Warmington's garage ad

  • 109 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 110 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 111 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 112 Happy Days!

  • 113 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 114 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 115 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

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

  • 117 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 118 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 119 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 120 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 121 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 122 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 123 Mobile missionary

  • 124 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 125 Out of puff!

  • 126 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 127 Variety in summer weather

  • 128 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 129 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 130 Service with a smile

  • 131 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 132 New look in the hayfields

  • 133 Loads of black and white

  • 134

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 135 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 136 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 137 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 138 He beat the floods

  • 139 End of the line

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

  • 141 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 142 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 143 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 144 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 145 Pannier Market's future?

  • 146 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 147 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

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

  • 149 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 150 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 151 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 152 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 153 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 154

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 155 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 156 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 157 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 158 Success to Festival of the Arts

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

  • 160 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 161 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 162 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 163 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 164 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 165

    New gateway
  • 166 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 167 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 168 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 169 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 170 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 171 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 172 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 173 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 174 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

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

  • 176 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 177 Decontrol of meat

  • 178 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 179 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 180 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 181 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 182 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 183 New Lundy stamps

  • 184 Six footed lamb

  • 185 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 186 For crying out loud!

  • 187 Sight of a lifetime

  • 188 Designed and made in Bideford

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

  • 190 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

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

  • 192 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 193 New art gallery opened

  • 194 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 195 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 196 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 197 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 198 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 199 A man and his wheel

  • 200 Riverside mystery

  • 201 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 202 Last train from Torrington

  • 203 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

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

  • 205 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 206 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 207 Private home for public pump

  • 208 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 209 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 210 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 211 Police station view of Bideford

  • 212 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 213 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 214 Torrington children build igloo
  • 215 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 216 Jumble sale fever

  • 217 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 218 Puppet characters introduced

  • 219 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 220 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 221 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 222 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 223 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 224 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 225 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 226 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 227

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 228 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 229 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 230 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 231 Parkham plan realised

  • 232 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 233 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 234 Life begins at 80

  • 235 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 236 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 237 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 238 Northam footballers of the future

  • 239 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 240 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 241

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 242 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 243 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 244 Circus comes to town

  • 245 Can spring be far away?

  • 246 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 247 Traditions and skills still there

  • 248 New choral society's growing response

  • 249

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 250

    Bidefordians
  • 251 First ship in 8 years

  • 252 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 253

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 254 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 255 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 256 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 257 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 258 Some mushroom!

  • 259 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 260

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 261 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 262 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 263 Bridging the stream

  • 264 Recognise this resort?

  • 265 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 266 North Devon Driving School

  • 267 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 268

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 269 Bideford computer stars

  • 270 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 271 Bideford loses training ship

  • 272 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 273 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 274 New civic medallions

  • 275 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 276 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 277 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 278 Hartland's invitation

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

  • 280 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 281 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 282 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 283

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 284 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 285 Sweets derationing

  • 286

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 287 By pony and trap to market

  • 288 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 289 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 290 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 291 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 292 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 293 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 294 New addition to Quay front

  • 295 Artisans' Club

  • 296 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 297 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 298 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 299 Bideford regatta

  • 300 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 301 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 302 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 303 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 304 Blanchards ad.>
  • 305 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 306 Torrington's new amenity

  • 307 Hartland postman retires

  • 308 In their new robes and hats

  • 309 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 310 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 311 Simple Item 138
  • 312 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 313 Filming at Hartland

  • 314 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 315 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 316 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 317 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 318 Capers on the cobbles

  • 319 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 320 School crossing patrol begins

  • 321 Picking the pops

  • 322 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 323 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 324 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 325 It really was the 'last time'

  • 326 Just over a year old

  • 327 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 328 Centenary of Gazette

  • 329 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 330 New shipyard on schedule

  • 331 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

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

  • 333 Waldon Triplets
  • 334 Caught in the act>
  • 335 Burnard family reunion

  • 336 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 337

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 338 A story to tell!

  • 339 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 340 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 341 A bird of their own!

  • 342 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 343

    Married in 1908
  • 344 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 345 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 346 Over the bank together>
  • 347

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 348 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 349

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 350

    Was a missionary
  • 351 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 352 They are parted pro-tem

  • 353 The cab at the corner>
  • 354 What's the time?

  • 355 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 356 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 357 Finished in 1876

  • 358 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 359 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 360 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 361 New Post Office

  • 362 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 363 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 364 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 365 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 366

    Relatives all over the world
  • 367 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 368 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 369 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 370 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 371 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 372

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 373 No sale of Springfield House

  • 374 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 375 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 376

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 377 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 378 Some 240 exhibits

  • 379 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

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

  • 381 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 382 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 383

    Exhibition of school work
  • 384 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 385 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 386 Clovelly nightmare

  • 387 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 388 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 389 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 390 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 391 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 392 No laughing matter

  • 393 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 394 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 395 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 396 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 397 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 398 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 399 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 400 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 401 Peter poses for TV film

  • 402 Hartland Dancers
  • 403 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 404 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 405 Northam's almshouse

  • 406

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 407 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 408 113 years at Instow

  • 409 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 410 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 411 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 412 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 413 Twenty-one yachts

  • 414 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 415 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 416 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 417 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 418 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 419 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 420 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 421 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 422 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

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

Read More
and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

READ MORE

  • 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;

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
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...

Read More
 

Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

Read More

Appledore's Largest Launching Yet 31st May 1957

Appledore's Largest Launching Yet 31st May 1957

Appledores largest launching yetMost up-to-date of her kind in the UK, the largest ship ever to be built at the shipyards of Messrs P K Harris & Sons at Appledore was floated out of the dry-dock in which she was built, to the accompaniment of ships' sirfens and worken's cheers. 

The vessel was christened 'Sand Dart' by Mrs V G W Batt, wife of the managing director of the Southampton firm.  Before the naming ceremony a bouquet was presented to Mrs Batt by Mrs Veree Kidd, daughter of the Richmond yard charge-hand Mr Jack Eastman.

Glass-hull vessel leave Appledore 14th January 1956

Glass-hull vessel leave Appledore 14th January 1956

Glass hull vessel leaves Appledore54 foot glass fabricated vessel, which was launched into the Torridge by crane, after arrival by road from Southampton, in June last, left Appledore last week after being fitted out at the Newquay Dock of Messrs P K Harris and Sons.  She is destined for Aden.

Appledore tug launched on time! 4th November 1955

Appledore tug launched on time! 4th November 1955

appledore tug launched on timeThe above tug was successfully launched amid cheers of Appledore shipyard employees who have worked at concert pitch to ensure "being on time" as tide was the last suitable daylight tide before 1956.

Picture shows Mr C H Gibson, the mechanical engineer for a large North-country tug-owning firm, consulting with Mr J Venus, Managing director of Messrs P K Harris (Shipbuilders) Ltd of Appledore, the builders of the new craft.

The christening ceremony was performed by Mrs Gibson.  Design by Messrs Burness, Kendall and Partners.

  • 1

Login Form