• 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 The Geneva marionettes

  • 2 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 3 Appledore's largest

  • 4 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 5 Ten year old scrambler

  • 6 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 7 Hartland's invitation

  • 8 Simple Item 138
  • 9 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 10 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 11 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 12 Life begins at 80

  • 13 Picking the pops

  • 14 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 15 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 16 Police station view of Bideford

  • 17 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 18 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 19 Caught in the act>
  • 20 Ships at Bideford

  • 21 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 22 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 23 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 24 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 25 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 26 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 27 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 28 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 29 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 30

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 31 Decontrol of meat

  • 32 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 33 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 34 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 35 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 36 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 37 End of the line

  • 38 Daisy's pride and joy

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

  • 40 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 41 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 42 Clovelly custom

  • 43 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 44

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 45 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 46 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 47 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 48 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 49 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 50 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 51 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 52 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 53 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 54 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 55 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 56 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 57

    Relatives all over the world
  • 58 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 59 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 60 Out of puff!

  • 61 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 62 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 63 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 64 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 65 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 66 Jumble sale fever

  • 67 Bicycle now does donkey work

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

  • 69 A bird of their own!

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

  • 71 Happy Days!

  • 72 Blanchards ad.>
  • 73 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 74 All aboard the ark

  • 75 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 76 Weare Giffard potato

  • 77 Littleham family's five generations

  • 78 All for the love of a lady!

  • 79 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 80 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 81 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 82 What's the time?

  • 83 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 84 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 85 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 86 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 87 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 88 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 89 Torrington children build igloo
  • 90

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 91 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 92 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 93 For crying out loud!

  • 94 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 95 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 96 When horses score over the tractor

  • 97 Pannier Market's future?

  • 98 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 99 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 100 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 101 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 102 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 103

    Exhibition of school work
  • 104 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 105 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 106 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 107 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 108 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

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

  • 110 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 111 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 112 Service with a smile

  • 113 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 114 No laughing matter

  • 115 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 116 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 117 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 118 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 119 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 120 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 121 New civic medallions

  • 122

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 123 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 124 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

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

  • 126 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 127 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 128 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 129 Penny for the guy

  • 130 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 131 Filming at Hartland

  • 132 New life for Hartland organ

  • 133 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 134 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 135

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 136 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 137 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 138

    Building works
  • 139 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 140 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 141 New choral society's growing response

  • 142 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 143 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 144 By pony and trap to market

  • 145 Artisans' Club

  • 146

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 147 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 148 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 149 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 150 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 151 Warmington's garage ad

  • 152 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 153 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 154 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 155 Northam's almshouse

  • 156

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 157

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 158 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 159 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 160 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 161 New addition to Quay front

  • 162 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 163 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 164 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 165 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 166 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 167 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 168 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 169

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 170 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 171 Private home for public pump

  • 172

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 173 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 174 Picking the pops

  • 175 A man and his wheel

  • 176 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 177 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 178 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 179 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 180 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 181 Bideford loses training ship

  • 182 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 183 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 184 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 185 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 186 Loads of black and white

  • 187 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 188 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 189 In their new robes and hats

  • 190 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 191 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 192

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 193 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 194 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 195 New art gallery opened

  • 196 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 197

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 198 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 199 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 200 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 201 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 202 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 203 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 204 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 205 First ship in 8 years

  • 206

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 207 It really was the 'last time'

  • 208 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 209 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 210 He beat the floods

  • 211 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 212

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 213 North Devon Driving School

  • 214 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 215 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 216 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 217

    First prize
  • 218 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 219 New shipyard on schedule

  • 220 New Lundy stamps

  • 221 New look in the hayfields

  • 222 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 223 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 224 Can spring be far away?

  • 225 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 226 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 227 Torrington in 1967

  • 228 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 229 Recognise this resort?

  • 230 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 231 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 232

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 233 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 234 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 235 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 236 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 237

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 238 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 239 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 240 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 241 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 242 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 243 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 244 Sight of a lifetime

  • 245 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 246 Sweets derationing

  • 247 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 248 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 249 Traditions and skills still there

  • 250 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 251 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 252 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 253 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 254

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 255 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 256 Finished in 1876

  • 257 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 258 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 259 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 260 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 261 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 262 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 263 Hartland Dancers
  • 264

    New gateway
  • 265 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 266 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 267 Variety in summer weather

  • 268 From Bobby to Brian

  • 269 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 270 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 271 Bideford computer stars

  • 272 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 273 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 274 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 275 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 276 Burnard family reunion

  • 277 Emergency ferry services

  • 278 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 279

    Was a missionary
  • 280 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 281 Peter poses for TV film

  • 282 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 283 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 285 Centenary of Gazette

  • 286

    Bidefordians
  • 287 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 288 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 289 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 290 No sale of Springfield House

  • 291 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 292 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 293 Modern living at Bideford

  • 294 Torrington's new amenity

  • 295

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 296 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 297

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 298 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

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

  • 300 Waldon Triplets
  • 301 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 302 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 303 113 years at Instow

  • 304 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 305 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 306 Mobile missionary

  • 307 Northam footballers of the future

  • 308 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 309 A roof-top view - where?

  • 310 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 311 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 312 Eight to strike and a race to win

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

  • 314 Last train from Torrington

  • 315 So this is the mainland!

  • 316 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 317 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 318 Parkham plan realised

  • 319 Bridging the stream

  • 320 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 321 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 322 Six footed lamb

  • 323 Revenge in style

  • 324 Clovelly nightmare

  • 325 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 326 School's link with cargo ship

  • 327 Over the bank together>
  • 328 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 329 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 330 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 331 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 332 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 333 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 334 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 335 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 336 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 337

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 338 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 339 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 340 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 341

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 342 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 343 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 344 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 345 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 346 A story to tell!

  • 347 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 348 Hartland postman retires

  • 349 Capers on the cobbles

  • 350

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 351 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 352 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 353 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 355

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 356 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 357 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 358

    Married in 1908
  • 359 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 360 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 361 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 362 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 363 Twenty-one yachts

  • 364 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 365 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 366 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 367 Just over a year old

  • 368 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 369 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 370 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 371 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 372 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 373 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 374 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 375

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 376 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 377 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 378 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 379 Puppet characters introduced

  • 380 They are parted pro-tem

  • 381 Devil sent packing

  • 382 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 383 Some 240 exhibits

  • 384 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 385 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 386 Circus comes to town

  • 387 Cruising down the river

  • 388 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 389 New Post Office

  • 390 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 391

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 392 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 393 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 394 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 395 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 396 Some mushroom!

  • 397 The art of the thatcher

  • 398 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 399 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 400 The cab at the corner>
  • 401 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 402 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 403 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 404 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 405 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 406 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 407 School crossing patrol begins

  • 408 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 409 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 410 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 411 Riverside mystery

  • 412 Off on a great adventure

  • 413 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 414 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 415 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 416 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 417 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 419 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 420 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 421 Bideford regatta

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

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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Buckland Skittlers Beat Putford in Starkey Cup Area Final

After defeating the holders,

Appledore British Legion A, the previous week, the East Putford skittles team were themselves defeated by Buckland Brewer A in the area final of the Starkey Cup.

2.3.1956 Sport Buckland skittles

Above are members of the Buckland Brewer A team: Messrs W Tucker, P Mills, F Horrell, L Blight, W Lawrence, C Babb. East Putford, were represented by: Messrs W Vanstone, F Lane, J Dean, S Wilson, L Okeu, H Parr.

Gazette article dated 2 March 1956

International oarswoman is now captain

Despite last-minute reorganisation,

this crew from the Ladies’ section of Bideford AAC finished second in their event at Bideford Regatta.

15.9.1961 Ladies rowing1

Stroke was Mrs Phyllis Plumtree, the former international oarswoman who is now captain of the ladies’ section.

Left to right the crew is: Catherine Davenport, Janet Tilke, Mrs S Newcombe, Mrs P Plumtree, Barbara Nicholls (cox).

Gazette article dated 15 September 1961

Two Events On The Local Darts Scene

Swan Cygnets pose with the Darts Association for the Blind trophy 

7.4.1972 darts trophies

for the Bideford area and their captain Colin Bennett holds the area singles cup.

The team are: Ken Ebsworthy, Tim Staddon, Mike Ellis, Gerald Ellis, Geoff Staddon, Colin Bennett.

Bideford Amateur Rowing Club receive a new darts trophy from the Texaco Company, handed them by Mr Sam Redfern. First winners of the trophy are the Rejects from the Portobello, comprising Tony Beer, Brian Jenkins, and Jim and Marion Fargher.

Gazette article dated 7 April 1972

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