• 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 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 2 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 3 Revenge in style

  • 4 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 5 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 6 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 7 The art of the thatcher

  • 8

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 9 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 10 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 11 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 12 So this is the mainland!

  • 13 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 14 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 15 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 16 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 17 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 18 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 19 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 20 North Devon Driving School

  • 21 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 22 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 23 Penny for the guy

  • 24 Bridging the stream

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

  • 26 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 27 They are parted pro-tem

  • 28 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 29 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 30

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 31 Mobile missionary

  • 32

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 33 Warmington's garage ad

  • 34 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 35 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 36

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 37 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 38 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 39 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 40 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 41 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 42 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 43 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 44 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 45 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 46 New choral society's growing response

  • 47 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 48

    Building works
  • 49 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 50 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 51 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 52 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 53 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 54 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 55 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 56 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 57 New shipyard on schedule

  • 58 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 59 Peter poses for TV film

  • 60

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 61

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 62 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 63 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 64 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 65 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 66 Riverside mystery

  • 67 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 68 Police station view of Bideford

  • 69 Simple Item 138
  • 70 Appledore's new lifeboat

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

  • 72 No laughing matter

  • 73 All for the love of a lady!

  • 74 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 75

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 76

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 77 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 78 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 79 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 80 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 81 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 82 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 83 In their new robes and hats

  • 84 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 85

    Married in 1908
  • 86 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 87 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

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

  • 89 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 90 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 91

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 92

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 93 New civic medallions

  • 94 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 95 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 96 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 97

    Bidefordians
  • 98 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 99

    Relatives all over the world
  • 100 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 101 Bideford loses training ship

  • 102 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 103

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 104 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 105 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 106 School crossing patrol begins

  • 107 Cruising down the river

  • 108 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 109 Some 240 exhibits

  • 110 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 111 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 112 Modern living at Bideford

  • 113 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 114 Traditions and skills still there

  • 115 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 116 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 117 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 118 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 119

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 120 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 121 By pony and trap to market

  • 122 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 123 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 124 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 125 Variety in summer weather

  • 126 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 127 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 128 New life for Hartland organ

  • 129 No sale of Springfield House

  • 130 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 131 Ten year old scrambler

  • 132 For crying out loud!

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

  • 134 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 135 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 136 Finished in 1876

  • 137 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 138

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 139 Hartland's invitation

  • 140 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 141 Circus comes to town

  • 142 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 143

    Was a missionary
  • 144 Torrington in 1967

  • 145 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 146 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 147 Picking the pops

  • 148 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 149 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 150 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 151 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 152

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 153 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 154 Private home for public pump

  • 155 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 156 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 157 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 158 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 159 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 160 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 161 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 162 Decontrol of meat

  • 163 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 164 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 165 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 166 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 167 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 168 Filming at Hartland

  • 169 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 170 Off on a great adventure

  • 171 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 172 A man and his wheel

  • 173 Ships at Bideford

  • 174 He beat the floods

  • 175 Devil sent packing

  • 176 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 177 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 178

    New gateway
  • 179 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 180 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 181 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 182 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 183 Jumble sale fever

  • 184 Sight of a lifetime

  • 185 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 186 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 187 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 188 Hartland Dancers
  • 189 Bideford computer stars

  • 190 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 191 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 192 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 193 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 194 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 195 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 196 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 197 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 198 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 199 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 200 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 201 New look in the hayfields

  • 202 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 203 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 204

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 205 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 206 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 207 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 208 Pannier Market's future?

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

  • 210 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 211 Clovelly custom

  • 212 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 213 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 214 113 years at Instow

  • 215 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 216 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 217 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 218 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 219 Caught in the act>
  • 220

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 221 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 222 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 223 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 224 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 225 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 226 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 227 Bideford country dancers on TV

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

  • 229 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 230 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 231 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 232 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 233 Hartland postman retires

  • 234 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 235 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 236 No ancient Grecian temple this

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

  • 238

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 239 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 240 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 241 Revived market off to splendid start

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

  • 243 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 244 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 245 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 246 School's link with cargo ship

  • 247 Some mushroom!

  • 248 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 249 It really was the 'last time'

  • 250 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 251 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 252 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 253 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 254 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 255 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 256 Over the bank together>
  • 257 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 258 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 259 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 260 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 261 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 262 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 263 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 264 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 265 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 267 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 268 Service with a smile

  • 269

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 270 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 271 A roof-top view - where?

  • 272 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 273 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 274 Future of Torrington almshouses

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

  • 276 Torrington children build igloo
  • 277 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 278 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 279 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 280 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 281 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 282 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 283 Bideford regatta

  • 284 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 285 Life begins at 80

  • 286 From Bobby to Brian

  • 287

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 288 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 289 Parkham plan realised

  • 290 The cab at the corner>
  • 291 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 292 Waldon Triplets
  • 293 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 294 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 295 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 296 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 297 Panto time at Westward Ho!

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

  • 299 New addition to Quay front

  • 300 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 301 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 302

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 303 Blanchards ad.>
  • 304 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 305 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 306 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 307 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 308 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 309 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 310 Burnard family reunion

  • 311 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 312 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 313 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 314 Can spring be far away?

  • 315

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 316

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 317 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 318 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 319 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 320 Last train from Torrington

  • 321 Capers on the cobbles

  • 322 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 323 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 324 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

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

  • 326 New art gallery opened

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

  • 328 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 329 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 330 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 331 Appledore's largest

  • 332 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 333 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 334 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 335 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 336 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 337 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 338 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 339 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 340 Loads of black and white

  • 341 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 342

    Exhibition of school work
  • 343 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 344 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 345 Clovelly nightmare

  • 346 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 347 Picking the pops

  • 348 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 349 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 350 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 351 Northam footballers of the future

  • 352 Happy Days!

  • 353 Emergency ferry services

  • 354 Weare Giffard potato

  • 355 Twenty-one yachts

  • 356 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 357 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 358 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 359 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 360 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 361 New Post Office

  • 362 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 363

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 364 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 365

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 366 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 367 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 368 End of the line

  • 369 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 370 Torrington's new amenity

  • 371 A bird of their own!

  • 372 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 373 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 374

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 375 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 376 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 377 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 378 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 379 New Lundy stamps

  • 380 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 381 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 382 The Geneva marionettes

  • 383 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 384 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 385 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 386 All aboard the ark

  • 387 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 388 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 389 Out of puff!

  • 390 Littleham family's five generations

  • 391 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 392 Centenary of Gazette

  • 393 Puppet characters introduced

  • 394 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 395 Sweets derationing

  • 396 A story to tell!

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

  • 398 Northam's almshouse

  • 399 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 400 Six footed lamb

  • 401 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 402 What's the time?

  • 403 When horses score over the tractor

  • 404 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 405 Recognise this resort?

  • 406 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 407

    First prize
  • 408 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 409 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 410 First ship in 8 years

  • 411 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 412 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 413 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 414 Just over a year old

  • 415 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 416 Artisans' Club

  • 417 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 418 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 419 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 420 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 421 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 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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  • 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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Stella Maris Convent, Bideford - Oliver

Stella Maris Convent, Bideford - Oliver 1975

4.7.1975 Stella Maris Oliver

Stella Maris Convent, Bideford

Oliver

July 10 and 11 7pm

Music, Lyrics and book by Earl Bart, produced for the Broadway Stage by David Merrick and Donald Alberry by arrangement with Evans Brothers Ltd and Stage Musicals of New York.

Admission 35p Children 20p

 

Summer Visitors to Bideford

Summer Visitors to Bideford

1955 Cardiff Queen

Saturday afternoon brough the first of the summer season visits to Bideford of Messrs P and A Campbell's pleasure steamers. It was the 'Cardiff Queen' and the warm welcome accorded was reminiscent of the occasion last year when she came to reintroduce pleasure trips by the firm from Bideford after a lapse of some thirty years. Bideford Town Band played on the Quayside and many of the crowd went aboard for a trip down the Torridge around Bideford Bay and back. Later she again left Bideford for Ilfracombe and her cross-Channel schedule. A series of trips is arranged for the summer season.

Safe Door Weighing Two Tons!

Safe Door Weighing Two Tons!

1955 safe door Barclays Bideford

Arrival of a new strong-room door at Barclay's bank in High Street, Bideford, last week attracted a crowd of interested sightseers.

Weighing two tons five hundred weights, the door provided quite a problem when it came to taking it inside the building. The entrance door had to be widened by the sub-contractors, Messrs A F Beer and Son, of Bideford, and then steel rollers used to push the heavy door inside. The photograph shows Messrs Littlejohns' new 'Jumbo' mobile crane being used to lift the new doors. However, apart from one incident, when, describes an eye-witness, the door dropped and "hit the pavement as if the ground was butter" the operation was carried out successfully, and completed the following day.

Mr E C Midlen, the bank manager, told the Bideford Gazette that the new door was the latest of its kind, incorporating many new devices, including automatic lighting and an ability to resite the acetylene burner.

Manufactured by Messrs Hobb, Hart and Company of London, the door travelled by rail to Bideford, then by lorry and finally by crane to the bank. "I think we can safely defy any safebreaker who may be in Bideford with this one!" commented Mr Midlen.

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