• 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 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 2 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 3 So this is the mainland!

  • 4 Parkham plan realised

  • 5 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 6 First ship in 8 years

  • 7 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 8 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 9 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 10 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 11

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 12 Over the bank together>
  • 13

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 14 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 15 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 16 Ten year old scrambler

  • 17 New Lundy stamps

  • 18 Pannier Market's future?

  • 19 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 20 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 21 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 22 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

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

  • 24

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 25 Out of puff!

  • 26 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 27 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 28 New shipyard on schedule

  • 29 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 30 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 31 End of the line

  • 32 Riverside mystery

  • 33

    New gateway
  • 34 No sale of Springfield House

  • 35 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 36 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 37 Life begins at 80

  • 38 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 39 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 40 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 41 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 42 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 43 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 44 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 45 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 46 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 47 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 48 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 49 Off on a great adventure

  • 50 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 51 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 52 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 53 Picking the pops

  • 54 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 55 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 56 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 57 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 58 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 59 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 60 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 61 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 62 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 63

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 64 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 65 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 66 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 67 All for the love of a lady!

  • 68 Caught in the act>
  • 69 Warmington's garage ad

  • 70 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 71 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 72 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 73 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 74 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 75 Bideford regatta

  • 76 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 77 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 78 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 79 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 80 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 81 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 82 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 83 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 84 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 85 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 86 Sweets derationing

  • 87

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 88 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 89 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 90 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 91 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 92 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 93 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 94 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 95

    Was a missionary
  • 96 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 97 They are parted pro-tem

  • 98 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 99 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 100 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 101 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 102 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 103 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 104 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 105 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 106 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 107 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

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

  • 109 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 110 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 111 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 112 Twenty-one yachts

  • 113 Hartland postman retires

  • 114 Waldon Triplets
  • 115

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 116 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 117 Centenary of Gazette

  • 118 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 119 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 120 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 121 Recognise this resort?

  • 122 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

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

  • 124 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 125 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 126 Cruising down the river

  • 127 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 128

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 129 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 130 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 131 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 132 New civic medallions

  • 133 Can spring be far away?

  • 134 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 135 Private home for public pump

  • 136 Peter poses for TV film

  • 137 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 138 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 139 A story to tell!

  • 140 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 141 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 142 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 143 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 144 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 145 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

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

  • 147 Weare Giffard potato

  • 148 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 149 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 150 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 151 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 152 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 153 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 154 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 155 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 156 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 157

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 158 Ships at Bideford

  • 159 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 160 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 161 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 162 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 163 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 164 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 165 Happy Days!

  • 166 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 167 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 168 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 169 Devil sent packing

  • 170 Decontrol of meat

  • 171 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 172 The cab at the corner>
  • 173 Mobile missionary

  • 174 Modern living at Bideford

  • 175 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 176

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 177 New addition to Quay front

  • 178

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 179 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 180 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 181 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

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

  • 183 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 184 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 185 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 186 Puppet characters introduced

  • 187 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 188 Just over a year old

  • 189 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 190 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 191 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 192 The Geneva marionettes

  • 193 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 194 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 195 Penny for the guy

  • 196 By pony and trap to market

  • 197 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 198 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 199

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 200 Traditions and skills still there

  • 201 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 202 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 203 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 204 Hartland's invitation

  • 205 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 206 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 207 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 208

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 209 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 211 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 212 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 213 A roof-top view - where?

  • 214 Police station view of Bideford

  • 215 Northam's almshouse

  • 216 Bideford loses training ship

  • 217 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 218 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

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

  • 220

    Exhibition of school work
  • 221 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 222 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 223 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 224 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 225 Simple Item 138
  • 226

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 227 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 228 Filming at Hartland

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

  • 230 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 231 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 232 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 233

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 234 When horses score over the tractor

  • 235 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 236 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 237 Emergency ferry services

  • 238 First steel ship built at Bideford

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

  • 240 It really was the 'last time'

  • 241 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 242 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 243 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 244 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 245 New life for Hartland organ

  • 246 What's the time?

  • 247 Sight of a lifetime

  • 248 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 249 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 250

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 251 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 252 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 253 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 254 A bird of their own!

  • 255 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 256 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 257 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 258 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 259 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 260 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 261 The art of the thatcher

  • 262 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 263 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 264 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 265 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 266 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 267 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 268 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 269 Six footed lamb

  • 270 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 271 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 272 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 273 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 274 Sweet success at Langtree School

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

  • 276 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 277 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 278 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 279 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 280 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 281 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 282 Torrington children build igloo
  • 283 School crossing patrol begins

  • 284 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 285 Some mushroom!

  • 286 Littleham family's five generations

  • 287 Torrington in 1967

  • 288 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 289 All aboard the ark

  • 290

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 291 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 292 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 293 New art gallery opened

  • 294 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 295 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 296 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 297 He beat the floods

  • 298 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 299 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 300 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 301 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 302 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 303 Last train from Torrington

  • 304 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 305 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 306 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 307 Jumble sale fever

  • 308 Torrington's new amenity

  • 309 No laughing matter

  • 310 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 311 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 312 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 313 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 314 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 315 Service with a smile

  • 316 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 317 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 318 Picking the pops

  • 319 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 320

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 321 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 322 North Devon Driving School

  • 323 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 324 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 325

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 326 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 327 School's link with cargo ship

  • 328 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

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

  • 330 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 331 Hartland Dancers
  • 332 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 333 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 334 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 335 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 336 Burnard family reunion

  • 337 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 338 A man and his wheel

  • 339

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 340 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 341 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 342 New Post Office

  • 343 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 344 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 345 New look in the hayfields

  • 346 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 347 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 348 For crying out loud!

  • 349 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 350 Artisans' Club

  • 351

    First prize
  • 352 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 353 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

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

  • 355 Revenge in style

  • 356 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 357 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 358 Blanchards ad.>
  • 359 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 360 113 years at Instow

  • 361 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 362 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

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

  • 364 Circus comes to town

  • 365 Appledore's largest

  • 366 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 367

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 368 Northam footballers of the future

  • 369 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 370 New choral society's growing response

  • 371 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 372 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 373

    Married in 1908
  • 374 Bideford computer stars

  • 375 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 376 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 377 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 378 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 379 Variety in summer weather

  • 380 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 381 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 382 Some 240 exhibits

  • 383 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 384 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 385 Clovelly nightmare

  • 386 From Bobby to Brian

  • 387 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 388

    Building works
  • 389 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 390 Bridging the stream

  • 391 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 392

    Relatives all over the world
  • 393 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 394 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 395 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 396 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 397 Finished in 1876

  • 398 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 399 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 400 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 401

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 402 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 403 Loads of black and white

  • 404 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 405 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 406 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 407

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 408 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 409 In their new robes and hats

  • 410 Capers on the cobbles

  • 411 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 412 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 413

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 414 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 415

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 416

    Bidefordians
  • 417 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 418

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 419 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 420 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 421 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 422 Clovelly custom

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

  • 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

  • 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
  • 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

Bideford’s Bridging Needs Petition

Bideford’s Bridging Needs Petition - February 1968

Bideford’s Bridging Needs Petition
 

On 23 February 1968, the Gazette published a picture of County Councillor Mrs Vivian Patt, accompanied by Mrs Kitty Blackmore, handing a petition about Bideford’s bridging needs to Mr Peter Mills. Over 15,000 signatures had been collected for the petition which went to the Minister of Transport.

 

Bideford Plumber Wins Holiday Prize

Bideford Plumber Wins Holiday Prize - February 1968

Bideford Plumber Wins Holiday Prize
 

Unsure what prize he had won from Nibco Ltd until being called on stage by the compere at the presentation dinner, Mr W Grant, a plumber from Bideford, won an eight-day holiday, by jet, to Majorca. Mr and Mrs Grant live in Meddon Street, Bideford.

 

Wedding of Kenneth Hocking, 1968

Wedding of Kenneth Hocking & Jennifer Rundle - February 1968

Wedding of Kenneth Hocking, 1968
 

In the Gazette on 16 February 1968, there’s a picture and article about the wedding of Mr Kenneth John Hocking of Bideford and Miss Jennifer Rundle from Northam. The wedding cake, made by the bride’s aunt, was decorated with 21 candles as the bride was also celebrating her 21st birthday. The bridesmaids, Misses Dawn Partridge and Ann Govier, wore white velvet dresses with red velvet trimming, and the pageboy, Jeremy Tolley, wore red velvet trousers and waistcoat. After a reception at the Durrant House Hotel, Mr and Mrs Hocking travelled to London for their honeymoon.

 
  • 1

Login Form