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

  • 2 Some mushroom!

  • 3 Jumble sale fever

  • 4 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 5 Service with a smile

  • 6 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 7 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 8 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 9 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 10

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 11 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 12

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 13 Bideford computer stars

  • 14

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 15 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 16 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 17 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 18 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 19 Passing of a Torrington landmark

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

  • 21 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 22 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 23 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 24 School crossing patrol begins

  • 25 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 26 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 27 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 28 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 29 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 30 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 31 Filming at Hartland

  • 32 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 33 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 34 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 35 No sale of Springfield House

  • 36 First ship in 8 years

  • 37 The Geneva marionettes

  • 38 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 39 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 40

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 41 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

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

  • 43 113 years at Instow

  • 44 End of the line

  • 45 Sight of a lifetime

  • 46 Penny for the guy

  • 47 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 48

    Building works
  • 49 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 50 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 51 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

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

  • 53 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 54 Bideford loses training ship

  • 55 Modern living at Bideford

  • 56 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 57 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 58

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 59 Northam footballers of the future

  • 60 Burnard family reunion

  • 61 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 62 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 63

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 64 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 65 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 66 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 67 New art gallery opened

  • 68 So this is the mainland!

  • 69 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 70 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 71

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 72 Ten year old scrambler

  • 73 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 74 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 75 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 76 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 77 In their new robes and hats

  • 78 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 79 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 80

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 81 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 82

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 83 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 84 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 85 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 86

    Exhibition of school work
  • 87 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 88 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 89 Torrington in 1967

  • 90 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 91 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 92 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 93 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 94 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 95 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 96 Some 240 exhibits

  • 97 New Post Office

  • 98

    Relatives all over the world
  • 99 Life begins at 80

  • 100 Blanchards ad.>
  • 101 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 102 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 103 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 104 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 105 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 106

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 107 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 108 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 109 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 110 Riverside mystery

  • 111 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 112 Capers on the cobbles

  • 113 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 114 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 115 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 116 Safe door weighing two tons

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

  • 118 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 119 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 120 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 121 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 122 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 123 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 124 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 125 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 126 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 127 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 128 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 129 Parkham plan realised

  • 130 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 131 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 132 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 133 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 134 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 135 Emergency ferry services

  • 136 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 137 Over the bank together>
  • 138 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 139 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 140 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 141 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 142 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 143 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 144 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 145 Pannier Market's future?

  • 146 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 147 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 148 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 149 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 150 Circus comes to town

  • 151 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 152 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 153 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 154 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 155 Devil sent packing

  • 156 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 157 Private home for public pump

  • 158 All aboard the ark

  • 159 Twenty-one yachts

  • 160

    New gateway
  • 161 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 162 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 163

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 164 Recognise this resort?

  • 165 Artisans' Club

  • 166 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 167 Revenge in style

  • 168 A roof-top view - where?

  • 169 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 170 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 171

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 172 The art of the thatcher

  • 173 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 174 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 175 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 176 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 177 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 178

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 179 Torrington children build igloo
  • 180 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 181 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 182 A man and his wheel

  • 183 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 184 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 185 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 186 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 187 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 188

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 189 Happy Days!

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

  • 191 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 192 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 193 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 194 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 195 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 196 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 197 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 198 Centenary of Gazette

  • 199 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 200 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 201 A bird of their own!

  • 202 Warmington's garage ad

  • 203 Simple Item 138
  • 204 Just over a year old

  • 205 He beat the floods

  • 206 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 207 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 208 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 209 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 210 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 211 Littleham family's five generations

  • 212 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 213 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 214 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 215 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 216 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 217 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 218 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 219 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 220 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 221

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 222 New civic medallions

  • 223 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 224 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 225 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 226

    Bidefordians
  • 227 New shipyard on schedule

  • 228 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 229 Mobile missionary

  • 230 Last train from Torrington

  • 231 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 232 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 233

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 234

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 235 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 236 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 237 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 238

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 239 Caught in the act>
  • 240 New choral society's growing response

  • 241 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 242 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 243 Weare Giffard potato

  • 244 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 245 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 246 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 247 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 248 What's the time?

  • 249 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 250 Sailing to victory at Appledore

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

  • 252 From Bobby to Brian

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

  • 254 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 255 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 256 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 257 Northam's almshouse

  • 258 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 259 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 260 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 261 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 262 Picking the pops

  • 263 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 264 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 265 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 266 Clovelly custom

  • 267 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 268 Hartland's invitation

  • 269 Finished in 1876

  • 270 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 271 Can spring be far away?

  • 272 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 273 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 274 Variety in summer weather

  • 275 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 276 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 277 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 278 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 279 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 280 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 281 Out of puff!

  • 282 Bridging the stream

  • 283 The cab at the corner>
  • 284 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 285 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 286 Waldon Triplets
  • 287 Hartland Dancers
  • 288 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 289 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 290 Puppet characters introduced

  • 291 School's link with cargo ship

  • 292 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 293 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 294 By pony and trap to market

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

  • 296 They are parted pro-tem

  • 297 When horses score over the tractor

  • 298 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 299 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 300 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 301 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 302 North Devon Driving School

  • 303 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 304 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 305 For crying out loud!

  • 306 Torrington's new amenity

  • 307 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 308 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 309 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 310 Cruising down the river

  • 311 Sweets derationing

  • 312 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 313 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 314 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 315 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 316 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 317 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 318 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 319 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 320 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 321

    Was a missionary
  • 322

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 323 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 324 Bideford regatta

  • 325

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 326 Clovelly nightmare

  • 327 Peter poses for TV film

  • 328 A story to tell!

  • 329 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 330 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 331 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 332 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 333 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 334 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 335

    Married in 1908
  • 336 Police station view of Bideford

  • 337 New addition to Quay front

  • 338 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 339 New life for Hartland organ

  • 340 No laughing matter

  • 341 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 342 Practical sympathy at Northam

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

  • 344 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 345 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 346 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 347 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 348 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 349 New Lundy stamps

  • 350 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 351 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 352 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 353

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 354 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 355 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 356 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 357 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 358 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 359 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 360 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 361 Picking the pops

  • 362 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 363 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 364 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 365

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 366 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 367 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 368 Loads of black and white

  • 369 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 370 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 371 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 372

    First prize
  • 373 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 374 Ships at Bideford

  • 375 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 376 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 377 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 378 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 379 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 380 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 381 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 382 Off on a great adventure

  • 383 Appledore's largest

  • 384

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 385

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 386 Traditions and skills still there

  • 387 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 388 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 389 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 390 Salmon netting at Bideford

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

  • 392 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 393 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 394 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 395 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 396 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 397 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 398 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 399 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 400 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 401 All for the love of a lady!

  • 402 New look in the hayfields

  • 403 Decontrol of meat

  • 404 Getting up steam for tomorrow

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

  • 406 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 407 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 408 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 409 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 410 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 411 Six footed lamb

  • 412 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 413 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 414 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 415 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 416 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 417 Hartland postman retires

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

  • 419 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 420 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 421 It really was the 'last time'

  • 422

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
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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Books for Lighthouse Staff at Hartland

Postal Service Available

14.5.1954 Hartland Lighthouse library

Hartland Lighthouse, shown above, is one of the forty-five centres in the north-west part of Devon which is supplied with collections of books from the Torridge Regional Branch of the Devon County Library at Torrington. The Regional Librarian (Mr. P.A. Drake) is seen at the lighthouse as the fresh collection of books is delivered for the use of the lighthouse staff and their wives, who read more than 400 books during the past year.

Altogether people in the Torridge Regional area (including the town of Torrington) read about 101,000 books during the year just ended, and a greater percentage of non-fiction is included in this total than ever before.

Books are delivered to the library centres three times a year, where they are distributed by voluntary librarians to whom thanks are due for making the scheme possible in so scattered an area. More than 23,000 books are exchanged during the year with the village libraries, and 2,700 are exchanged with headquarters library at Exeter.

Much more use is being made of the postal service both at Torrington and in the villages and more than 200 requests for books through this service were made for readers and 42 were sent from the Torrington Library to other parts of the country. Some 930 people belong to the Torrington Town branch, and 2,360 to the village and school libraries in the regional area.

Gazette article dated 14 May 1954

Almost 200 Guests

Braving the winter chill

members of the Hartland Tennis Club wore their tennis outfits when they acted as waitresses at a supper that preceded a ball in the Parish Hall.

There were 190 guests and the fund for new tennis courts benefited considerably.

Draw winners were: A Vanstone, Hardisworthy, £10,; C Littlejohns, Torrington, £5; A Capper, Hartland Cross, £2.50

23.2.1973 Hartland Tennis1

Article dated 23 February 1973

Re-Named Inn

Winner of the competition to re-name Hartland 'New Inn'

was Dr Rachel McKenzie, who is seen unveiling the new sign to reveal her winning name 'The Hart Inn'.

11.5.1973 Hart Inn Hartland1

Gazette article dated 11 May 1973

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