• 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 Bideford regatta

  • 2 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 3 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 4 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 5 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 6 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 7 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 8 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 9 By pony and trap to market

  • 10 In their new robes and hats

  • 11 Meredith and Son ad.>
  • 12

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 13 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 14 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 15 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 16 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 17 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 18 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 19 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 20 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 21 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 22 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 23 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 24 Disastrous dock fire at Appledore>
  • 25 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 26 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 27 Braddicks furniture ad.>
  • 28 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 29 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 30 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 31 He beat the floods

  • 32 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 33 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 34 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 35 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 36

    First prize
  • 37 Police station view of Bideford

  • 38 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 39 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 40 New art gallery opened

  • 41 Northam footballers of the future

  • 42

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 43 What's the time?

  • 44 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 45 First ship in 8 years

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

  • 47 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 48 113 years at Instow

  • 49 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 50

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 51

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 52 Some mushroom!

  • 53 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 54 Devil sent packing

  • 55 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 56

    Relatives all over the world
  • 57 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 58 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 59 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 60 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 61 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 62 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 63 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 64 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 65 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 66 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 67 Bideford computer stars

  • 68 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 69 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 70 The Geneva marionettes

  • 71 New choral society's growing response

  • 72 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 73 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 74 Filming at Hartland

  • 75 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 76

    Married in 1908
  • 77 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 78 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 79 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 80 So this is the mainland!

  • 81 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 82 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

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

  • 84 Can spring be far away?

  • 85 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 86 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 87 Puppet characters introduced

  • 88

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 89 A man and his wheel

  • 90 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 91 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 92 Loads of black and white

  • 93 Northam's almshouse

  • 94 Appledore's largest

  • 95 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 96 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 97 Cruising down the river

  • 98 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 99 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 100 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 101 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 102 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 103

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 104 Jumble sale fever

  • 105 Over the bank together>
  • 106

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 107 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 108 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 109 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 110 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 111 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 112 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 113 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 114 From Bobby to Brian

  • 115 Finished in 1876

  • 116 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 117 The art of the thatcher

  • 118 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 119 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 120 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 121 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 122 End of the line

  • 123 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 124 No sale of Springfield House

  • 125 All aboard the ark

  • 126 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 127 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 128 Torrington in 1967

  • 129 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 130 Weare Giffard potato

  • 131 Modern living at Bideford

  • 132 Pannier Market's future?

  • 133 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 134 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 135 Just over a year old

  • 136 Simple Item 138
  • 137

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 138 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

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

  • 140 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 141 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 142 Hartland Dancers
  • 143 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 144 Traditions and skills still there

  • 145 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 146 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 147 New look in the hayfields

  • 148 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 149

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 150 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 151 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 152 New life for Hartland organ

  • 153 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 154

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 155 All for the love of a lady!

  • 156 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 157 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 158 For crying out loud!

  • 159 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 160 New Lundy stamps

  • 161

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 162 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 163 Picking the pops

  • 164 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 165 A story to tell!

  • 166 Sight of a lifetime

  • 167 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 168 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 169 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 170 Variety in summer weather

  • 171

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 172 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 173 Torrington Church's new organ

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

  • 175 Capers on the cobbles

  • 176 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 177 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 178 Private home for public pump

  • 179

    Was a missionary
  • 180 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 181

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 182 Out of puff!

  • 183 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 184 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 185 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 186 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 187 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 188 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 189 Six footed lamb

  • 190 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 191 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 192 No laughing matter

  • 193 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 194 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 195 Parkham plan realised

  • 196 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 197 Hartland postman retires

  • 198 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 199 Hartland's invitation

  • 200 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 201 Life begins at 80

  • 202 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 203 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 204 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 205 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 206 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 207 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 208 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 209 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 210 Mobile missionary

  • 211 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 212

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 213 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 214 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 215 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 216 Service with a smile

  • 217 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 218 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 219 Torrington children build igloo
  • 220 New fire and ambulance stations

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

  • 222 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 223 Emergency ferry services

  • 224 Artisans' Club

  • 225 Burnard family reunion

  • 226 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 227

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 228 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 229 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 230 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 231 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 232 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 233 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 234 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

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

  • 236 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 237 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 238 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 239 New shipyard on schedule

  • 240 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 241 They are parted pro-tem

  • 242 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 243 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 244

    Bidefordians
  • 245 Littleham family's five generations

  • 246 New Lundy air-mail stamps

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

  • 248 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 249 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 250

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 251 They set out for Bideford and became lost

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

  • 253 Clovelly nightmare

  • 254

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 255 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 256 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 257 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 258 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 259 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 260 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 261 Caught in the act>
  • 262 Torrington's new amenity

  • 263

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 264 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 265 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 266 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 267 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 268 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 269 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 270 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 271 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 272 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 273 Blanchards ad.>
  • 274 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 275 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 276 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 277 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 278

    New gateway
  • 279 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 280 When horses score over the tractor

  • 281 A bird of their own!

  • 282 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 283 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 284 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 285 School crossing patrol begins

  • 286 New Post Office

  • 287 Some 240 exhibits

  • 288 Last train from Torrington

  • 289 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 290 Gateways with rhymes>
  • 291 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 292 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 293 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 294 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

  • 295 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

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

  • 297

    Building works
  • 298 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 299

    Exhibition of school work
  • 300 Penny for the guy

  • 301

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 302 Picking the pops

  • 303 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 304 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 305 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 306

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 307 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 308 Calf thinks of mare as mum

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

  • 310 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 311

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 312 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

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

  • 314 New addition to Quay front

  • 315 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 316 Off on a great adventure

  • 317 Circus comes to town

  • 318 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 319 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 320 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 321 Recognise this resort?

  • 322 Ten year old scrambler

  • 323 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 324 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 325 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

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

  • 327 Bideford loses training ship

  • 328 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 329 Warmington's garage ad

  • 330 Decontrol of meat

  • 331 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 332 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 333 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 334

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 335 It really was the 'last time'

  • 336 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 337 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 338 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 339 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 340 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 341 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 342 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 343 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

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

  • 345 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 346 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 347 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 348 The cab at the corner>
  • 349 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 350 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 351 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 352 School's link with cargo ship

  • 353 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 354 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 355 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 356 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 357 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 358 The young smith of Abbotsham>
  • 359 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 360 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 361 Bridging the stream

  • 362 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 363

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 364 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 365 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 366 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 367 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 368

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 369 Revenge in style

  • 370 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 371 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 372 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 373 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 374 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 375 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 376 Clovelly custom

  • 377 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 378 North Devon Driving School

  • 379 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 380 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 381 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 382 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 383 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 384 Centenary of Gazette

  • 385 A roof-top view - where?

  • 386 New civic medallions

  • 387 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 388 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 389 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 390 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 391 Ships at Bideford

  • 392 Happy Days!

  • 393 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 394 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 395

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 396 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 397 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 398 Waldon Triplets
  • 399 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 400 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 401 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 402 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 403 Riverside mystery

  • 404 Twenty-one yachts

  • 405 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 406 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 407 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 408 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 409 Dustmen of the days of yore>
  • 410 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 411 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 412 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 413 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 414 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 415 Peter poses for TV film

  • 416 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 417 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 418 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 419 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 420 Sweets derationing

  • 421 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 422 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

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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Men with lives in their hands

With the holiday season now in full swing the coastguards of rescue headquarters Hartland Point, who co-ordinate all rescue work between Padstow and Burnham, are facing their busiest time of the year.

4 August 1978 Hartland Coastguard

Most of the full time men are relative newcomers to this area, having transferred to Hartland following promotion in the past 12 months. The picture shows (left to right): Station Officer A Gwilliam, coastguards R Clarke, K Gaston, A Arden, B Reynolds and M Jackson, and district officer L Homewood.

 

Builder finds grandfather's brick

Builder finds grandfather'sbrick 50 years on 1972

 

 

While Jeremy Mugford was working in Ball Hill, Hartland he discovered a brick which his grandfather, William Mugford had written on 50 years before. The wording 'William Mugford, Builder and contractor, Ball Hill' was well preserved.

Hartland Coastguards want some help

Hartland Coastguards want some help

HARTLAND COASTGUARDS

HARTLAND COASTGUARDS WANT SOME HELP

Auxiliary Coastguard Mr John Dunn, of Durrant Lane, Northam, takes an emergency call, watched by full time coastguard Mr Les Burril and Station Officer Alan McWhinnie.

Hartland Coastguard Station, which already covers well over 100 miles of coastline – from Port Isaac around to Stern Point, the other side of Watchet – is to
assume new responsibilities from January 1 next year.

On that day the coastguards will take over a new radio distress frequency on channel 16 VHF.  Such calls are now dealt with initially by Ilfracombe Post Office
Radio on MF, the only RT distress frequency at the moment.

Although the coastguards have always had a cliff rescue section in the station itself, they have been involved only with marine rescue.
Now their brief includes people in trouble on beaches and cliffs – and that means more auxiliary coastguards are wanted.

Hartland, a constant watch station on the alert 24 hours a day, relies on five full-time coastguards and a station officer, plus auxiliaries.

 

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